Definition
Kleptomania is the irresistible urge to steal items that you don’t really need and that usually have little value. It’s a serious mental health disorder that can tear your life apart if not treated.

Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder — a disorder in which you can’t resist the temptation or drive to perform an act that’s harmful to you or someone else.

Many people with kleptomania live lives of secret shame because they’re afraid to seek mental health treatment. Although there’s no cure for kleptomania, treatment with medication or psychotherapy may be able to help end the cycle of compulsive stealing.

Symptoms
Symptoms of kleptomania may include:

Powerful urges to steal items that you don’t need
Feeling increased tension leading up to the theft
Feeling pleasure or gratification while stealing
Feeling terrible guilt or shame after the theft
A powerful urge
Unlike typical shoplifters, people with kleptomania don’t compulsively steal for personal gain. Nor do they steal as a way to exact revenge. They steal simply because the urge is so powerful that they can’t resist it. This urge makes them feel uncomfortably anxious, tense or aroused. To soothe these feelings, they steal.

During the theft, they feel relief and gratification. Afterward, though, they feel enormous guilt, remorse, self-loathing and fear of arrest. But the urge comes back, and the kleptomania cycle repeats itself.

Spontaneous occurrences
Episodes of kleptomania seem to occur spontaneously, without planning. However, stressful events, such as an argument, may trigger an episode of kleptomania.

Most people with kleptomania steal from public places, such as stores and supermarkets. Some may steal from friends or acquaintances, such as at a party. Often, the stolen items have no value to the person with kleptomania. The stolen items are usually stashed away, never to be used. Items may also be donated, given away to family or friends, or even secretly returned to the place from which they were stolen. In rarer cases, people with kleptomania may repeatedly pilfer the same kinds of items, such as undergarments. In these cases, the kleptomania may include an element of fetishism.

When to see a doctor
If you’re wracked by guilt over failed efforts to stop compulsive shoplifting or stealing, seek medical advice. Many people who may have kleptomania don’t want to seek treatment because they’re afraid they’ll be arrested or jailed. A mental health provider doesn’t have to report your thefts to authorities, however. Getting treatment may help you gain control over your kleptomania.

If a loved one has kleptomania
If you suspect a close friend or family member may have kleptomania, gently raise your concerns with your loved one. Keep in mind that kleptomania is a mental health condition, not a character flaw, and approach your loved one without blame or accusation.

It may be helpful to emphasize the following points:

You’re concerned because you care about your loved one’s health and well-being.
You’re worried about the risks of compulsive stealing, such as being arrested, losing a job or damaging a valued relationship.
You understand that, with kleptomania, the urge to steal may be too strong to resist just by “putting your mind to it.”
Effective treatments are available to minimize the urge to steal and help your loved one live without addiction and shame.
If you need help preparing for this conversation, talk with your doctor. He or she may refer you to a mental health provider who can help you plan a way of raising your concerns without making your loved one feel defensive or threatened.

Causes
The cause of kleptomania isn’t known. Some research evidence suggests that kleptomania may be linked to problems with a naturally occurring brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called serotonin. Serotonin helps regulate moods and emotions. There’s also some evidence that kleptomania may be related to addictive disorders or to obsessive-compulsive disorder. But more research is needed to better understand the possible causes of kleptomania.

Risk factors
Kleptomania is thought to be uncommon. However because many people with kleptomania never seek treatment or they’re simply jailed after repeated thefts, many cases of kleptomania may never be diagnosed. It’s thought that fewer than 5 percent of shoplifters have kleptomania. Kleptomania often begins during adolescence or in your 20s, but in rare cases it begins during very early childhood or late in life.

Although the cause of kleptomania isn’t known, researchers continue to learn more about the factors that may increase the risk of developing kleptomania. These risk factors may include:

Excessive life stressors, such as a major loss
Head trauma or brain injuries
Having blood relatives with kleptomania, mood disorders, addictions or obsessive-compulsive disorder
Preparing for your appointment
If you struggle with an irresistible urge to steal, call your doctor. Making that call will undoubtedly be scary, but trust that your doctor is interested in caring for your health, not in judging you. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist, with experience diagnosing and treating kleptomania.

Use the information below to prepare for your first appointment and learn what to expect from the mental health provider.

What you can do:

Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, and for how long. It will help the mental health provider to know what kinds of events seem to trigger your urge to steal.
Write down key personal information, including traumatic events in your past and any current, major stressors.
Make a list of your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions with which you’ve been diagnosed. Also write down the names of any medications or supplements you’re taking.
Take a trusted family member or friend along, if possible. It can be difficult to soak up everything your mental health provider says, and a loved one can help remember the details. In addition, someone who has known you for a long time may be able to ask questions or share information with the mental health provider that you don’t remember to bring up.
Write down questions to ask your mental health provider in advance so that you can make the most of your appointment.
For kleptomania, some basic questions to ask your mental health provider include:

Do I have kleptomania?
What treatments are available?
What treatments are most likely to be effective in my case?
How much can I expect my symptoms to improve with treatment?
How much time will it take before my symptoms begin to improve?
How frequently will I need therapy sessions, and for how long?
Would family therapy be helpful in my case?
Are there medications that can help?
What are the possible side effects of these medications?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you’ve prepared to ask your mental health provider, don’t hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don’t understand something.

What to expect from your mental health provider
The mental health provider is likely to ask you a number of questions to gain an understanding of your symptoms and how they’re affecting your life. The mental health provider may ask:

At what age did you first experience an irresistible urge to steal?
How often do you experience the urge to steal?
Have you ever been caught or arrested for stealing?
How would you describe your feelings before, during and after you steal something?
What kinds of items do you steal? Are they things you need?
From whom do you steal?
What do you do with the items you steal?
Does anything in particular seem to trigger your urge to steal?
How would you say your urge to steal is affecting your life, including school, work and personal relationships?
Have any of your close relatives had a problem with compulsive stealing, or with other mental health conditions such as depression, addiction or obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Have you been treated for any other mental health problems, including eating disorders? If yes, what treatments were most effective?
Do you use alcohol or illicit drugs? How often?
Are you currently being treated for any other medical conditions?
Tests and diagnosis
When you decide to seek treatment for symptoms of possible kleptomania, you may have both a physical and psychological evaluation. The physical exam can determine if there may be any physical causes triggering your symptoms.

There’s no laboratory test to diagnose kleptomania. Instead, kleptomania is diagnosed based on your signs and symptoms. Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder. In addition to asking questions about your impulses and how they make you feel, your doctor may review a list of situations to see if they trigger kleptomania episodes. You may also fill out psychological questionnaires or self-assessments to help pinpoint a diagnosis.

To be diagnosed with kleptomania, you must meet criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.

Criteria for kleptomania to be diagnosed include:

You have an inability to resist urges to steal objects that aren’t needed for personal use or monetary value.
You feel increasing tension leading up to the theft.
You sense feelings of pleasure, relief or gratification during the act of stealing.
The theft isn’t committed as a way to exact revenge or to express anger, and isn’t done while hallucinating or delusional.
The stealing isn’t related to manic episodes of bipolar disorder or other mental health disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder.
Complications
Left untreated, kleptomania can result in severe emotional, legal and financial problems. Because you know stealing is wrong but you feel powerless to resist the impulse, you may be wracked by guilt, shame, self-loathing and humiliation. You may otherwise lead a moral, upstanding life and be confused and upset by your compulsive stealing.

Complications that kleptomania may cause or be associated with include:

Arrest
Imprisonment
Depression
Alcohol and substance abuse
Eating disorders
Anxiety
Compulsive gambling or shopping
Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Social isolation
Treatments and drugs
Although fear, humiliation or embarrassment may make it difficult for you to seek treatment for kleptomania, it’s important to get help. Kleptomania is very difficult to overcome on your own. Treatment of kleptomania typically involves medications and psychotherapy, perhaps 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 kleptomania treatment to find something that works well for your situation.

Medications
There’s little solid scientific research about using psychiatric medications to treat kleptomania. However, some studies have suggested that certain medications may be helpful. Which medication is best for you depends on your overall situation and other conditions you may have, such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. You may benefit from taking a combination of medications. Medications to consider include:

Antidepressants. Those most commonly used to treat kleptomania are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR), fluvoxamine and others. However, there have been a few case reports of SSRIs actually triggering kleptomania symptoms. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and coping with side effects of antidepressants.
Mood stabilizers. These medications are meant to even out your mood so that you don’t have rapid or uneven changes that may trigger urges to steal. Some evidence suggests that lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) may be helpful.
Benzodiazepines. These medications are central nervous system depressants, also called tranquilizers. They include clonazepam (Klonopin) and alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam). The effectiveness of benzodiazepines often varies, and they may be habit-forming — causing mental or physical dependence, especially when taken for a long time or in high doses.
Anti-seizure medications. Although originally intended for seizure disorders, these medications have shown benefits in certain mental health disorders, possibly including kleptomania. Some studies have shown benefits from topiramate (Topamax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor).
Addiction medications. Naltrexone (Revia), known technically as an opioid antagonist, blocks the part of your brain that feels pleasure with certain addictive behaviors. It may reduce the urges and pleasure associated with stealing.
You may have to try several different medications or combinations of medications to see what works best for you with the fewest side effects. Keep in mind that it may take several weeks to notice full benefits. Talk to your doctor or mental health provider if you’re bothered by side effects. Under his or her guidance, you may be able to switch medications or change your dosage. Many side effects go away on their own with time.

Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy has become the psychotherapy of choice for kleptomania. In general, cognitive behavioral therapy helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. Cognitive behavioral therapy may include these techniques to help you overcome kleptomania urges:

Covert sensitization, in which you picture yourself stealing and then facing negative consequences, such as being caught.
Aversion therapy, in which you practice mildly painful techniques, such as holding your breath until you become uncomfortable, when you get an urge to steal.
Systematic desensitization, in which you practice relaxation techniques and picture yourself controlling urges to steal.
Other forms of therapy, such as psychodynamic therapy, family therapy or marriage counseling, also may be helpful.

Avoiding relapses
It’s not unusual to have relapses of kleptomania. To help avoid relapses, be sure to stick to your treatment plan. If you feel urges to steal, contact your mental health provider or reach out to a trusted support group. If you’re on probation, you may also consider touching base with a trusted and compassionate probation officer.

Coping and support
Although it may be very difficult to overcome kleptomania on your own, you can take steps to care for yourself with healthy coping skills while getting professional treatment:

Stick to your treatment plan. Take medications as directed and attend scheduled therapy sessions. Remember that it can be hard work and that you may have occasional setbacks.
Educate yourself. Learn about kleptomania so that you can better understand risk factors, treatments and triggering events.
Discover what drives you. Identify situations, thoughts and feelings that may trigger urges to steal so that you can take steps to manage them.
Get treatment for substance abuse or other mental health problems. Your addictions, depression, anxiety and stress can feed off each other, leading to a cycle of unhealthy behavior.
Find healthy outlets. Explore healthy ways to rechannel your urges to steal or shoplift through exercise and recreational activities.
Learn relaxation and stress management. Try such stress-reduction techniques as meditation, yoga or tai chi.
Stay focused on your goal. Recovery from kleptomania can take time. Keep motivated by keeping your recovery goals in mind and reminding yourself that you can work to repair damaged relationships and financial and legal problems.
If your loved one is being treated for kleptomania, make sure you understand the details of his or her treatment plan and actively support its success. It may be helpful to attend one or more therapy sessions with your loved one so that you’re familiar with the factors that seem to trigger the urge to steal, and the most effective ways to cope.

You may also benefit from talking with a therapist yourself. Recovering from an impulse control disorder is a challenging, long-term undertaking — both for the affected person and those closest to him or her. Make sure you’re taking care of your own needs with the stress-reduction outlets that work best for you, such as exercise, meditation or time with friends.

Self-help groups
Some people with kleptomania have benefited from participating in self-help groups based on 12-step programs. Even if you can’t find a group specifically for kleptomania, some research indicates benefits of attending Alcoholics Anonymous or other addiction meetings. Such groups don’t suit everyone’s tastes, so ask your mental health provider about alternatives.

Prevention
It’s not known how to prevent kleptomania with any certainty. Getting treatment as soon as compulsive stealing begins may help prevent kleptomania from becoming worse or becoming a chronic condition that’s difficult to overcome.