What is kleptomania?

Kleptomania is a widely misunderstood and often underdiagnosed mental health condition. It’s characterized by an urge to steal that’s hard to resist, a sense of tension before stealing, and relief immediately afterward. 

People with kleptomania aren’t motivated to steal by financial need or greed. Instead, they compulsively take items they don’t need and that often have little value. Although they may feel guilt or shame after stealing items, they feel unable to stop the behavior. A person with kleptomania doesn’t usually plan thefts in advance and often throws or gives away the items they steal. They may steal from stores or from friends and acquaintances.

Due to the secrecy and embarrassment surrounding kleptomania, the condition often goes undiagnosed despite being highly treatable. A combination of therapy, lifestyle strategies, and sometimes medication can help people manage impulses, address underlying mental health conditions, and develop healthier coping strategies.

Symptoms signaling kleptomania 

Symptoms of kleptomania typically follow a cycle:

• An inability to resist stealing items that aren’t needed
• A buildup of tension, anxiety, or arousal, before committing the theft
• A sense of pleasure, relief, or satisfaction while stealing
• Feelings of guilt, remorse, shame, or fear of arrest afterward
• Recurring urges, leading to repeated episodes of stealing

While kleptomania has clear symptoms, it can also be important to see the signs surrounding the specific episodes of stealing. Some common signs of kleptomania include depression, isolation, mood swings, keeping secrets, guilt, shame, remorse, and addictive behaviors.

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Getting diagnosed with kleptomania 

Kleptomania typically begins in the teen years and is more common in women than men with a 3:1 ratio. Due to feelings of shame and embarrassment, many people with kleptomania never seek help for their condition.

Kleptomania is diagnosed based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and is considered part of the impulse control disorders. This criteria includes:

1. Recurrent inability to resist the urge to steal objects that aren’t needed for personal use or financial gain
2. A growing sense of tension before the theft
3. Feelings of pleasure, gratification, or relief during the act
4. The theft isn’t driven by anger, revenge, delusions or hallucinations
5. The behavior isn’t better explained by conduct disorder, a manic episode, or antisocial personality disorder

Common causes of kleptomania

Researchers believe kleptomania results from a combination of biological, emotional, and psychological factors, including:

• Underlying mental health conditions: Many people with kleptomania experience co-occurring conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. One study found a strong link between kleptomania and major depression, as well as a lesser connection to anxiety. 
• Childhood trauma: Studies suggest a connection between kleptomania and childhood trauma — particularly neglectful or abusive parents.
• Genetics: Having a first-degree relative (such as a parent or sibling) with kleptomania or an addictive disorder increases the risk of developing kleptomania. 
• Stress: Feeling stressed contributes to the loss of impulse control, potentially worsening kleptomania. 
• Serotonin deficiency: Low levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate mood and impulse control, have been linked to kleptomania.

Effects of kleptomania over time

Typically beginning in the teen years, kleptomania can be a lifelong condition if left untreated. This condition can lead to serious emotional, family, legal, and financial problems. 

According to the DSM, kleptomania typically follows one of three patterns:

• Brief episodes of stealing, followed by intermittent and long periods of remission
• Longer periods of frequent stealing, with brief periods of remission
• Chronic and continuous stealing, with only minor fluctuations in frequency

The long-term effects of kleptomania include:

• Strained relationships: Many people with kleptomania actively lie about their behavior to spouses and close family members, leading to damaged relationships over time.
• Legal troubles: Chronic kleptomania has been shown to result in legal consequences, including arrests and jail time.
• Emotional impacts: Many people with kleptomania experience intense shame, guilt, and self-loathing. Some have suicidal thoughts.*
• Increased risk: People who have kleptomania tend to steal items of increasing value, suggesting a growing tolerance similar to that seen in substance use disorders.
• Co-occurring mental health conditions: Lifetime rates of other mental health conditions in kleptomania are high, including personality disorder, substance misuse, suicidal behavior, anxiety disorders, and ADHD.

*A note on safety: If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, please call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support with trained crisis counselors.

Therapeutic treatments for kleptomania

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of kleptomania, help is available. Kleptomania is typically treated with therapy, medication, or both. It’s important to take a comprehensive approach, addressing the impulse to steal as well as any other co-occurring conditions like depression or OCD. 

Types of therapy used to treat kleptomania include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of talk therapy helps people recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It also teaches coping strategies to manage the urge to steal.
• Aversion therapy: This approach reduces the impulse to steal by associating it with discomfort, such as holding your breath until it becomes uncomfortable or imagining something unpleasant when the urge to steal arises.
• Support groups: Participation in 12-step programs or peer support groups can provide encouragement, accountability, and coping strategies for people with kleptomania.

Find care with Rula

Many people with kleptomania hesitate to seek therapy due to fears of legal consequences, but therapist-patient confidentiality ensures privacy. A therapist’s goal is to address the underlying cause of kleptomania — not to judge or punish. If you or a loved one has kleptomania, seeking professional help can be an important step toward recovery and well-being. 

At Rula, we work with an extensive network of over 10,000 therapists who can help you get the care you deserve. With just a few clicks, you can find a therapist who accepts your insurance and can meet with you via live video as soon as tomorrow.

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