Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and relationship to substance use disorders.

BACKGROUND

Although categorized as an impulse control disorder, kleptomania has many features in common with substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVES

This paper sought to examine the mounting evidence supporting the phenomenological, clinical, epidemiological, and biological links between kleptomania and substance addictions.

METHODS

A review of the literature examining family history, genetics, comorbid psychiatric conditions, neuroimaging, and phenomenology was utilized to examine the relationship of kleptomania to substance addiction.

RESULTS

Kleptomania and substance addiction share common core qualities, including similar treatment successes, as well as etiologic and phenomenological similarities.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research investigating the relationship between kleptomania and substance use disorders holds significant promise in advancing prevention and treatment strategies for addiction in general.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Research investigating kleptomania (and other behavioral addictions) and its relationship to substance addiction holds significant promise in advancing prevention and treatment strategies for addiction in general.