Kleptomania: a report of 20 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' objective was to provide phenomenologic, family history, and treatment response data on a group of rigorously diagnosed patients with kleptomania.


METHODS
Twenty consecutive inpatients and outpatients met DSM-III-R criteria for current kleptomania or a past history of kleptomania. These patients were given structured diagnostic interviews, and their family histories of psychiatric disorders were assessed blindly. The patients' responses to psychosocial and biological treatments were also assessed.


RESULTS
All of the kleptomanic patients had lifetime diagnoses of major mood disorders, 16 had lifetime diagnoses of anxiety disorders, and 12 had lifetime diagnoses of eating disorders. A high morbid risk of major mood disorders (0.31) was found in their first-degree relatives. Ten of 18 patients receiving thymoleptic medications reported reduction or remission of their stealing behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Kleptomania may be related to major mood disorder and perhaps may represent another form of "affective spectrum disorder."
McElroy
S L
SL
Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178.
Pope
H G
HG
Hudson
J I
JI
Keck
P E
PE
White
K L
KL
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000928:Antidepressive Agents