Treatment for Kleptomania

Do You or Someone You Love Need Kleptomania Treatment?

Kleptomania is a psychiatric disorder that is extremely difficult to live with. It can have some serious legal and personal ramifications. The person living with kleptomania deals with a great deal of shame, remorse, stress and guilt that is associated with stealing. Kleptomania is behaviorally categorized as an impulse control disorder. It could also fall under the scope of an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The sufferer cannot control the impulse to steal and then experiences a release of tension following the theft. Not only is the person fighting the kleptomania, they often have comorbid issues to deal with as well. Other types of mental disorders including eating, drug use, mood, impulse control, and anxiety are often present in conjunction with the kleptomania.

Are you struggling with kleptomania? Are you fighting the guilt, remorse, stress and shame that are related to theft? You can get control of your life again by entering a kleptomania treatment center. They will help you understand your disease and give you the tools needed to manage it. They will also help you with any other disorder with which you may be struggling. First, you have to admit there is an issue with kleptomania. This is the main key to overcoming the disorder. Do you know of a loved one that is dealing with kleptomania? Help them see that there is help and that they can live a normal life with the help of a professional therapist and a kleptomania rehab facility. A fulfilling life can be lived over kleptomania.

Treatment Plan for Kleptomania

When struggling with kleptomania, it can be shameful to admit that there is a problem. This mental disorder can eventually ostracize the sufferer from society. It prevents you from living a normal life. A kleptomania treatment team has to be created. This team will be comprised of friends and family, a licensed psychologist, a kleptomania treatment program, and a support group.

  • Loved ones – Loved ones will play a significant part in the healing process and cannot be undervalued. They will provide support and help when therapy and treatment becomes challenging.
  • Licensed counselor – A licensed counselor will be able to create a personalized kleptomania treatment program. They are also important in making the arrangements to enter a kleptomania treatment facility.
  • Kleptomania therapy program – A kleptomania therapy program will boost the ability to successfully deal with kleptomania. It will also help in working with any additional co-occurring disorders or addictions.
  • Continuing groups of support – The motivation and accountability provided by a support group is invaluable. A support group can offer supervision when facing tests of ending treatment and taking medications. They will play a key role in ongoing success.

Treatment Levels for Kleptomania

Treatment levels for kleptomania and other mood disorders vary on intensity. It is seldom that the more intensive treatments such as kleptomania residential treatment centers, inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and partial hospitalization programs are required. The treatment levels more commonly used for kleptomania are:

  • Outpatient Treatment Care – This type of care is comparable to an Intensive Outpatient Program but less intense. It places fewer limits on the person but still implements both group and personal therapies.
  • Treatment with Support Groups – This type of treatment is important as the members help alleviate the trials of relapsing. The group can supply much needed care and compassion on the road to recovery.

Types of Pharmacological Therapy for Kleptomania Treatment

Pharmacological therapy in conjunction with behavior therapy provides a truly effective combination in controlling kleptomania. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and opioid antagonists are the most common drug types used for helping manage kleptomania. Examples of these drug treatments include:

  • SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) – It is believed that one of the biological reasons for kleptomania is due to low serotonin levels. The SSRIs will increase the brain’s serotonin.
    • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
    • Paroxetine (Paxil)
    • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Opioid antagonists – This type of drug treatment blocks the opioid receptors in the brain and stops the body from responding to the endorphins that are created when stealing.
    • Nalaxone (Narcan)
    • Naltrexone (Revia)

Types of Therapy for Kleptomania Treatment

Psychotherapy in combination with drug treatment has presented the most effective treatment solution. There is no “cure” for kleptomania, but it can be controlled with the help of behavior therapy. A kleptomania treatment center will incorporate several amalgamations of behavioral therapies to better support rehabilitation of the diverse mental and emotional needs.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This category of rehabilitation is designed to work on a patient’s maladaptive ways of thinking as a way influencing their behavior with an approach that is more positive. This also assists the patient in developing coping skills that replace negative skills with positive ones.
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – This level of rehab integrates the common behavioral therapy components of IBT and CBT for the regulation of emotions. The introduction of stress management and mindful awareness are key for this therapy
  • Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) – The level of therapy provided by IPT centers upon the interpersonal connections and community functions utilizing brief supportive treatment and also tries to assist the person to better resolve existing situations and troubles. The four main parts acknowledged by IPT are role changes, relationship shortcomings, unresolved grief, and role disputes.
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – This type of cognitive behavioral treatment uses mindfulness and acceptance approaches mixed in multiple ways with strategies of commitment and behavior-change. The emotional and mental flexibility should be increased.
  • Supportive Programs – Groups much like group therapy, support groups, family therapy, etc. are included in this type of treatment. These support groups help the people involved in a bipolar disorder to better deal with the difficulties.

Kleptomania is often a misdiagnosed psychiatric disorder. Some people have difficulty considering it to be a disorder, most believe it to be an impulse control issue. It can greatly affect your life and lead to some serious legal consequences. Kleptomania occurs spontaneously and without planning. Seeking the aid of a kleptomania treatment center can help you get the impulse to steal under control. You can have control of your life again.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on May 22, 2018
Published on AddictionHope.com, Substance Abuse Resources