6.3.1 Flashcards
Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs)
ICDs involve a build-up of tension, recurrent irresistible urges to carry out specific behaviors, short-lived euphoria or relief when the behavior is performed, and distress and dysfunction due to shame or guilt.
Kleptomania
Kleptomania involves stealing unwanted or unnecessary items. It affects about 0.6% of the general population and can develop at any age, though it is more common in women.
Pyromania
Pyromania is characterized by a fascination with fire, fire-starting paraphernalia, and the fire service. It is found in 3-6% of psychiatric inpatients, with a relatively young onset and increasing severity over time.
Gambling Disorder
Gambling disorder is marked by impaired control over gambling, prioritizing it over other activities. It affects about 4% of the US population, with an average onset in mid-30s, earlier in men than women.
Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (K-SAS)
The K-SAS is an 11-item self-report scale, scored from 0 to 4, that measures urges, thoughts, and actions related to kleptomania in the past week. A score of more than 31 indicates severe symptoms.
Practical Aspects of K-SAS
The K-SAS takes about 10 minutes to complete and requires no training for administration or scoring, making it an easy tool to use in clinical settings.
Self-Report Validity in K-SAS
Self-report data from the K-SAS may lack validity if respondents do not answer honestly or if they are influenced by social desirability bias.
Quantitative Data from K-SAS
K-SAS provides quantitative data, offering objectivity with no need for subjective interpretation. This helps reduce bias in diagnosing kleptomania.
Reliability of K-SAS
Reliability of the K-SAS may be affected by different interpretations of the rating scales. For example, what one person considers ‘moderate’ may be viewed as ‘extreme’ by someone else.
Idiographic vs. Nomothetic in K-SAS
The K-SAS provides a nomothetic approach to kleptomania research by offering generalizable data, such as measuring symptom severity before and after treatment. Case studies, however, are more idiographic and provide deeper context.
Impact of ICDs on Lives
Case studies such as Glover (1985) provide more idiographic insights, offering a nuanced understanding of how ICDs like kleptomania affect individuals personally and socially.
Prevalence of Kleptomania
Kleptomania is found in approximately 0.6% of the general population, though it is more common in women.
Prevalence of Pyromania
Pyromania affects 3-6% of psychiatric inpatients and typically begins at a relatively young age, with severity increasing over time.
Prevalence of Gambling Disorder
Gambling disorder affects about 4% of the population in the US. It usually begins in the mid-30s and occurs earlier in men than women.
Treatment and K-SAS
The K-SAS can be used to measure treatment efficacy by comparing scores before and after therapy for kleptomania, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the effectiveness of interventions.
K-SAS Scoring for Severity
K-SAS scores are interpreted as follows: severe symptoms (31+), moderate symptoms (21+), mild symptoms (below 21), with individual items rated on a scale from 0 (None) to 4 (Extreme).
Kleptomania and Euphoria
Kleptomania is marked by a short-lived feeling of euphoria or relief after stealing, which may drive the compulsive behavior.
Distress in ICDs
ICDs, including kleptomania, pyromania, and gambling disorder, are often associated with significant distress and dysfunction due to shame, guilt, and the inability to control the behavior.
Kleptomania as a Gendered Disorder
Kleptomania is more commonly diagnosed in women than in men, although it can develop at any age.
Age of Onset in Gambling Disorder
Gambling disorder typically begins in the mid-30s, though it can develop between the ages of 8 and 80, with men typically experiencing an earlier onset than women.
