What Is Kleptomania?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns and SymptomsWhat Else Could It Be?CausesPrevalenceDiagnosisTreatment

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Table of Contents

Signs and Symptoms

What Else Could It Be?

Causes

Prevalence

Diagnosis

Treatment

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Kleptomania often emerges sometime during adolescence and appears more commonly in women than in men.Because stealing is illegal, this disorder can lead to significant legal consequences.

People with kleptomania may face arrest, trial, and incarceration as a result of their symptoms. One study of clinical patients found that more than 68% of those with kleptomania had been arrested for stealing. Just over 20% of these patients had been convicted and incarcerated for their crimes.

Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of kleptomania, its potential causes, and how it can be treated.

While the theft may relieve the tension the individual was experiencing, he or she may be left with feelings of guilt and remorse following the crime. Feelings of shame, self-recrimination, and remorse are quite common following a stealing episode.

It is important to note that kleptomania does not involve theft for personal gain.People with this condition are not stealing things based on a financial incentive or because they covet the items that they take. These thefts are also not related to not being able to afford the items in question. In many cases, the items themselves may hold little to no monetary value.

The emotional aspect is the key to this condition. Kleptomania differs from stealing out of necessity in two major ways: the build-up of internal emotional tension before the theft and the release of that tension during or after the theft. Those who steal for other reasons do not experience the same overwhelming urge and subsequent relief.

Key Symptoms of KleptomaniaA repeated failure to resist the impulse to stealStealing items of no value or that one does not needFeelings of relief or pleasure during the theft

Key Symptoms of Kleptomania

A repeated failure to resist the impulse to stealStealing items of no value or that one does not needFeelings of relief or pleasure during the theft

Kleptomania is distinguished from normal shoplifting because shoplifters typically plan their thefts and perform this behavior to acquire items they desire but cannot afford. Individuals with kleptomania, on the other hand, steal spontaneously in order to relieve the tension that continues to build if they do not act.

Kleptomania can occur alone, but it often appears alongside other conditions as well. People with this condition may be prone to substance use andanxiety, as well as other disorders associated withimpulse control.Some other disorders that can occur alongside kleptomania include:

The disorder has also been shown to be associated withsubstance and alcohol use. Some experts suggest there may be some type of shared genetic link between substance use disorders and kleptomania.

Research has also found that 73% of individuals with kleptomania are also diagnosed with an affective disorder (a mood disorder) at some point in their lives.Studies also suggest similarly high co-morbidity rates with other psychiatric conditions includinganxiety disorders,bipolar disorder, andeating disorders.

Between 43% and 55% of individuals with kleptomania have also been found to have a co-occurring personality disorder—paranoid personality disorderandhistrionic personality disorderbeing the most common.

The exact causes of kleptomania are skill under investigation, although it is suggested that both genetic and environmental influences may play a role. Different perspectives in psychology have suggested a few possible explanations:

The Psychoanalytic Approach:Psychoanalytic explanationsfor kleptomania have conceptualized it in a variety of ways. Some suggest that people are driven to obtain objects in order to symbolically compensate for some type of early loss or neglect.According to this approach, treatment for the disorder lies in discovering the underlying motivations for the behavior.

The Cognitive-Behavioral Approach:Cognitive-behavioral explanationssuggest the disorder may begin when an individual is positively reinforced for stealing something. After the first theft occurs with no negative consequences, it becomes more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future.

Eventually, the cues that become associated with the stealing actions become very strong, making it much more likely to continue. When a person finds themselves in a situation where similar environmental cues are present, they may find the overwhelming urge to steal simply irresistible.

Because the act of stealing relieves the stress and tension the individual was experiencing, the behavior also becomes associated with stress relief. Over time, the individual may begin to steal as a means of coping with and relieving stress.

Studies have also shown thatSSRIshave been used to effectively treat kleptomania, indicating that the regulation ofserotoninmight be involved.Other neurotransmitters such asdopamineand endogenous opioids may also play a role in the development of the disorder.

Just how common is kleptomania? It is thought to be relatively rare. Estimates place the lifetime prevalence at somewhere between 0.3 to 0.6 of the population, although it has also been suggested that the real number may be higher.Some suggest:

Because people may feel embarrassed or ashamed of their condition, the disorder is thought to be underreported. National data assessing the prevalence in the general population does not exist, but numbers pulled from clinical samples suggest that kleptomania may be much more common than previously believed. For example, it’s been estimated that between 3.8% and 24% of shoplifters have symptoms consistent with kleptomania.

The secretive nature of the disorder, as well as associated feelings of guilt and shame, can interfere with diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, people only receive a diagnosis and treatment due to contact with the legal system as a result of being caught committing a theft.

Two of the most common treatments for kleptomania include:

Medications: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), as well as other antidepressants, have shown effectiveness in treating the symptoms of kleptomania and may be used in conjunction with cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Psychotherapy:Cognitive-behavioral therapytargets both the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to stealing and has been shown to have some effectiveness at managing the symptoms of kleptomania.

Psychotherapyis often a first line of treatment for impulse control disorders, with a goal of helping the patient learn to recognize their urges, discover why they act on these impulses, and find more appropriate ways to relieve urges and tension. Recently there has been a shift toward using psychopharmacological interventions alongside psychotherapeutic approaches.

Early intervention and effective treatment are important in order to help people experiencing the symptoms of kleptomania avoid unnecessary distress and associated legal consequences of their condition. It is also important to treat any co-occurring conditions that may be present with the appropriate interventions.

A Word From Verywell

Kleptomania is a seriouspsychiatric conditionthat can have a major impact on an individual’s functioning and life. Not only can the disorder lead to significant distress, it can also result in serious legal consequences for people who are caught stealing. Arrest, incarceration, and legal costs are not uncommon for those with kleptomania.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take if you or someone you know has kleptomania. With appropriate treatment, you can find ways to cope with your impulses and replace negative behaviors with more beneficial ones. If you suspect that you may have kleptomania, consult your doctor or a mental health professional to determine a treatment plan that is most appropriate for your needs.

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207–e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. Published 2011 Feb 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Davis AA, Kim SW.Legal consequences of kleptomania.Psychiatr Q. 2009;80(4):251–259. doi:10.1007/s11126-009-9112-8Grant JE, Odlaug BL.Cleptomania: características clínicas e tratamento [Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and treatment].Braz J Psychiatry. 2008;30 Suppl 1:S11–S15. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462006005000054Dell’Osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256(8):464–475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0Baylé FJ, Caci H, Millet B, Richa S, Olié JP.Psychopathology and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in patients with kleptomania.Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(8):1509–1513. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1509Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Kim SW.Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and relationship to substance use disorders.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010;36(5):291–295. doi:10.3109/00952991003721100Talih FR.Kleptomania and potential exacerbating factors: a review and case report.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):35–39.Grant JE, Correia S, Brennan-Krohn T.White matter integrity in kleptomania: a pilot study.Psychiatry Res. 2006;147(2-3):233–237. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.03.003Lepkifker E, Dannon PN, Ziv R, Iancu I, Horesh N, Kotler M.The treatment of kleptomania with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Clin Neuropharm.1999; 22(1):40–43. doi:10.1097/00002826-199901000-00008Grant JE, Kim SW, Odlaug BL.A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of kleptomania.Biol Psychiatry. 2009;65(7):600–606. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.11.022Kohn CS, Antonuccio DO.Treatment of kleptomania using cognitive and behavioral strategies.Clin Case Stud. 2002;1(1):25-38. doi:10.1177/1534650102001001003Additional ReadingRies, RK, Fiellin, DA, Miller, SC, & Saitz, R. Principles of Addiction Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; 2009.Schreiber, LRN, Odlaug, BL, & Grant, JE. Interventions for Additions: Chapter 58. Medications for Behavioral Addictions. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2013.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207–e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. Published 2011 Feb 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Davis AA, Kim SW.Legal consequences of kleptomania.Psychiatr Q. 2009;80(4):251–259. doi:10.1007/s11126-009-9112-8Grant JE, Odlaug BL.Cleptomania: características clínicas e tratamento [Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and treatment].Braz J Psychiatry. 2008;30 Suppl 1:S11–S15. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462006005000054Dell’Osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256(8):464–475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0Baylé FJ, Caci H, Millet B, Richa S, Olié JP.Psychopathology and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in patients with kleptomania.Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(8):1509–1513. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1509Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Kim SW.Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and relationship to substance use disorders.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010;36(5):291–295. doi:10.3109/00952991003721100Talih FR.Kleptomania and potential exacerbating factors: a review and case report.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):35–39.Grant JE, Correia S, Brennan-Krohn T.White matter integrity in kleptomania: a pilot study.Psychiatry Res. 2006;147(2-3):233–237. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.03.003Lepkifker E, Dannon PN, Ziv R, Iancu I, Horesh N, Kotler M.The treatment of kleptomania with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Clin Neuropharm.1999; 22(1):40–43. doi:10.1097/00002826-199901000-00008Grant JE, Kim SW, Odlaug BL.A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of kleptomania.Biol Psychiatry. 2009;65(7):600–606. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.11.022Kohn CS, Antonuccio DO.Treatment of kleptomania using cognitive and behavioral strategies.Clin Case Stud. 2002;1(1):25-38. doi:10.1177/1534650102001001003Additional ReadingRies, RK, Fiellin, DA, Miller, SC, & Saitz, R. Principles of Addiction Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; 2009.Schreiber, LRN, Odlaug, BL, & Grant, JE. Interventions for Additions: Chapter 58. Medications for Behavioral Addictions. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2013.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207–e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. Published 2011 Feb 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Davis AA, Kim SW.Legal consequences of kleptomania.Psychiatr Q. 2009;80(4):251–259. doi:10.1007/s11126-009-9112-8Grant JE, Odlaug BL.Cleptomania: características clínicas e tratamento [Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and treatment].Braz J Psychiatry. 2008;30 Suppl 1:S11–S15. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462006005000054Dell’Osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256(8):464–475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0Baylé FJ, Caci H, Millet B, Richa S, Olié JP.Psychopathology and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in patients with kleptomania.Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(8):1509–1513. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1509Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Kim SW.Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and relationship to substance use disorders.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010;36(5):291–295. doi:10.3109/00952991003721100Talih FR.Kleptomania and potential exacerbating factors: a review and case report.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):35–39.Grant JE, Correia S, Brennan-Krohn T.White matter integrity in kleptomania: a pilot study.Psychiatry Res. 2006;147(2-3):233–237. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.03.003Lepkifker E, Dannon PN, Ziv R, Iancu I, Horesh N, Kotler M.The treatment of kleptomania with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Clin Neuropharm.1999; 22(1):40–43. doi:10.1097/00002826-199901000-00008Grant JE, Kim SW, Odlaug BL.A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of kleptomania.Biol Psychiatry. 2009;65(7):600–606. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.11.022Kohn CS, Antonuccio DO.Treatment of kleptomania using cognitive and behavioral strategies.Clin Case Stud. 2002;1(1):25-38. doi:10.1177/1534650102001001003

Saluja B, Chan LG, Dhaval D.Kleptomania: a case series.Singapore Med J. 2014;55(12):e207–e209. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188

Schreiber L, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Impulse control disorders: updated review of clinical characteristics and pharmacological management.Front Psychiatry. 2011;2:1. Published 2011 Feb 21. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00001

Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Davis AA, Kim SW.Legal consequences of kleptomania.Psychiatr Q. 2009;80(4):251–259. doi:10.1007/s11126-009-9112-8

Grant JE, Odlaug BL.Cleptomania: características clínicas e tratamento [Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and treatment].Braz J Psychiatry. 2008;30 Suppl 1:S11–S15. doi:10.1590/s1516-44462006005000054

Dell’Osso B, Altamura AC, Allen A, Marazziti D, Hollander E.Epidemiologic and clinical updates on impulse control disorders: a critical review.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;256(8):464–475. doi:10.1007/s00406-006-0668-0

Baylé FJ, Caci H, Millet B, Richa S, Olié JP.Psychopathology and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders in patients with kleptomania.Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(8):1509–1513. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1509

Grant JE, Odlaug BL, Kim SW.Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and relationship to substance use disorders.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010;36(5):291–295. doi:10.3109/00952991003721100

Talih FR.Kleptomania and potential exacerbating factors: a review and case report.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(10):35–39.

Grant JE, Correia S, Brennan-Krohn T.White matter integrity in kleptomania: a pilot study.Psychiatry Res. 2006;147(2-3):233–237. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2006.03.003

Lepkifker E, Dannon PN, Ziv R, Iancu I, Horesh N, Kotler M.The treatment of kleptomania with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Clin Neuropharm.1999; 22(1):40–43. doi:10.1097/00002826-199901000-00008

Grant JE, Kim SW, Odlaug BL.A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of kleptomania.Biol Psychiatry. 2009;65(7):600–606. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.11.022

Kohn CS, Antonuccio DO.Treatment of kleptomania using cognitive and behavioral strategies.Clin Case Stud. 2002;1(1):25-38. doi:10.1177/1534650102001001003

Ries, RK, Fiellin, DA, Miller, SC, & Saitz, R. Principles of Addiction Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; 2009.Schreiber, LRN, Odlaug, BL, & Grant, JE. Interventions for Additions: Chapter 58. Medications for Behavioral Addictions. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2013.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

Ries, RK, Fiellin, DA, Miller, SC, & Saitz, R. Principles of Addiction Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins; 2009.

Schreiber, LRN, Odlaug, BL, & Grant, JE. Interventions for Additions: Chapter 58. Medications for Behavioral Addictions. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2013.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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