What Is Kleptomania And What Can You Do To Treat It?
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Kleptomania is a rare mental health disorder that’s characterized by the impulse to shoplift or steal items, typically when they’re not needed or when one can afford to buy them instead. It’s an impulse control disorder, according to the DSM-5.
Symptoms can be managed with the help of a mental health professional, which is important as this disorder can have significant negative impacts on the individual and those around them if left untreated. Read on to learn more about kleptomania and its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
What is kleptomania?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the DSM-V, “kleptomania is exceedingly rare, whereas shoplifting is relatively common.” The main feature of kleptomania is repeatedly acting on impulses to steal items even though they’re not needed. An individual with kleptomania struggles to resist these urges, hence why it’s characterized as an impulse control disorder.
Theories suggest that it’s different from those without this mental health disorder who may shoplift because of need, boredom, or (in the case of mood disorders like Bipolar Disorder) for a thrill during a manic episode.
Episodes of kleptomania generally happen suddenly and without planning. Once a person with kleptomania steals, they often experience pleasurable feelings like relief and other positive emotions related to naturally occurring brain chemicals known as endorphins.
However, the individual may experience some of the following things after these initial experiences dissipate and they reflect on the act of stealing:
Feeling terrible
Guilt
Emotional pain
Embarrassment
Shame
Remorse
Although kleptomania is rare, it's a serious disorder that may cause a great deal of harm to the individual who experiences it, as well as to their friends, family, and even society at large. Mental health providers recommend seeking treatment when compulsive stealing begins or as soon as the recurrent failure to control the urge to steal is recognized. Consequences could result if the impulse isn't curbed, controlled, or otherwise managed.
Potential consequences for someone with impulse control disorders like kleptomania
Acting on kleptomaniac impulses can result in various consequences, including legal repercussions. If caught, an individual could be banned from a store or other establishment and experience a sense of potentially public embarrassment. In more extreme cases, they could receive a fine or even jail time.
The behavior associated with this disorder can also negatively impact a person’s relationships. Family and friends may choose not to associate with the individual because of their behavior, and/or the individual could choose to self-isolate due to shame around their condition. All of these potential consequences could also take a toll on the person’s mental health.
Signs and clinical characteristics of kleptomania
The manifestation of kleptomania often takes the form of a cycle of feelings and urges. The kleptomania cycle features:
People may initially experience the powerful urge to steal an item that’s not needed
A strong sense of anxiety and tension may build leading up to the theft
Individuals may experience relief or pleasure during or immediately after the theft
After that, they may experience guilt, shame, embarrassment, remorse, or fear of consequences
Eventually, the individual experiences a powerful urge to steal again
Again, an individual with kleptomania typically doesn’t steal because they can’t afford to buy the items; instead, the behavior happens because of a strong, nearly irresistible impulse. This urge to steal can occur at any time and may cause them to take things from public places or even from friends and family—which can lead to further rejection and isolation.
Note that the impulse to steal is usually spontaneous in someone with kleptomania, meaning that the individual typically doesn’t plan ahead for it or have help in carrying it out. Afterward, it’s not uncommon to simply stash the items away rather than using them. An individual may also choose to give the items away, donate them, or secretly attempt to return them to where they were stolen from in an attempt to lessen the guilt they may feel.
Causes of and risk factors for kleptomania
Kleptomania is a rare disorder, and its causes are not fully understood. It’s suspected that it may be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, traumatic events from childhood, and/or genetic factors. The majority of those diagnosed with kleptomania are women, and the behavior often first manifests in the teenage years.
It’s not uncommon for this condition to be comorbid with other mental health conditions, such as:
Depression
Anxiety
Substance use disorders*
Eating disorders*
Other impulse control disorders like online shopping addiction
Antisocial personality disorder
Kleptomania risk factors are not fully understood, but it may also be linked to psychosexual conditions like sexual repression.
Treatment for kleptomania
Research suggests that subtypes of this rare disorder may exist, with some presenting more like a mood disorder while others present more similarly to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). That’s why it’s helpful to seek medical advice and meet with a mental health professional – these are typically the initial courses of action recommended to begin treating kleptomania.
A mental health professional can evaluate the individual and suggest an appropriate course of treatment for their unique situation. Psychotherapy and/or medication are commonly suggested methods of treatment for individuals who experience kleptomania.
For example, medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) might help control moods and improve behavioral self-control. They’re often used in combination treatment strategies designed for behavior prevention and reformation.
Connecting with a mental health professional
Mental health disorders involving compulsions can significantly impact one’s daily functioning and overall mental health. Kleptomania in particular can have severe consequences—including legal ones—which means that seeking the appropriate treatment can be important. Meeting with a mental health professional in person or online can be a helpful first step.
Those who are interested in traditional in-person therapy can search for a provider in their local area. Those who are interested in trying virtual therapy might consider an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. Through this service, you can get matched with a licensed therapist in a matter of days who you can meet with via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging to address the challenges you may be facing. Research suggests that online and in-person therapy can offer similar benefits in many cases, so those who find attending therapy from the comfort of home or who are interested in its relative cost-effectiveness may choose to explore a virtual option.
Takeaway
Is kleptomania a mental disorder?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), kleptomania is categorized as one of several impulse control disorders (ICDs). Other impulse disorders include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), intermittent explosive disorder (IDE), conduct disorder, and pyromania. Each of these disorders presents with a "failure to resist an impulse, temptation, or drive to perform an act that is harmful to the other person or others."
The primary feature of kleptomania, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is repeatedly stealing unneeded items based on impulsive urges to steal. People with kleptomania often experience mounting tension, which is relieved in the immediate aftermath of stealing. Some features of kleptomania resemble addictive disorders, such as substance use disorder.
Is kleptomania a crime?
Theft is a crime, regardless of whether someone has received a diagnosis of kleptomania or addictive disorders. Because kleptomania is a mental disorder that causes compulsive stealing, it is occasionally used as part of a legal defense strategy in theft cases, especially when the defense team can prove that items were not stolen for their monetary value.
Is kleptomania a symptom of OCD?
Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder and not a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The two psychiatric disorders are commonly confused, but they can be differentiated by the presence of impulsive or compulsive behavior:
- Impulsive behaviors (a key feature of impulse control disorders) are characterized by spontaneous acts without forethought or consideration for negative consequences. Examples of impulsive behaviors include spending money on unnecessary items, stealing things without planning, and interrupting someone in the middle of a conversation.
- Compulsive behaviors (a key feature of OCD) are characterized by repetitive behavioral urges that are performed to relieve anxiety or stress. Compulsive behaviors can include repetitive handwashing, twirling hair repeatedly, skin picking, and cracking knuckles.
Kleptomania symptoms include:
- Strong urges to steal things you do not need
- Increasing tension, stress, and/or anxiety prior to theft
- Relief from stress and tension in the immediate aftermath of stealing
- Lack of planning or consideration for consequences prior to stealing
- Guilt, shame, or other negative feelings after theft
- Repetitive urge to steal
Features of kleptomania:
- Theft is not for financial or social gain, rather it occurs solely based on the intensity of the urge
- Typically, episodes occur suddenly and include little or no forethought
- Many people with kleptomania steal from public places, such as stores or workplaces
- The item is typically of little or no value to the person stealing it
- The item is typically not used. Instead, it may be secretly returned, donated, thrown away, or hidden
What causes kleptomania?
It’s unclear why kleptomania develops, but it’s thought that the following may be risk factors:
- Brain differences, such as imbalances in the brain's opioid system or low serotonin levels
- Genetic predisposition
- The presence of other mental illnesses, such as substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, or eating disorders
- Female sex assigned at birth
- Childhood trauma
- Dysfunctional family dynamics
Mental disorders, including kleptomania, can often be diagnosed by in-person mental health providers or medical practitioners. To provide an accurate diagnosis, providers typically ask about your family history and symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Many people with kleptomania are afraid to seek mental health treatment over a fear of arrest, however, in many cases, therapists are not required to report past crimes, and doing so may violate certain laws. People who get mental health treatment (often a combination of medication and psychotherapy) may experience reduced stress and greater impulse control.
Do people with kleptomania remember stealing?
People with kleptomania are typically aware that stealing is morally wrong and harmful, but the urge is strong enough that they are unable to resist it. Oftentimes, people with the disorder experience severe shame, guilt, remorse, embarrassment, distress, and fear after stealing an item.
Who is more prone to kleptomania?
The following characteristics may increase the risk of developing kleptomania:
- Co-occurring disorders: People with substance use disorders or behavioral addictions, such as eating disorders, may be at a higher risk of developing kleptomania. Kleptomania that co-occurs with OCD, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa is also linked to increased symptom severity.
- Family history: There is a genetic component to kleptomania. If an immediate family member has been diagnosed with kleptomania, you are at a heightened risk of the disorder.
- Gender: The female-to-male ratio of kleptomania diagnosis is 3:1, meaning that people assigned female sex at birth are more prone to kleptomania.
Is kleptomania caused by stress?
Stress can reduce impulse control, potentially triggering or exacerbating a kleptomania episode. According to one study, strong urges to steal are associated with both depressive symptoms and high stress. Managing stress with moderate exercise, meditation, mindfulness, or deep breathing exercises may help people with impulse control disorders reduce the occurrence of episodes.
How do you treat kleptomania?
Kleptomania is very rare, with 0.3-0.6% of the U.S. population estimated to have the disorder. There are not currently any FDA-approved medications specifically created to treat the disorder, and there are limited studies investigating the effectiveness of talk therapy for kleptomania.
Still, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and/or off-label medications are often used to help manage kleptomania. A study on the effectiveness of CBT in combination with mindfulness found that both symptoms of kleptomania and quality of life improved when participants were involved in a combination CBT mindfulness program.
Can a person with kleptomania go to jail?
Yes, kleptomania often has legal implications. A study that followed 101 subjects with kleptomania for six years found that 68.3% of participants had been arrested, and 15-23% had been convicted and incarcerated. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible for a defense lawyer to use a kleptomania diagnosis as part of a defense strategy or to mitigate a sentence.
How do you talk to someone with kleptomania?
If you’ve noticed a loved one stealing compulsively, you may not know how to talk to them about it. The following suggestions may help:
- Approach them with compassion
- Try not to judge or shame them, and remind them that kleptomania is a psychiatric disorder, rather than a character flaw to be ashamed of
- Encourage them to speak with a licensed therapist or join a support group
- Learn more about kleptomania
- Practice active listening
- Suggest a healthy outlet for stress relief, such as yoga, art classes, or meditation
When you bring up your concerns, it may be helpful to emphasize that you care about their health and well-being and that you’re concerned about the legal ramifications or potential for job loss or relationship harm. You may want to mention available resources, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or support groups.
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