DEAR DR. GOTT: I have heard the term kleptomaniac a few times, usually in reference to an individual who is repeatedly caught or arrested stealing things. What is it exactly and how does one know if they have it?
DEAR READER: Kleptomania is a form of mental illness. More specifically it’s an impulse-control disorder meaning that the sufferer cannot help but to act on a thought or impulse; in this case, the impulse is theft. It is considered to be uncommon but there are no accurate numbers available because it believed that many individuals never seek help or go undiagnosed for a number of reasons such as shame, embarrassment, repeated arrests/jail time, etc.
Unlike your garden-variety thief or shoplifter, kleptomaniacs don’t steal for profit as a general rule. Often the items that they take are things they don’t need and are of little value to them, such as a pack of gum or a small trinket. Most often the items come from public places such as supermarkets or retail stores, although items belonging to friends or family may be taken, such as during a party or gathering. It is thought that less than 5% of habitual shoplifters have kleptomania.
Urges usually follow a pattern but an “attack” is most often spontaneous. First comes the urge which is a powerful sensation that can range from anxiousness, tension or even arousal. The feeling will increase until the sufferer succumbs and steals something. During the actual theft, there are feelings of pleasure, excitement and even gratification. Following the theft, however, most people have a feeling of guilt, shame, embarrassment, fear of arrest, and most importantly as it sets them apart from the common criminal, remorse. The cycle can then start over again.
Kleptomania usually begins during adolescence or during young adult years; however, while a rare occurrence, those over 50 can develop the condition. There are risk factors that place a person at higher risk and include being female (with nearly 2/3 of those diagnosed being women), having a parent or sibling with kleptomania or obsessive-compulsive disorder, experiencing head trauma, and having another mental illness such as an eating/ anxiety/bipolar/personality disorder, or substance abuse.
Anyone who thinks he or she may have kleptomania should seek the help of a psychiatrist (mental health specialist). There are criteria that must be met before the diagnosis can be made (in part to avoid using the disorder as an excuse for repeated thefts).
Untreated kleptomania can lead to severe emotional, financial and legal problems. The good news is that the disorder can be treated once diagnosis is made and confirmed. Counseling to deal with the feeling of guilt and shame and learning ways to deal with the impulses that lead to theft in a healthy manner is vital. There is little solid scientific evidence that psychiatric medications will treat kleptomania but they may help some, especially if there are other mental health disorders involved as well. These drugs can include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-seizure medications and medications used to fight addiction.
The first step, as with any addiction or impulse-control disorder, is to admit that there is a problem, followed by seeking help from a qualified medical provider, such as a person physician, therapist or a psychiatrist.
