title: Treating kleptomania: cross-cultural adaptation of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale and assessment of an outpatient program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kleptomania is characterized by repetitive stealing and has severe consequences for patients. Stigma, a lack of standardized therapy and a limited number of assessment tools hinder advances in treatment. This study provides preliminary data on the Portuguese-language version of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (P-K-SAS) and preliminary data on an outpatient program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experts in the field analyzed an initial P-K-SAS version, produced through translation/back-translation, in order to arrive at a final version. Eight patients currently on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 10 patients under maintenance CBT were initially assessed, then re-assessed 6months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean P-K-SAS score was higher among patients initiating CBT than among those under maintenance CBT (21.1±8.0 vs. 11.3±7.5; Mann-Whitney U=15.0, P=.024). The final version of the P-K-SAS presented excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.980; inter-item correlation, 0.638-0.907).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P-K-SAS presented solid psychometrics and seems ready for use in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for kleptomania. The findings suggest that kleptomania patients need follow-up treatment that goes beyond the traditional 12-session structure.
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil; Eating Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cidrchris@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Aparecida Rangon
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Christianini
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo School of Public Health; and Eating Disorders Program, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine; and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hearst
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Táki Athanássios
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cordás
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano Nabuco
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.affiliation: Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hermano
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome