OTHER DISORDERS
Kleptomania
What is Kleptomania?
Kleptomania is categorised under impulse control disorders. Individuals with kleptomania experience a recurrent compulsion to steal. They find it hard to resist the temptation to steal and this often results in serious consequences (e.g. criminal offences or dysfunction to their everyday functioning).
The prevalence rate of kleptomania is approximately 0.6% in the general population and females are more likely to have kleptomania than males.
Symptoms of Kleptomania
Here are some symptoms of kleptomania:
Ψ Recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects
Ψ Stealing is not for personal use or monetary value of the objects
Ψ Stealing is not for expressing anger or vengeance
Ψ Stealing cannot be explained by other disorders (e.g. conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder, major depressive disorder)
Ψ Feel a sense of pleasure, gratification, or relief at the time of committing the theft
What causes Kleptomania?
The exact causes of kleptomania are not yet known. However, we do know that our ‘happy’ hormone — dopamine —contributes to the onset of kleptomania. Dopamine plays an important function in our brain’s reward system and the release of dopamine is linked to the experience of pleasurable feelings. Therefore, the sense of pleasure and gratification experienced after stealing something reinforces that act of stealing.
Other than dopamine, serotonin is another hormone responsible for the onset of kleptomania. Serotonin regulates our mood and happiness. As a result, low level of serotonin coupled with high level of dopamine increases a people’s risk of developing kleptomania.
Studies have also found that shoplifting and stealing have been used by some to cope with negative emotions (e.g. loss, grief and loneliness). Therefore, experiencing events that invoke stress or negative feelings can trigger one to steal.
Can Kleptomania be managed?
Yes! Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is regularly used to manage impulse control disorders. It aims to help people with impulse control disorders understand why they may act on their impulse and guide them through adaptive methods which they can adopt to resist the temptation to steal. Some of the techniques used in CBT to help people cope with impulse control disorders include:
Ψ Covert sensitization: imagine stealing and the possible consequences of stealing (e.g. handcuffed, approached by the police, or imprisoned)
Ψ Imaginal desensitization: imagine contemplating on their urge to steal when they are tempted and successfully not succumbing to temptation in the end
Ψ Aversion therapy: repeated pairing of unwanted behavior with discomfort or mildly painful behaviors (e.g. practice breath holding techniques whenever one feels the urge to steal)
Ψ Alternative sources of satisfaction or gratification: partake in other activities that also provide excitement for the individual (e.g. playing sports, drawing, or bird watching)
Myths of Kleptomania
Many often misunderstand kleptomania as simply shoplifting. However, kleptomania is more than just stealing for personal gains. Here are some misconceptions of kleptomania and what it truly is.
“So… kleptomaniacs are simply shoplifters?”
People with kleptomania shoplift, but they are different from the typical shoplifters. Unlike typical shoplifters, they do not plan out their theft. They steal spontaneously, without planning in advance or getting help from other people most of the time.
“They do not feel remorseful after they steal since they do it so many times”
Kleptomaniacs feel a sense of relief and pleasure right after they steal. However, they often return the stolen items to the original owner as they feel guilty over their actions.
“They steal branded and expensive items only”
People with kleptomania do not steal for the monetary value of the items. Usually, they can afford what they steal. They steal because they cannot resist the urge and feel rewarded. In fact, they often steal small and insignificant items (e.g. lighters).
“They can simply just stop stealing”
It is difficult for kleptomaniacs to stop stealing. Kleptomania is classified as an impulse control disorder – a form of disorder where people struggle with emotional or behavioral regulation. They know it is wrong to shoplift and steal, but they just can’t stop themselves from doing so. They are unwilling thieves.
How do I distinguish Kleptomania from other disorders?
Kleptomania is often comorbid with other disorders (e.g. depression, eating disorders, and personality disorders). Therefore, it is hard to pinpoint which disorder is responsible for the stealing compulsion exhibited by the individual. Here are some ways you can distinguish kleptomania and other disorders:
Kleptomania VS Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
People with kleptomania can feel remorse and guilt after stealing, but people with ASPD do not feel these emotions.
Kleptomania VS Eating Disorders (ED)
People with ED can also engage in stealing and shoplifting. Thus, people with eating disorders can have kleptomania. However, on the other hand, people with kleptomania do not have abnormal and unhealthy eating patterns, or distorted body image.