KLEPTOMANIA DISORDER

Commented [u1]: Please follow format for cover page I sent

through our GC

JIMMY B. SORIANO

CASE STUDY IS SUBMITTED TO CHONA LIZA M. LIMBAGA, COLLEGE OF

AGRICULTURE AND RELATED SCIENCCES, UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES, TAGUM-MABINI CAMPUS,
MABINI, COMPOSTELA VALLEY IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE 5
FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

(CROP SCIENCE)

MAY 2019
 INTRODUCTION

During 19th century a Swiss physician named Mathey described kleptomania as a

unique madness condition that characterized to steal without motive and necessity.
According to him, "The tendency to steal is permanent but the thieving tendency triumphs, it
subjugates the will" the statement is referring to the difference between a person stealing
with will and a person stealing with kleptomania condition. Kleptomania has many terms was
used, Mathey termed kleptomania as a 'klopemania' means 'stealing insanity and French
physician Mark and Esquerol termed kleptomania into ‘'kleptomanie' which means a person
having irresistible and involuntary urges to steal.

In 1952, kleptomania was considered only as supplementary and not a

distinct disorder in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used as a handbook by health care of
professionals as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. It contains also
the descriptions, symptoms and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders provides also a common language for clinicians
to communicate about their patients and establishes consistent and reliable diagnoses that
can be used in the research of mental disorders. In addition, kleptomania was defined by
Barton A. Singer as related into an enigmatic condition which crime can be happen. In his
case study he relates this condition as a shoplifting that is also a problematic for legal
agencies and for psychiatry. This is a kind of disorder where the person that has this
condition is uncomfortable when he/she can't get the things he/she wanted. Being theft or
stealing of something on other is the main condition having kleptomania.

In the Philippines, a famous female celebrity Lucy Gomez-Torres has kleptomania

disorder. The blind item first appeared in the political section of The Manila Standard’s on
February 2004 issue. It then made a way to the news that Lucy Torres was caught in
stealing/shoplifting in one of the famous shopping in the country. The shocking story was
laid to the fact that the female celebrity was experiencing kleptomania disorder and also
revealed that Lucy was already seeking psychotherapy at St. Luke’s to treat her condition. Commented [u2]: Transfer this paragraph after The person
from suffering…..paragraph

Kleptomania is rare overall but more common in females than in males. People with
kleptomania often have another psychiatric disorder, such as depressive and bipolar
disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse
disorders, and other impulse-control disorders. There is evidence linking kleptomania with
the neurotransmitter pathways in the brain associated with behavioral addictions, including
those associated with the serotonin, dopamine and opioid systems. (Christianini, A. et.al,
2015). People with kleptomania disorder have an overwhelming urge to steal and get a thrill
from doing so. The recurrent act of stealing may be restricted to specific objects and
settings, but the affected person may or may not describe this special preferences. People
with this disorder usually exhibit guilt after the theft. (Jerald Kay, et.al, 19997).

Some scientists believe that kleptomania is part of an alcohol substance addiction.

Others consider it to be a deviation of an impulse control disorders or obsessive-compulsive
disorder. In the majority of cases, it is rare for a man or woman to struggle only with
kleptomania. It is most often co-occurring with other psychiatric disorders. (Jacquelyn Ekern,
2013). Psychological trauma, especially trauma at a young age, may also contribute to the
development of kleptomania. Family dysfunction can also cause children to steal, which can
set the stage for kleptomania tendencies when combined with other mood or addiction
disorders. (Gotter, A. and Gabbey, AE.). Some scientists believe that kleptomania is a part
of an alcohol or substance addiction. Others consider it to be a deviation of an impulse
control disorder like eating disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the majority cases,
it is rare for a man or woman to struggle only with kleptomania. It is often co-occurring with
other psychiatric disorders. Kleptomania recurrent failure to resist stealing impulses
unrelated to personal use or financial need. Felling increased tension right before the theft.
Felling pleasure, gratification, or relief at the time of the theft. Thefts are not committed in
response to delusions, hallucinations or as expressions or revenge or anger. (Hearst, N.
et.al 2015).

Some people with disorder might feel guilty afterward and even try to return the
objects they steal. Sense of tension and excitement related to impulse. Feeling of relief,
satisfaction and/or pleasure after acting on an impulse to steal the item. Unplanned stealing
that is done on the spur-of-the-moment. Stealing that is not done out of anger or to “get back
at” someone. Some kleptomanias feel sense of relief after stealing. They may even feel
calm after the episode. On the other hand, others may exhibit symptoms such as guilt,
remorse, fear, and self-loathing. However, almost all find it impossible to control their
kleptomania, and as a result, the cycle repeats itself sooner or later. (Thompson JW, Jr.,
Winstead DK.)
 Kleptomania is classified in the psychiatric nomenclature as an impulse control
disorder. Patients with kleptomania, however, often suffer from repetitive intrusive thoughts
about stealing, an inability to avoid the compulsion to steal as well as a relief of tension
following the theft. These associated symptoms suggest that kleptomania may be a form of
obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder. On the other hand, some authors describe
kleptomania as a nonpharmacological addiction n because of the inability to control
maladaptive behavior. A broad range of pharmacotherapeutic agents has been found to be
beneficial in the treatment of kleptomania including serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
mood stabilizers, and opioid receptor antagonist medications. Adjuvant cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) is recommended (Dannon P, et al.).

Treatment of kleptomania typically involves medications and psychotherapy, or both,

sometimes along with self-help groups. However, there's no standard kleptomania
treatment, and researchers are still trying to understand what may work best. You may have
to try several types of treatment to find what works well for you. (Grant JE, et al.).

Psychotherapy is usually the treatment for impulse control disorders. Therapy helps
the individual understand why he acts on impulse. The treatment also focuses on managing
the behavior. A therapist will also work with the individual on relapse prevention strategies
by identifying the triggers. In addition, other disorders that may coexist like depression or
anxiety are also treated. Kleptomania may need to be treated with a combination of
medication and psychotherapy. Since scientists believe low levels of serotonin may be
involved, a drug that increases the levels of serotonin may be used. Because an imbalance
of opioids may be to blame, then drugs that block the action of opioids may be given.

The person suffering from kleptomania disorder has to deal with strong feelings of
guilt, shame and remorse. These are feelings that must continually be dealt with if the
disorder goes untreated. There is no cure for kleptomania. The best way to manage
kleptomania is with a combination of pharmaceutical and behavioral treatments. (Jacquelyn
Ekern, 2013). Kleptomania is extremely difficult to treat alone, so getting medical help is a
necessity for most that experience it. Treatment typically involves a combination of
psychotherapy and medications, which can address triggers and causes.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is most commonly used to treat kleptomania. With this
type of treatment, your therapist will help you learn to stop detrimental behavior and address
the cognition that causes them. In cognitive therapy, your therapist may use systematic
desensitization, in which you practice relaxation techniques to learn to control the urges to
steal and covert sensitization, in which you imagine yourself stealing and then facing
negative consequences like being arrested. (Dillon Browne, PhD) Commented [u3]: Transfer after Psychorepy is usually the
……paragraph

Kleptomania is difficult to overcome on your own. Without treatment, kleptomania will

likely be an ongoing, long-term condition. Although fear, humiliation or embarrassment may
make it hard for you to seek treatment for kleptomania, it's important to get help. Treatment
of kleptomania typically involves medications and psychotherapy, or both, sometimes along
with self-help groups. However, there's no standard kleptomania treatment, and researchers
are still trying to understand what may work best.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, kleptomania is a disorder that has ability to steal something without

knowing or controlling his or herself or stealing objects that are not totally needed by their
personal life. This kind of is disorder is not inheritance that maybe came from the ancestors
or inherent from family because Kleptomania is psychological disorder it means it cannot be
cured by taking medicine and operation. To treat the patient, psychological for the patient
must be needed and the diagnosis of the patient is observed and rated based on the
parameters of the psychologist. It almost similar being addicted and mood disorder because
its attitude that the individual can't stop of doing this things.

For me as a college student, we people with a normal condition must be open

minded and be sensitive to the feelings of other person having disorder specifically
kleptomania. As I discover how kleptomania occur to a person I feel pity for what a person
feel having this kind of disorder. If we notice that a certain person suffering kleptomania we
must thoroughly understand their feelings because they are needing special attention and
comfort. We should always remember that they did not ask that kind of condition. So we
must be happy because we did not experience their sufferings of kleptomania disorders. Be
thankful and do not criticize others without knowing them.

REFERENCE Commented [u4]: Next page. Arrange your references in

alphabetical order. This is good for printing.
Jacquelyn Ekern, (2013 April 15). . Retrieved from https://www.addictionhope.com/mood-
disorder/kleptomania/treatment/

Shapson Em, (1976). S.T.E.M, Shoplifting fact sheet.

Joe E Grant, JD, MD, MPH. (2006). Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota
School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A

Anonymous (2013). Kleptomania. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from
http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org.

American Psychiatry Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders, Fourth Edition: DSM-IV-T.

Palmer B.A (2017). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 21, 2017. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kleptomania/symptoms-causes/syc-
20364732

Pinhas N. Dannon, Anat Aizer, Katherine Lowengrub (2006). Current Psychiatry

Reviews 2(2):281-283. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233486564_Kleptomania_Differential_Diagnosis_a
nd_Treatment_Modalities