Impulse Control Disorders: Psychological Factors

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are characterized by the inability to inhibit or control behavior and/or emotions, even in the face of adverse consequences to self or to others. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), includes the following diagnoses under the broad category of ICDs: intermittent explosive disorder, conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), kleptomania, and pyromania. It is not uncommon for individuals with ICDs to meet criteria for more than one ICD and/or to meet criteria for other mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance misuse) or personality disorders (e.g., borderline, histrionic, antisocial). Not surprisingly, the severity of comorbidities can exacerbate ICD symptoms. For example, levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms experienced can alter the frequency of shoplifting in ...

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