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Kleptomania |
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Description
Kleptomania is a complex disorder characterized by repeated,
failed attempts to stop stealing. It is often seen in patients who
are chemically dependent or who have a coexisting mood, anxiety,
or eating disorder. Other coexisting mental disorders may include
major depression, panic attacks, social phobia , anorexia nervosa
, bulimia nervosa , substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive
disorder . People with this disorder have an overwhelming urge to
steal and get a thrill from doing so. The recurrent act of
stealing may be restricted to specific objects and settings, but
the affected person may or may not describe these special
preferences. People with this disorder usually exhibit guilt after
the theft.
Detection of kleptomania, even by significant others, is difficult
and the disorder often proceeds undetected. There may be preferred
objects and environments where theft occurs. One theory proposes
that the thrill of stealing helps to alleviate symptoms in persons
who are clinically depressed.
Demographics
Studies suggest that 0.6% of the general population may have this
disorder and that it is more common in females. In patients who
have histories of obsessive-compulsive disorder, some studies
suggest a 7% correlation with kleptomania. Other studies have
reported a particularly high (65%) correlation of kleptomania in
patients with bulimia.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing kleptomania is usually difficult since patients do not
seek medical help for this complaint, and initial psychological
assessments may not detect it. The disorder is often diagnosed
when patients seek help for another reason, such as depression,
bulimia, or for feeling emotionally unstable (labile) or unhappy
in general (dysphoric). Initial psychological evaluations may
detect a history of poor parenting, relationship conflicts, or
acute stressors—abrupt occurrences that cause stress, such as
moving from one home to another. The recurrent act of stealing may
be restricted to specific objects and settings, but the patient
may or may not describe these special preferences.
Treatments
Once the disorder is suspected and verified by an extensive
psychological interview, therapy is normally directed towards
impulse control, as well as any accompanying mental disorder(s).
Relapse prevention strategies, with a clear understanding of
specific triggers, should be stressed. Treatment may include
psychotherapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and rational
emotive therapy . Recent studies have indicated that fluoxetine
(Prozac) and naltrexone (Revia) may also be helpful.
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