A person with kleptomania typically has an irresistible urge to steal items of little value, even when they don't actually need them. Kleptomania is a serious mental disorder that, if left untreated, can cause significant emotional distress to the individual and their loved ones. It's a type of impulse control disorder; the inability to resist the urge to act, leading to the performance of an action that is harmful to oneself or others.

Many people with kleptomania experience hidden shame and fear seeking mental health treatment. While there is no specific cure for kleptomania, such as medication or psychotherapy, treatments can help break the compulsive stealing cycle.

 

Symptoms of kleptomania include:

A strong urge to steal unnecessary items
Intensified emotions leading up to the theft

Feeling pleasure or enjoyment while stealing

Experiencing terrible guilt or shame after the theft

A strong urge

Unlike typical shoplifters, kleptomaniacs don't steal for personal gain or revenge. The urge is so strong because they simply want to steal and can't stop it. This urge makes them feel uncomfortable, anxious, and tense. To alleviate these feelings, they resort to stealing. During the theft, they feel relief and pleasure. Afterwards, they may experience intense guilt, remorse, self-hatred, and fear of arrest. But the urge returns, and the kleptomania cycle repeats itself.

Kleptomania attacks usually occur spontaneously, without planning. Most kleptomaniacs steal from public places like stores and supermarkets. Some steal from friends or acquaintances at a party. Generally, stolen items have no value to the kleptomaniac. They usually never use the stolen items again and hide them in a safe place. They give away or distribute what they stole to family friends, or even secretly return the stolen goods to where they were stolen from.

If the theft cannot be stopped, they should definitely see a doctor. Many people with kleptomania are afraid of being arrested or imprisoned and therefore do not want to seek treatment. A psychiatrist is not obligated to report the theft to the police. Seeking treatment can help them gain control over their kleptomania. If you have a loved one with kleptomania, it may be helpful to emphasize the following points:

If you suspect a close friend or family member may have kleptomania, gently discuss your concerns with them. Kleptomania is a mental health disorder, not a character flaw or crime. Remember to approach the situation without blaming the person.

Tell them that you care about their health and well-being and that you are worried about them.

Share your concerns about the risks involved in compulsive stealing, such as arrest, losing their job, or damaging a valuable relationship.

Reiterate that you understand kleptomania, that the urge to steal is very strong, and that they cannot resist this urge simply by thinking about it.

Explain that effective treatments are available to minimize this urge to steal and help your loved one live with such an addiction without shame.

If you need help preparing for this conversation, talk to your doctor. If your loved one with kleptomania becomes defensive or views the situation as a threat, their doctor may refer them to a mental health organization that can help reduce their anxieties in some way.

Causes?
The cause of kleptomania is unknown. There are several theories suggesting that various changes in the brain may be underlying causes of kleptomania. Kleptomania may be linked to a problem with a naturally occurring brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called serotonin. Serotonin helps regulate mood and emotions. Low serotonin levels are common in people prone to impulsive behavior.

Kleptomania may also be associated with addiction disorders, and stealing can cause the release of dopamine (another neurotransmitter). Dopamine causes feelings of pleasure, and some people may crave this rewarding feeling repeatedly.

Another study suggests that kleptomania can develop after a head injury. More research on kleptomania is needed to better understand these possible causes.

 

Risk factors?
Kleptomania is considered rare. Many people with kleptomania are never diagnosed because they don't seek help for treatment or are only imprisoned after repeated thefts. It is estimated that less than 5% of shoplifters have kleptomania. Kleptomania usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood, but in rare cases, it appears after the age of 50.

Kleptomania risk factors may also include:
* Family history

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History: Having a first-degree blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, with kleptomania or obsessive-compulsive disorder can increase the risk of kleptomania. * Being female: Approximately two-thirds of people known to have kleptomania are women. * Having another mental illness: People with kleptomania often have other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, or personality disorders. * Head trauma or brain injury: Kleptomania can develop if you have experienced a head injury.

Tests and Diagnosis:
There are no laboratory tests to diagnose kleptomania. Instead, kleptomania is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms. Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder. Psychological questionnaires or assessments may also be completed to aid in diagnosis.

For a diagnosis of kleptomania, the individual must meet the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This guideline is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals for the diagnosis of mental conditions and for insurance companies to reimburse for treatment. The criteria for diagnosing kleptomania are:

* Inability to resist the urge to steal objects even when not needed for personal use or monetary value.
* Experiencing a very high level of excitement while preparing to steal.
* Feelings of pleasure, relief, and enjoyment during the act of stealing.
* The theft is not done for revenge or to express anger, and it is not something done during hallucinations or delusions. * The stealing is not associated with antisocial personality disorder, bipolar disorder, manic episodes, or other mental health disorders.

Complications:
If left untreated, kleptomania can cause severe emotional, legal, and financial problems. For example, many people with kleptomania have been arrested for theft. If a person knows that stealing is wrong but feels powerless to resist the urge, they may subsequently be devastated by guilt, shame, self-hatred, and humiliation.

Kleptomania can cause or be associated with the following complications:

* Arrest
* Imprisonment
* Depression
* Alcohol and substance abuse
* Eating disorders
* Anxiety
* Compulsive gambling or shopping
* Suicidal thoughts or behavior
* Social isolation

Treatments and medications:
While fear, humiliation, or shame can make seeking help for kleptomania difficult, getting help is important. Self-overcoming kleptomania is not possible. Treatment for kleptomania typically involves medication, support groups, and psychotherapy. However, there is no standard treatment for kleptomania, and researchers are still investigating what might work best for you. You may have to try various treatments to find the one that works best for your case.

Medications

There is very little robust scientific research on the use of psychiatric medications in the treatment of kleptomania. However, some medications may be helpful. Which medication is best depends on the overall situation and other conditions such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. The use of these medications in combination may also be beneficial. Possible medications include:

* Antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently used to treat kleptomania. These include fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), fluvoxamine (Luvox, Luvox CR), and others. * Mood stabilizers. These medications are used to regulate the rapid and erratic changes that trigger the urge to steal. One mood stabilizer used to treat kleptomania is lithium (Lithobid). * Antiseizure medications. Although primarily aimed at seizure disorders, these medications have shown benefit in some mental health disorders, including kleptomania. Examples include topiramate (Topamax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor). * Addiction medications. Naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol), known as an opioid antagonist, blocks a brain region associated with addictive behaviors and pleasure. It can reduce the impulses and pleasures associated with stealing.

It may take several weeks to notice the benefits of these medications. If side effects are bothersome, a switch to a different medication or dosage adjustment may be possible under a doctor's supervision.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy has become a preferred psychotherapy option for kleptomania. Generally, cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. Other forms of treatment, such as psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, or marriage counseling, may also be helpful.

Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback)

There are no studies specifically on kleptomania and neurofeedback, but considering that head trauma may be a cause, there are studies suggesting that neurofeedback brain training is effective in head trauma, and it may also be effective in kleptomania. A 28-year-old woman presented with complaints of kleptomania.

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A patient was brought to our center by a relative. After QEEG and various tests, it was determined that he had compulsive behaviors due to head trauma. His QEEG showed irregularities in the transition between the two brains, and when we corrected these with neurofeedback, we observed that he stopped repeating his compulsive and impulsive stealing.

Preventing Relapse

Relapse is not uncommon in kleptomania. To prevent relapse, it is necessary to adhere to the treatment plan. If the urge to steal returns, it is necessary to consult a doctor again as soon as possible.