Abstract
Kleptomania, defined as the recurrent failure to resist the impulse to steal, is associated with significant functional impairment. We hypothesized that people with kleptomania would report elevated levels of perceived stress. Sixteen subjects with DSM-IV kleptomania were administered the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and compared with 20 subjects with DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD). Change in PSS scores in response to treatment and the relationship between PSS scores and severity of kleptomania symptoms were analyzed. The subjects with kleptomania had a significantly greater mean baseline PSS score than the 20 subjects with MDD (t = 8.55, df = 34, p = .000). PSS scores were significantly correlated with severity of kleptomania symptoms (r = .71, p = .002), even when controlling for comorbid diagnoses (r = .67, p = .006). PSS scores significantly decreased during the course of treatment (t = 9.31, df = 15, p = .000). People with kleptomania have higher levels of perceived stress than people with MDD, and the perceived stress decreases as the kleptomania symptoms are treated.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
McElroy SL, Hudson JI, Pope HG, et al: Kleptomania: clinical characteristics and associated psychopathology. Psychological Medicine 21:93-108, 1991.
Goldman MJ: Kleptomania: An overview. Psychiatric Annals 22:68-71, 1992.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV)(4th ed.). Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
McElroy SL, Pope HG, Hudson JI, et al: Kleptomania: A report of 20 cases. American Journal of Psychiatry 148:652-657, 1991.
Presta S, Marazziti D, Dell'Osso L, et al: Kleptomania: clinical features and comorbidity in an Italian sample. Comprehensive Psychiatry 43:7-12, 2002.
McElroy SL, Keck PE, Phillips KA: Kleptomania, compulsive buying, and binge eating disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 56:14-26, 1995.
Grant JE, Kim SW: Clinical characteristics and associated psychopathology of 22 patients with kleptomania. Comprehensive Psychiatry 43:378-384, 2002.
Cooper CL, Cooper R, Faragher EB: Incidence and perception of psychosocial stress: The relationship with breast cancer. Psychological Medicine 19:415-422, 1989.
Horesh N, Apter A, Lepkifker E, et al: Life events and severe anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 91:5-9, 1995.
Groer M, Carr J, Younger M: Relationships between self reported symptoms of infection, menstrual-cycle-related distress, and cycle phase. Behavioral Medicine 19:13-19, 1993.
Hewitt PL, Gordon LF, Mosher SW: The perceived stress scale: Factor structure and relation to depression symptoms in a psychiatric sample. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 14:247-257, 1992.
Kupier NA, Olinger J, Lyons LM: Global perceived stress level as a moderator of the relationship between negative life events and depression. Journal of Human Stress Winter:149-153, 1986.
Fava M, Rosenbaum JF, McCarthy M, et al: Correlations between perceived stress and depressive symptoms among depressive outpatients. Stress Medicine 8:73-76, 1992.
Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R: A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 24:385-396, 1983.
First MB, Spitzer RL, Gibbon M, et al: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Patient Edition (SCID-I/P, Version 2.0). New York, Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1995.
Hamilton M: A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 23:56-62, 1960.
Grant JE, Kim SW: An open label study of naltrexone in the treatment of kleptomania. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 63:349-356, 2002.
Martin RA, Shahe SK, Breiter HJ: Perceived stress, life events, dysfunctional attitudes, and depression in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 17:81-95, 1995.
DeMarco LM, Li LC, Phillips KA, et al: Perceived stress in body dysmorphic disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders 186:774-726, 1998.
Fava M, Davidson K, Alpert JE, et al: Hostility changes following antidepressant treatment: Relationship to stress and negative thinking. Journal of Psychiatric Research 30:459-467, 1996.
Goldman MJ. Kleptomania: The compulsion to steal—what can be done? Far Hills, NJ, New Horizon Press, 1998.
DiClemente CC, Prochaska JO, Fairhurst SK, et al: The process of smoking cessation: An analysis of precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 59:295-304, 1991.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grant, J.E., Kim, S.W. & Grosz, R.L. Perceived Stress in Kleptomania. Psychiatr Q 74, 251–258 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024114504519
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024114504519