Treatment

Although fear, humiliation or embarrassment may make it hard for you to seek treatment for kleptomania, it's important to get help. Kleptomania is difficult to overcome on your own. Without treatment, kleptomania will likely be an ongoing, long-term condition.

Treatment of kleptomania typically involves medications and psychotherapy, or both, sometimes along with self-help groups. However, there's no standard kleptomania treatment, and researchers are still trying to understand what may work best. You may have to try several types of treatment to find what works well for you.

Medications

There's little scientific research about using psychiatric medications to treat kleptomania. And there is no FDA-approved medication for kleptomania. However, certain medications may help, depending on your situation and whether you have other mental health disorders, such as depression or substance misuse.

Your doctor may consider prescribing:

• An addiction medication called naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, which may reduce the urges and pleasure associated with stealing
• An antidepressant — specifically a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
• Other medications or a combination of medications

If medication is prescribed, ask your doctor, mental health professional or pharmacist about potential side effects or possible interactions with any other medications.

Psychotherapy

A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy helps you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. Cognitive behavioral therapy may include these techniques to help you control kleptomania urges:

• Covert sensitization, in which you picture yourself stealing and then facing negative consequences, such as being caught
• Aversion therapy, in which you practice mildly painful techniques, such as holding your breath until you become uncomfortable, when you get an urge to steal
• Systematic desensitization, in which you practice relaxation techniques and picture yourself controlling urges to steal

Avoiding relapses

It's not unusual to have relapses of kleptomania. To help avoid relapses, be sure to stick to your treatment plan. If you feel urges to steal, contact your mental health professional or reach out to a trusted person or support group.