Impulse Control Disorders

By: Mackenzie, Anya and Bailey!

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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, addictionMedication spsychotherapy: cognitive behaviour therapy,covert sensitization, aversion therapy, systematicdesensitization

http://hubpages.com/hub/Kleptomania-Be-Aware http://newsletter.nlb.gov.sg/back_apr_may06/reviews/bookreviews/health.asp

Pathological GamblingDefinition: 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://ontrich.com/inspirational-photos-of-trichotillomania.html

http://www.pgbeautygroomingscience.com/hair-loss.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