What are signs and symptoms of kleptomania?
Kleptomania symptoms may include:
- Inability to resist powerful urges to steal items that you don’t need.
- Feeling increased tension, anxiety or arousal leading up to the theft.
- Feeling pleasure, relief or gratification while stealing.
- Feeling terrible guilt, remorse, self-loathing, shame or fear of arrest after the theft.
Can you be diagnosed with kleptomania?
Diagnosis and Tests There are no tests — such as X-rays or blood tests — to diagnose kleptomania, although tests might be used to rule out any physical cause for the behavior, such as a head injury or brain disorder.
What causes kleptomania?
Kleptomania is an irresistible urge to steal. It is believed to be caused by genetics, neurotransmitter abnormalities and the presence of other psychiatric conditions. The problem may be linked to a brain chemical known as serotonin, which regulates the moods and emotions of an individual.
At what age does kleptomania begin?
The average onset age of kleptomania is 17 years old. However, kleptomania’s age of onset can vary widely. Symptoms have been reported in children as young as 5 years old, while some people say they didn’t notice symptoms until the age of 55. Kleptomania Among Children and Adolescents.
Is kleptomania an anxiety disorder?
These symptoms suggest that kleptomania could be regarded as an obsessive-compulsive type of disorder. People diagnosed with kleptomania often have other types of disorders involving mood, anxiety, eating, impulse control, and drug use.
What do you do when a family member steals from you?
The first thing to do is give yourself some time to cool down as soon as you find out your relative is stealing money from you. Think about what you are going to say before you say it. You can write down your feelings in a letter so you can vent out all of your frustration, anger, and disappointment on paper.
What is the effect of stealing?
Legal consequences for theft usually include: Criminal fines, which are usually proportionate to the amount stolen; higher theft amounts may result in greater fines. Jail or prison sentences, which may increase or decrease in severity according to the amount stolen. Restitution for some theft cases.
How do you deal with a kleptomaniac relative?
Your doctor may consider prescribing:
- An addiction medication called naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, which may reduce the urges and pleasure associated with stealing.
- An antidepressant — specifically a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
- Other medications or a combination of medications.
How do you treat kleptomania?
How do you spot a Clepto?
The symptoms of kleptomania include the following:
- An irresistible urge to steal items you don’t need or may not even really want.
- An inability to resist stealing things you could probably afford to buy.
- Feeling tense, anxious or excited about stealing in the moments before the behavior.
What percentage of kleptomaniacs are female?
In clinical samples, approximately two-thirds of kleptomania patients are women. Other impulse control disorders like pathological gambling are more common in men. Men with pathological gambling are typically more likely than affected women to be young, single, and living alone without children.
What is the psychological reason for stealing?
Stealing may be caused by jealousy, low self-esteem, or peer-pressure. Social issues like feeling excluded or overlooked can also cause stealing. People may steal to prove their independence, to act out against family or friends, or because they don’t respect others or themselves.
What are the signs and symptoms of kleptomania?
Kleptomania symptoms may include: Inability to resist powerful urges to steal items that you don’t need Feeling increased tension, anxiety or arousal leading up to the theft Feeling terrible guilt, remorse, self-loathing, shame or fear of arrest after the theft
Is there a cure or treatment for kleptomania?
Many people with kleptomania live lives of secret shame because they’re afraid to seek mental health treatment. Although there’s no cure for kleptomania, treatment with medication or talk therapy (psychotherapy) may help to end the cycle of compulsive stealing.
What’s the difference between impulse control and kleptomania?
Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder. Impulse control disorders are mental illnesses that involve the repeated failure to resist impulses, or urges, and to act in ways that are dangerous or harmful.
Where do most people with kleptomania steal from?
Features. Most people with kleptomania steal from public places, such as stores and supermarkets. Some may steal from friends or acquaintances, such as at a party. Often, the stolen items have no value to the person with kleptomania, and the person can afford to buy them.