Impulse Control Disorder

Impulse Control Disorder
General Psychology

11:00-12:15 T/H
11/29/13

What is impulse control disorder? Impulse control disorder is more than just acting on a whim. People with an impulse control disorder, a newer form of personality disorders, can’t resist the urge to do something harmful to themselves or others (Ploskin, 2007). People with these disorders may or may not plan the acts, but the acts generally fulfill their immediate, conscious wishes. Most people, however, find their disorders highly distressing and feel a loss of control over their lives (Ploskin, 2007). Scientists don’t know what causes these disorders. But many things probably play a role, including physical or biological, psychological or emotional and cultural or societal factors (Ploskin, 2007). Diagnosis and treatment varies with each impulse control disorder, but both are a very important factor. People often mistake impulse control disorders for other, more common, disorders or diseases. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or in a manic state of bipolar might have difficulty controlling their impulses, but it is not their main problem (Ploskin, 2007). Some symptoms to more obvious than others. The most common of these are intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pyromania, compulsive gambling disorder, and trichotillomania (Sisk, 2005). Intermittent explosive disorder is explained as episodes of aggressive and violent outbursts and loss and lack of control of anger. Usually one of these episodes result in damage and destruction of property, domestic violence, and physical assault. These acts often come with legal ramifications as well. The degree of aggressiveness during each episode is beyond any relationship to stress (Sisk, 2005). Kleptomania is defined as a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit or the inability to resist impulses to repetitively steal objects that are not necessary for personal use or monetary value. Children and adolescents with kleptomania have an increasing sense of tension just before stealing, followed by pleasure or gratification (Sisk, 2005). Those who steal out of need or to support substance abuse or because they have no regard for society's laws, are not considered to have kleptomania. Individuals with kleptomania won't feel guilty after stealing something (Sisk, 2005).
Pyromania is the repetitive and deliberate setting of fires. Children and adolescents with pyromania often feel aroused by fire-setting, or feel relief, and gratification when setting fires. Witnessing the consequences of fire usually also have the same effects. Pyromaniacs are fascinated and attracted to fire and related accessories, such as matches, lighters, etc... Fire-setting is not performed for any other reasons, such as for financial gain, to express anger, or to perform a criminal act (Sisk 2005).
Trichotillomania is characterized by constantly pulling out of one's hair to produce noticeable hair loss. Individuals with this type of impulse control disorder pull hair from everywhere on their body, not just from their head, although that is the most common place for it to be noticed. When pulling it from the head, it’s usually done in patches, but will try to cover it up by parting their hair a different way. They also experience pleasure or relief when pulling out hair (Sisk 2005).
Compulsive gambling disorder, also called pathological gambling, is persistent gambling behavior characterized by five or more of the following:
• having a preoccupation with gambling or repeated unsuccessful efforts to control gambling
• needing to gamble with increasingly larger amounts of money to achieve the same excitement
• telling lies to family members, therapists, and others to conceal extent of gambling involvement • committing forgery, fraud, or theft to finance gambling and being restless or irritable when trying to stop gambling
A couple other symptoms are gambling to escape problems or to relieve tension or other feelings and relying on others to provide financial support due to financial difficulties caused by gambling (Sisk 2005). Most compulsive gamblers attempt to cover up the extent of their gambling, may jeopardize relationships or jobs, and some even commit illegal acts to support gambling. Studies have also documented the association between compulsive gambling and high rates of suicide and attempts, divorce, and spousal abuse. (Petry, Stinson & Grant, 2005). Parents with children and adolescents that notice these types of behaviors earlier on, are recommended to contact a doctor immediately. In most cases a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist will be given (Sisk 2005). Impulse control disorders are diagnosed by psychological and psychiatric evaluations, interviews with family members, teachers, and caregivers, and observation and interviews with the child or adolescent. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision C (DSM-IV-TR) (Sisk 2005).
Impulse control disorders are treated with medication, therapy, and behavior modification. If these disorders are occurring with another condition, such as ADHD, medicine and therapy for that condition often helps lessen the impulse control disorder. Depression is often an underlying factor in some impulse control disorders, mainly pertaining to compulsive gambling and trichotillomania. Therefore, treatment with antidepressants may also be helpful. Long-term counseling and therapy are usually necessary as well. Therapy methods to help with impulse control generally involve behavior modification, anger and stress management, and psychoanalysis (Sisk 2005).
In conclusion, the only way to help someone with an impulse control disorder is to get them professional help. It is not preventable and not necessarily caused by anything in particular. Although certain things can cause these psychological disorders, some people are just simply born with them.

Resources
Ploskin, D. (2007). What are impulse control disorders?. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-are-impulse-control-disorders/0001161-

Sisk, J. (2005). Impulse control disorders. Retrieved from http://www.healthofchildren.com/I-K/Impulse-Control-Disorders.html

Petry, N. M., Stinson, F. S., & Grant, B. F. (2005). Comorbidity of dsm-iv pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders: Results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66(5), 564-567. Retrieved from http://www.psychiatrist.com/privatepdf/2005/v66n05/v66n0504.pdf