Also spelled kleptomania, this disorder pushes an individual to steal things without being able to control it.
When the drive takes him, the kleptomaniac (or kleptomaniac) increases in tension. Whether in a store or at work, the temptation to commit theft is irresistible. So, out of sight, he slides a book, a utensil or a colleague’s pen in his pocket. This psychiatric disorder would be the expression of an inner malaise linked to the person’s experience. What are the characteristics of the kleptomaniac and why do we become one? Explanations with Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez Loyola, clinical psychologist in Montreal.
In the psychiatry reference manual, the DSM-V, kleptomania (or kleptomania) is listed in the category of disruptive impulse control and conduct disorders. It is characterized by an irrepressible tendency to steal objects. “ Acting out is often motivated by the search for satisfaction, the release of adrenaline that accompanies the flight in connection with the need to release tension “, explains Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez. Thus the transgressive behavior is not motivated by a lack of money or a material need but would be explained by the existence of a psychic conflict specific to the individual.
A particularity of this disorder is that the act of theft and the place where it takes place have more value in the eyes of the individual than the very nature of the object, which has no real personal utility. The kleptomaniac can thus target a particular store because it is associated with a particular emotional value. “ But it can also take place at work or at home, for example, since these places are part of everyday life and are therefore loaded with symbols for the person. “says the psychologist.
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How does a kleptomaniac feel?
People with kleptomaniacs repress internal tension until the moment of flight, which is followed by a sensation of relief. Often the actions are impulsive, unpremeditated and take place in “times of crisis”. Furthermore, since flying provides a positive feeling, the individual can also take pleasure in the expectation of relief or gratification. “ Be careful though, kleptomania has nothing to do with delinquency since the financial value of the object does not matter and individuals do not have an antisocial personality structure, unlike the delinquent. “, underlines the psychologist.
Secondly, satisfaction and relief are frequently accompanied by a feeling of guilt faced with the impossibility of controlling their behavior, or even of shame because the individual knows that he has harmed others. This is why people with kleptomania cover up their actions and can end up suffering from significant relationship problems.
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Why do we become kleptomaniacs?
There is no single cause for kleptomania. This disorder is of multifactorial origin, often in relation to a personal experience. “ It is primarily a symptom », stresses Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez. We must therefore look elsewhere than in the act to understand the motivation: what led the person to commit the theft? What does the environment or the object represent? Do they have symbolic value? For what ?
The motive often takes root at the level of interpersonal relationships. “ Some people are taken by impulses during critical periods, for example when a loved one is dying, during a separation or in the event of conflicts with the close entourage. », Analyzes Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez. For the psychologist, the behavior of stealing presents itself as a solution, an adaptive and unconscious strategy to express an impasse that the individual does not manage to manifest orally: the act then replaces the words, it gives a positive feeling which comes fill a lack, an anguish, even depressive thoughts…
« If we stick to the psychiatric manual, we will not speak of addiction to theft either, although there are repeated episodes “says the psychologist. One thing is certain, however: this repetitive nature can lead to a form of addiction, sometimes over the long term.
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Ideally, the treatment is under a voluntary approach. However, people rarely seek help because they are unaware of the consequences that kleptomania can have on their lives. “ We often receive these patients under court order because their actions have brought them to court. But this complicates care because a treatment does not work if it is imposed “, admits the psychologist. However, an arrest can generate an awareness which constitutes the fundamental brick for any work on oneself.
The psychotherapeutic approach will seek to open a space for discussion with the individual. “ We try to let the person express themselves on their experience, by pointing out what might have made them lose their bearings. For example, the loss of a loved one can raise questions: what in me was lost and taken with this person? If so, we dig deeper », Illustrates Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez. Once the crisis is defused, several consultations will resolve the problem, the objective being that the patient becomes an actor in his own healing.
The cognitive-behavioral approach will rather be interested in the explanation of the sensation of reward. “ This approach is limiting because it explains the behavior but not what underlies it, which is why we will favor, in this approach, a multidisciplinary framework. “, insists Ivan Rodrigo Gonzalez. This may include a psychiatric support with drug treatment, in particular if a depressive state or another associated psychic disorder is detected.