by Michael Anderson

Created on: August 13, 2009   Last Updated: August 14, 2009

Twenty-one year old Kathy Higgins was furious. Kathy was at the mall shopping for an outfit for her date tonight. What used to be her favorite past time just became her worst nightmare. Kathy saw her boyfriend cheating with Sarah, her best friend. As Kathy passed an office supply store, something in the window caught her eye; it was a box of paper clips. Suddenly, an unshakeable urge overwhelmed Kathy. She couldn't control herself as she walked into the store and stuffed the paperclips in her pocket while no one was looking. Her adrenaline was pumping and a feeling of satisfaction and excitement enveloped her. Kathy ran all the way home giggling like a maniac and locked herself in her apartment. After realizing what she had done, she felt terribly guilty and began to regret her actions.

What Kathy just experienced was an episode of kleptomania. Kleptomania is a form of impulse control disorder; a disorder in which a person can't resist the temptation to perform an action that is harmful to one's self or others. People that have kleptomania know their actions are harmful, but the urge to steal is so irresistible that left unsoothed can make the person feel anxious, tense, or even aroused. When the person steals, he or she feels relief or gratification, but afterwards they feel enormous guilt and remorse and even self-loathing. However, even after the person regrets what they did, the urge always returns unexpectedly, and thus the cycle is repeated. Although research is limited in the field of kleptomania, some information is known about the disorder. The symptoms of a person with kleptomania, or most commonly called kleptomaniacs, are not the same as the motivations of your average shoplifter.

Powerful urges to steal items of little monetary value or that aren't needed for personal use

Kleptomaniacs do not steal for personal gain. They steal because of an inexplicable urge that drives them to steal. For example, a kleptomaniac may steal a pack of erasers or a box of rubber bands. Eventually, a person will develop a preference of items to steal.

Feeling increased tension leading up to theft

While the urge to steal comes spontaneously, doctors believe that stressful events, such as arguments, are triggers for episodes of kleptomania.

Feeling pleasure or gratification while stealing

Researchers believe that a naturally occurring brain chemical called serotonin plays a role in this disorder. Serotonin acts as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve

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