Kleptomania Psychological Disorder - Essay Example

Kleptomania Psychological Disorder Introduction Kleptomania is a psychological disorder that is associated with recurrent failure to resist urges to steal items that are not needed for personal use or monetary value (Filingeri, 2011). The disorder involves experiences of tension before theft and feelings of pleasure or gratification after the theft. The theft is not committed to express vengeance or anger, but is a response to psychological urge to steal that are not attributed to antisocial personality disorder (Aboujaoude & Koran, 2010). The leading symptoms of kleptomania include the intense urge to steal items that one does not use for personal gain or monetary gain. Kleptomanias will steal things they do not need such as spoons, pencils, flowers and paper clips. The individual is usually stressed, tense and anxious and rely on stealing to attain calmness or release tension (Williams, 2002). The individual will feel anxiety, relief, or fear after stealing, some may exhibit additional signs such as remorse and guilt. Another psychological symptom associated with the disorder is the lack of malice since the individuals suffering from the disorder do not target particular individuals or steal for specific reason, but only to satisfy their urge (Williams, 2002). Compulsive stealing is another symptom since this is a impulsive disorder that makes a personal steal from public places on regular basis and the anxiety makes the individual repeat the act regularly in order to satisfy the intense urge. There is also lack of antisocial personality or conduct disorder since individuals suffering from kleptomania are not violent or psychotic, but just steal compulsively (Filingeri, 2011). Cognitive-behavioural models of psychology assert that kleptomania results from operant conditioning, distorted cognitions and poor coping strategies and behaviour is reinforced when the individual encounters minimal consequences. The causes of the psychological disorder are not well known, but several theories indicate that changes in brain are the root causes of the disorder (Stricker & Widiger, 2003). Changes in serotonin impair the regulation of emotions and moods thus leading to impulsive behaviours while an imbalance of the brain’s opioid system makes it harder to resist the urge to steal. Stealing will lead to release of dopamine thus causing feelings of pleasure thus leading to gratification and rewarding feeling that makes the behaviour addictive. In this case, individuals suffering from the disorder will steal in order to cope with stressful situations and attain relief (Stricker & Widiger, 2003). Kleptomania occurs in less than 5 percent of the shoplifters and many people never go for treatment since they are jailed for repeated thefts (Filingeri, 2011). Kleptomania starts at teenage years and in few cases it may start at later adulthood (Filingeri, 2011). Some risk factors that have been identified include substance or alcohol use problem that may lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder, being a female or mental illness such as anxiety disorder, personality disorders or bipolar disorder. Brain injuries and head trauma is a risk factor since it causes change in the neurotransmitters (Filingeri, 2011). Kleptomania results to adverse emotional, work, legal, and family problems if not treated. The urge to steal is associated with shame, guilt, and humiliation (Stricker & Widiger, 2003). Other related complications that one may encounter include compulsive gambling, depression, substance abuse, jail terms, anxiety and eating disorders. The symptoms of the disorder include the increased anxiety and tension that leads to stealing and feelings of pleasure while stealing (Filingeri, 2011). The individual will also feel shame and remorseful after the theft especially when faced with threat of arrest. The tests and diagnosis involves both physical and psychological examinations that aim at discovering whether there is any medical conditions that may be triggering the urge to steal and physicians will ask questions regarding the impulses, and the situations that trigger the episodes (Goldman, 1997). However, American Psychiatric Association uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria that consider the inability to resist urge to steal, the anxiety and tension before stealing, the feelings of relief and pleasure after stealing and lack of antisocial disorder or maniac episode of bipolar disorder (Filingeri, 2011). Primary psychological evaluations will identify history of poor parenting, acute stressors and meaningless relationships while in-depth biological analysis may identify genetic components that exist in first-degree relatives thus suggesting that kleptomania coexists with other obsessive-compulsive disorders such as bulimia nervosa, panic attacks, substance abuse and social phobia. People with these related disorders will have strong urge to steal and may not have special preferences for the items or environment where the theft will occur (Fox, 2001). The disorder can develop to a long-term condition and treatment is highly advised to people with the disorder. The treatment includes medications and psychotherapy. Various therapies are used in the treatment of the disorder and include psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and family therapy. Doctors usually prescribe antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors that minimize the urges associated with stealing. Psychotherapy will identify and replace unhealthy behaviours through covert sensitisation, aversion therapy and systematic desensitization (Fox, 2001). The treatment should involve education on coping strategies that will involve understanding the triggering events, discovering situations and thoughts that drive the urge to steal and exploring healthy outlets of releasing anxiety such as participating in recreational activities. Relaxation and stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation will keep the individual calm and more motivated thus reducing the urge to steal (Filingeri, 2011). Conclusion Kleptomania is a psychological disorder characterised by recurrent failure to resist intense urge to steal items that are not for personal use or monetary gain and subsequent feelings of relief or gratification after the theft. The stealing is aimed at satisfying an urge since no vengeance or malice that drives the individual to steal from particular individuals or particular items, but it is the desire to release tension or attain calmness. The operant conditioning process and minimal consequences reinforces the behaviour. Psychologists have identified changes in chemical composition of the brain such as serotonin changes and imbalances in brain’s opioid system as the leading causes of the urge to steal. Some of the risk factors that may lead to the disorder include family history, being female, substance abuse, and other obsessive-compulsive disorders. The treatment entails use of serotonin reuptake inhibitor medicines and psychotherapy that aims at teaching the person coping strategies and stress management techniques that aim at minimising the anxiety and urge to steal. References: Aboujaoude, E & Koran, L.M. (2010). Impulse control disorders. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Filingeri, V. (2011). Comprehensive review of psychology. New York: Sage Publications. Fox, D. (2001). Critical psychology: an introduction. London: SAGE. Goldman, M.J. (1997). Kleptomania: the compulsion to steal-what can be done? New York: Psychology Press. Stricker, G & Widiger, T.A. (2003). Handbook of psychology, clinical psychology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Williams, J. (2002). Pyromania, kleptomania, and other impulse-control disorders. New York: Sage. Read More