What is Psychology?

Answers to Your Psychology Questions

  • Disorders & Syndromes
  • Mental Health
  • Definitions
  • Love & Relationship
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Child Psychology

What is Kleptomania and is there a Treatment for it?

Kleptomania is an uncontrollable urge to steal, even if the things you are pilfering are worthless. But unlike a petty shoplifter driven to steal goods because they prefer not to pay for them, a kleptomaniac has no control over their urge and even when they know the act is wrong and they are in danger of being caught, they just can’t help themselves.

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation if you purchase products or services through the links provided. This is done at no additional cost to you, and supports our work.

Find the right therapist for you

With over 25,000 licensed therapists, BetterHelp has one that fits your needs.
Therapists on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), or licensed professional therapists (LPC).

Kleptomania is a serious disorder, but the only way to find some relief from the symptoms is to seek professional help, so what is the treatment for kleptomania and is it curable?

Kleptomania: Is There a Treatment?

Kleptomania is a difficult mental health disorder to treat. Many sufferers are wracked with shame and guilt because of their thieving habit.

Consequently they do not seek help for their problems and the disorder goes untreated. But with the right treatment, the impulsive urge to steal can be brought under control and the destructive cycle can be broken.

What are the Treatment Options for Kleptomania?

Cognitive behavior therapy is considered to be the best treatment for kleptomania patients as it can help the patient identify their negative behavior patterns and find ways of beating the urge to steal as and when it arises.

Therapists can teach kleptomaniacs a number of different techniques to help them overcome the compulsive addiction to stealing.

These include relaxation techniques, aversion therapy, and covert sensitization.

Can Medication Help Treat the Symptoms of Kleptomania?

Kleptomania often occurs in conjunction with other mental health disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder or depressive illnesses.

As such, a psychologist might prescribe more than one type of medication to take into account the different symptoms.

Which Types of Medication Might be Prescribed to Help Treat the Symptoms of Kleptomania?

Antidepressants are useful in the treatment of kleptomania. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors such as prozac, paxil, and luvox can help to treat any underlying depressive disorders and help the patient cope with their kleptomania.

Addiction medications can help to reduce the urge to steal by blocking the pleasure sectors in the brain associated with impulsive behavior patterns. Once you stop deriving pleasure from the act of theft, the urge to carry out the behavior will be greatly diminished.

Mood stabilizers can reduce the mood swings that often trigger the compulsive urge to steal.

Anti-seizure medications have also been shown to have a benefit when given to patients suffering from kleptomania.

All patients are different and what works for one person might not work for another, so it may take a while to find the right combination of medications that improve the symptoms without causing too many unwanted side effects, although most side effects do normally disappear over time.

It is also important to remember that it can take several weeks for the medication to have any noticeable effect on the symptoms of kleptomania.

Is Kleptomania Curable?

With the right treatment, the symptoms of kleptomania can be controlled, but the disorder will never completely disappear and it is not unusual for patients to suffer from relapses during times of stress.

Because of this risk, it can be helpful for patients to enlist the long term assistance of support groups.

Related Articles:

  1. What are Solitary Confinement Effects? Solitary confinement is well recognised as a highly effective form of psychological punishment. It is used in prisons as a further punishment for inmates who are guilty of, or who are suspected of, committing further crimes whilst inside. Prisoners are also put in solitary confinement for their own protection if...
  2. What is Catatonia? What is catatonia? Catatonia is a series of disorders that are defined as a state of motor immobility or muscular disturbances. It is a rare condition often associated with schizophrenia and depression, although it can also be caused by other conditions. What are the symptoms of catatonia? Catatonic features can...
  3. What is apraxia – Definition and Description? What is apraxia: definition and description? Apraxia is neurological disorder arising from disease or injury to the brain. A patient with apraxia loses their ability to execute certain motor movements such as licking the lips or dressing. The patient will know how to do these tasks, and want to do...
  4. What is the Difference Between Ego Syntonic vs Ego Dystonic? What does ego syntonic vs. ego dystonic mean? Ego syntonic and ego dystonic are both terms used by psychologists: ego syntonic refers to behaviors, feelings and values that are in harmony with one's own self image, whereas ego dystonic refers to behaviors and thoughts that are in conflict with one’s...
  5. Fear of Crowds is Called Agoraphobia The fear of crowds is called Agoraphobia and it is defined as an anxiety disorder related to open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions. A distressing disorder, in severe cases of agoraphobia sufferers can eventually become housebound, unable to venture outside their home for fear of suffering an uncontrollable panic...

Filed Under: Definitions Tagged With: Kleptomania

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Topics

  • Disorders & Syndromes
  • Drugs & Addiction
  • Mental Health
    • Fear & Anxiety
  • Neuroscience
    • Attention & Concentration
    • Memory
    • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
    • Animals
    • Behavior
    • Child Psychology
    • Definitions
    • Education
    • Experimental Psychology
    • Famous Psychologists
    • Gender Difference
    • Language & Communication
    • Love & Relationship
    • Nutrition
    • Popular Psychology
  • Therapy

Recent Posts

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Why Do People Cut Themselves?

Can You Learn While You Sleep?

Is Herpes Linked to Dementia?

Stay updated on Facebook Follow WhatisPsychology on Twitter

Affiliate Links – Advertising Disclosure

If you purchase a product or service linked from this site, we may receive an "affiliate commission". We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" and also in accordance to amazon associates programme operating agreement.

Amazon
The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright © · What is Psychology? · Privacy Policy · About · Archives · Contact us