Kleptomania in a patient with a right frontolimbic lesion.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report the case of a patient in whom kleptomania developed in the course of a right frontolimbic behavior syndrome after undergoing surgery.


BACKGROUND
Kleptomania is a behavior abnormality that is classified as an impulse-control disorder; however, little is known about its organic correlates.


METHODS
History included neurologic data, neuropsychological data, electroencephalographic data, and magnetic resonance images.


RESULTS
Observation of kleptomania associated with a large sellar craniopharyngioma with right-sided extension suggests that the site of a lesion may be crucial for the development of an impulse-control disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors discuss kleptomania in the context of functional deficits associated with damage to orbitofrontal-subcortical circuits, and they suggest that kleptomania is a neuropsychiatric symptom that can be conceptualized as being an uncommon compulsive display of impulse dyscontrol.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland.
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Nyffeler
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Regard
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology