Kleptomania: what causes compulsive stealing?

People steal for different reasons. Some people steal items they want or need but can’t afford. Others steal money or possessions to harm a specific person. 

And then there are times we hear about famous or wealthy people who shoplift things they could buy without thinking twice. In these cases, it’s hard to understand the rationale. Maybe they were looking for the rush that comes with the fear of being caught, or maybe they’re dealing with a condition called kleptomania. 

Kleptomania is different from regular stealing in that people have the urge to steal things with little monetary value or items they don’t need or want. Kleptomaniacs might even toss stolen items in storage or the trash.

Let’s take a closer look at what kleptomania is, potential causes, and how to get help for it.

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Kleptomania, or compulsive stealing, is a type of impulse control disorder where an individual repeatedly gets the urge to steal things. Frequently they steal things of non-importance or of low value. 

What distinguishes kleptomania from stealing is these two concepts: repeated theft and stealing items with no monetary value. People who steal things for personal gain do not have kleptomania. Taking that useless street sign one time in college doesn’t mean you’re a kleptomaniac. 

The exact cause of kleptomania is unknown, but there are several possibilities.

Some cases may result from childhood trauma, parental neglect, and abuse. With this theory, stealing could represent repossessing childhood losses (Talih, 2011). 

Many kleptomaniacs have other mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The clustering of psychiatric disorders supports the idea that kleptomania results from a chemical imbalance of serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for controlling mood and impulsive behavior.

Brain imaging scans have also revealed that some people with kleptomania have varying amounts of neural tissue (Grant, 2006b). Sometimes people develop it due to brain damage from an injury or a neurological condition. 

You might be wondering how to tell the difference between a kleptomaniac vs. a garden variety shoplifter. 

People with kleptomania steal things that aren’t for personal use or gain. Symptoms of kleptomania include throwing stolen items in the trash, hoarding, giving stolen things away, or returning items to the original owner.

Kleptomaniacs have problems with impulse control and feel strong urges to steal. They find pleasure in the act of shoplifting rather than from the item itself. If you or someone you know is seeking help for kleptomania, documenting how you felt before and during a theft can be helpful (Grant, 2006c).

Kleptomania is pretty rare, affecting less than 1% of the general population. Unfortunately, there’s not much research regarding the condition and no standardized treatment for it (Fariba, 2021).

Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are the most common treatments for kleptomania. Mental health professionals use aversion therapy or sensitization techniques, so the patient associates stealing with negative consequences and thoughts (Grant 2006a). 

There’s no medication indicated for kleptomania, but a medication called naltrexone can reduce symptoms associated with it. It’s usually for alcohol and substance use disorders but shows promise for treating impulse control problems (Grant, 2009). 

Antidepressants and mood-stabilizing medications may also be prescribed, but the results have been inconsistent. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as escitalopram (brand name Lexapro; see Important Safety Information) and fluoxetine (brand name Prozac; see Important Safety Information) increase levels of serotonin.

Some kleptomaniacs benefit from SSRIs, but others do not. There are also times when kleptomania has been a side effect of SSRIs (Grant 2006a).

Treatment of kleptomania varies depending on the cause and any other mental health disorders present. Being transparent with a healthcare provider will help them make the correct diagnosis and get you on the best path for treatment.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

August 05, 2021

Written by

Hope Chang, PharmD

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.