Kleptomania

Kleptomania ( altgr. κλέπτειν kléptein, steal ' and μανία mania, frenzy ', ' anger ', ' madness ') literally means " monomania of theft ". The term dates from the early 19th century and is now almost unanimously rejected in psychiatry.

German paraphrases of the term

• " Compulsive stealing"
• " Compulsive stealing"
• " Addicted to stealing "
• " Neurotic stealing"
• " Pathological stealing"
• " Psychopathic Stehltrieb "
• " Stehlsucht "
• " Stehltrieb "
• " Theft passion "
• " Stealing without enrichment trend "
• " Thefts without significant enrichment trend "

The term comes from the monomania doctrine of the French psychiatrist Jean -Etienne Esquirol and Charles Henry Marc Chretien. Marc coined the term, which means as much as " monomania of theft ". A precursor of the term was the term " Klopémanie " of the Geneva physician André Matthey. Matthey introduced this term in 1816 as part of his doctrine of " Pathomanie " before ( which was reformulated by Esquirol to monomania doctrine ).

The forensic psychiatry calls in the assessment of criminal responsibility in connection with a theft the explicit detection of known mental disorders. The features included in the " kleptomania " concept are usually sociological nature ( assets position of the thief in relation to the value of the stolen goods ) and no features of psychopathology.

Adoption of the concept in the International Classification of Mental Disorders

Remains of monomania doctrine can still be found in the ICD -10 in Chapter F63 ( " Abnormal habits and disorders of impulse control " ), including the categories F63.2 " Pathological stealing [ kleptomania ] ". The problem remains that the assumption is suggested by the inclusion of the term " kleptomania " in the ICD -10 or DSM -IV, it was stated that thefts with the characteristics of " kleptomania " is a mental illness that is blame -reducing court effect ( cf. theft - issues around the term " kleptomania ").

Symptoms and complaints

Pathological stealing occurs when

• Two or more thefts are carried out by a person without a will, there is enrichment for themselves or others.
• In those affected an intense urge to steal is present and they have a sense of tension before the theft and after its implementation feel relief.
• Those affected by the decay of the voltage sense initially have a guilty conscience, but still continue to steal.

Chronic suffering is often only be overcome with professional help.

Causes

Motivations for kleptomania are varied and controversial among experts. It is unclear whether kleptomania is forced or addiction.

Some psychoanalysts believe that stealing is a kind of substitute gratification for suppressed desires. It is also assumed that the stolen objects have only a symbolic value and to highlight certain repressed realms of consciousness.

Other schools of thought suggest that kleptomania is a hidden form of resistance against the Company or go excitatory feelings of stealing as a motive because stealing the kleptomaniac releases hormones that cause a feeling of happiness to him. To always get a "kick", the kleptomaniac steals over time more valuable and harder -to-get things.

Consequences and complications

Kleptomaniacs are liable to prosecution by their behavior. The stolen property is hidden or destroyed after the fact. Stealing prepares the kleptomaniac a guilty conscience.

Treatment

The treatment of kleptomania done psychoanalytical or behavioral therapy.