Impulse Control Disorders

By: Mackenzie, Anya and Bailey! Impulse Control Disorders http://lapalomatreatment.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/impulsecontrol_w200.jpg

Intermittent Explosive Disorder • Definition: the inability to control violent impulses. It can be difficult to identify this disorder because it is often confused with bad temper or behaviour. • Causes: • Too much testosterone • Childhood exposure to illegal substances • Head trauma, seizures, brain infections • Grown up with unstable family • No role model in early life • Low self-esteem, insecurity http://helpingpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/iStock_000011086631XSmall.jpg

Symptoms: • Can last 10-20 mins • Repeated, unpredictable episodes • No sign of aggression between episodes • Injuries and destruction of property • Irritable, increased anger, rage, tingling, chest tightness, headache Treatments/Therapies: • Medication and/or individual/group therapy • Cognitive behaviour therapy • Medications: antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anti-anxiety agents, mood regulators http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vbS7BIUoZ94/SZeEnqP1OLI/AAAAAAAABI8/3lNsKcA38iU/s400/abuse+03.jpg

Kleptomania • Definition: the inability to resist the urge to steal things, although the items they steal have no personal gain. It is quite rare, and should not be confused with shop lifting. Causes: • Possible genetic component • Depression, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are often present as well • Most cases occur in females • Large amounts of stress can trigger an episode http://www.buzzle.com/articles/kleptomania-treatment.html

Symptoms: • Urges to steal • Increased tension leading up to theft, pleasure while stealing, guilt and shame afterwards • Uncomfortably anxious, tense, or aroused • Spontaneous • Things like arguments can trigger an episode • Can show a fetish (stealing the same kind of thing) http://spotlight.femina.in/full-story/celebs-secret-illness-kleptomania

Treatments/Therapies: • medications including; antidepressants, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, anti-seizure medications, addiction Medication • spsychotherapy: cognitive behaviour therapy, covert sensitization, aversion therapy, systematic desensitization http://hubpages.com/hub/Kleptomania-Be-Aware http://newsletter.nlb.gov.sg/back_apr_may06/reviews/bookreviews/health.asp

Pathological Gambling • Definition: an uncontrollable urge to gamble. It • destroys relationships, causes financial problems, • or can cause problems with the law, the individual • can not stop. • Causes: • Highly competitive • Problems with brain’s serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine • Believe they have control over the situation, which relieves their stress • May have a genetic component • Majority of cases of pathological gambling occur in white males http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=13296

Symptoms: • Can be more serious during stress or depression • preoccupied with gambling and getting money • Usually about the excitement • taking time from work/family • feel remorse afterwards • borrow or steal money • Lying Treatments/Therapies: • medications include: antidepressants, mood stabilizers, narcotic antagonists • Psychotherapy: cognitive behaviour therapy, group therapy http://www.casinoteach.com/

Pyromania • Definition: uncontrollable impulse to set fires repeatedly with no motive. • Causes: • Feels repressed by authority, but seeks attention • May have been neglected • Stressful events can trigger an episode • Can have bad social skills, and poor relationships, if any http://abtomorrow.blogspot.com/2010/06/pyromania.html

Symptoms: • deliberate fire setting (more than once) • interest or attraction to fire • Tension or excitement prior to incident • pleasure/relief after or when setting fire Treatment/therapies: • treatment isn't found to work very well, and there aren't many approaches • medications: serotonin reuptake inhibitors • psychotherapy: behaviour modification http://shineanthology.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/should-sf-die/

Trichotillomania • Definition: the uncontrollable desire to pluck hair from their body. This can be the hair on their head, but also can include the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair. This can results in complete hair loss. • Causes: • Mutations in a gene • Childhood abuse - including sexual, physical, or emotional • May be a learned disorder • Stressful situations could trigger an episode http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/scalp-care/problems/trichotillomania1.htm

Symptoms: • patchy/bald areas (head, eye lashes, eyebrows, etc) • chewing/eating/playing with pulled out hair • rubbing pulled out hair across lips or face • sometimes use tools (tweezers, etc) • Can be intentional or unintentional Treatments/therapies: • medications: antidepressents • psychotherapy: cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) http://www.pgbeautygroomingscience.com/hair-loss.html http://ontrich.com/inspirational-photos-of-trichotillomania.html

Sources • http://allpsych.com/disorders/impulse_control/index.html • http://www.suite101.com/content/what-is-intermittent-explosive-disorder-a127176 • http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=114 • http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/search/search • http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/pyromania.htm • http://www.brainphysics.com/kleptomania.php • http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/what-causes-intermittent-explosive-disorder/ • http://www.forensicpsychiatry.ca/impulse/overview.htm

Impulse Control Disorders