Anne has a persistent urge to steal things. She looks around the stores she visits slipping small items that attract her attention into her purse or pocket. However, her motivation for stealing is not based on need. She steals for the sake of fulfilling her impulse to do so. Which of the following disorders is she most likely to be diagnosed with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anne's behavior of stealing not based on a need but rather an impulse suggests that she may have kleptomania, which is characterized by recurrent, irresistible urges to steal items that are not needed for personal use or for their monetary value. Amnesia refers to a loss of memory, pyromania is an impulse control disorder involving setting fires, and trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder involving compulsive hair pulling.

Anne Has a Persistent Urge to Steal Things