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When a teen keeps stealing without knowing why, it can feel confusing and scary for both of you. You might feel worried, frustrated, or unsure how to help them stop. In this guide, you’ll learn what kleptomania is, how it can manifest in teens, what may cause it, and where to find support and treatment.
Key takeaways
- Kleptomania is an impulse-control disorder, not just teenage mischief.
- It’s rare (0.3–0.6% of people, ~0.7% of high school students) compared to common one-off shoplifting.
- Key red flags include stealing items they don’t need, repeated urges, emotional buildup beforehand, and feelings of relief or shame afterward.
- Risk factors include ADHD/ASD, history of trauma/abuse, brain-chemical imbalances, and co-occurring issues like depression or substance use.
- Parents should remain calm, listen without judgment, set clear boundaries, document incidents, and promptly seek professional help, typically evidence-based therapy (e.g., CBT, ERP). When recommended by a clinician, consider medication such as naltrexone.
What is kleptomania?
Kleptomania is a type of impulse control disorder defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), as a repeated failure to resist urges to steal items that are not needed for personal use or their value.
It includes rising tension before the act and feelings of relief or pleasure afterward. Because kleptomania is a mental health condition, it is not simply a sign of bad behavior or a character flaw.
Prevalence of kleptomania in teens
Many teens may take something that doesn’t belong to them at some point, but compulsive stealing is relatively uncommon. Studies estimate that about 0.3% to 0.6% of all people meet the criteria for kleptomania. It’s essential to understand how often this condition appears and how it differs from general stealing behavior:
High school students
- General stealing behavior: In a survey of nearly 4,000 U.S. high school students, 15.2% reported having stolen something in the past. This suggests that stealing can be a common aspect of teenage behavior.
- Kleptomania diagnosis: Only 0.72% of students in that same group met the full clinical criteria for kleptomania. That means their behavior included repeated urges, a lack of need for the item, and feelings such as tension or relief associated with the act.
Shoplifters
Research shows that between 3.8% and 24% of people arrested for shoplifting may have kleptomania. This further explains that not everyone who steals is a kleptomaniac.
When kleptomania tends to begin
Kleptomania often starts during childhood or the early teen years. One study found that 35% of people with kleptomania had symptoms beginning before age 11. This timing supports earlier findings that many mental health concerns, including kleptomania, often begin during the teen years.
What does this mean for parents?
While stealing is common, true kleptomania is rare. Knowing the difference matters:
- Most teens who steal do it once or under pressure, not from an uncontrollable urge.
- A small number shows the repeated, urge-driven pattern that points to a mental health condition.
- Suppose the behavior is ongoing and follows a pattern, especially if it involves emotional signs. In that case, it may be time to seek help.
Causes and risk factors of teen kleptomania
There is no single known cause of kleptomania in teens. However, several factors may increase the chances that a teen develops this disorder. These factors include:
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Some teens have mental or developmental conditions that might increase the tendency to steal things compulsively:
- ADHD and ASD diagnoses: Teens with attention problems (ADHD) often act quickly without thinking about the results. Teens with autism (ASD) may struggle with understanding social rules. These challenges can make it more difficult to resist impulses, such as stealing.
- More common in boys: One study found that boys with ADHD or ASD were more likely to steal than girls. This may be due to differences in how boys express behavior problems.
- Added stress: Teens with these disorders who also face stress or trauma may be more likely to act out through stealing. The mix of brain challenges and life stress can increase the risk.
Trauma and abuse history
Traumatic experiences are one of the possible causes of impulse control disorders such as kleptomania. Studies have found strong links between trauma and stealing:
- History of abuse: Teens who have lived through abuse, such as physical punishment, emotional harm, substance use, or neglect, may develop stealing as a way to cope with their pain or feel in control.
- Emotional struggles: After trauma, some teens feel numb, anxious, or overwhelmed. Stealing may become a way to escape those feelings or create a sense of excitement or relief.
Neurobiological factors
A 2024 research suggests that changes in the brain’s reward and control systems may affect how kleptomania develops in teens:
- Addiction-like patterns: Kleptomania can work like an addiction. A teen may feel a strong urge to steal, feel a rush or relief after taking something, and then feel regret soon after.
- Brain chemical changes: Neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, play a crucial role in regulating emotions and behavior. When these are unbalanced, it may become harder for a teenager to manage impulses, such as stealing.
Other mental health conditions
Studies show that teens who steal often have other mental health challenges as well:
- Drug use and risky behavior: Some teens who steal also use drugs or alcohol, skip school, or break rules. These behaviors often happen together as part of a larger pattern.
- Depression or school problems: Teens who feel sad, hopeless, or stressed may steal as a way to deal with their emotions. They may also struggle with grades or lose interest in school.
Symptoms of kleptomania in teens
Kleptomania often shows up differently in teens than in adults. The symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for typical misbehavior, such as shoplifting or rule-breaking. Here are some signs to look out for:
Emotional and behavioral signs
- Strong urges to steal: Your teen may describe feeling a strong push to take something, even if they don’t want or need it.
- Tension before stealing: They might feel nervous, anxious, or restless right before the act.
- Relief or pleasure after stealing: After taking the item, your teen may feel a sense of calm, excitement, or emotional release.
- Guilt or shame afterward: Even if they feel relief at first, many teens with kleptomania later feel bad or confused about what they did.
Patterns and situations
These signs help show when and how the behavior tends to happen:
- Stealing things they don’t need: The items taken often have little value or use to your teen.
- No apparent reason for the theft: It’s not intended to exact revenge or for personal gain.
- Repeated behavior over time: The stealing tends to happen more than once and may follow a pattern.
- Trying but failing to stop: Your teen may attempt to stop the behavior but still end up engaging in it again.
How kleptomania is diagnosed
Only a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, can diagnose kleptomania in teens. Diagnosis is based on a pattern of behavior that meets the criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
To be diagnosed with kleptomania, all of the following must be present:
- Repeated stealing without need: The teen steals items that are not needed for personal use or money.
- Building tension: They feel growing tension or pressure before the act.
- Relief or pleasure: They feel better, more in control, or relieved after stealing.
- Not explained by other reasons: Stealing isn’t done out of revenge, and other conditions, such as conduct disorder or psychosis, do not cause it.
A mental health evaluation will help rule out other causes and determine if kleptomania is the right diagnosis.
How parents can respond to a teen’s stealing behavior
Stay calm and avoid harsh punishment
Strong reactions may only increase fear or defensiveness:
- Pause before reacting: Give yourself space to process your feelings before talking with your teen.
- Keep your voice steady: Speak in a calm tone to avoid escalating tension and resist the urge to label them as thieves.
- Use “I” statements: Say things like “I’m concerned about this” instead of blaming them.
- Focus on the behavior: Make it clear you disapprove of the action, not the person.
- Avoid public confrontation: Instead, have private conversations to minimize embarrassment and defensiveness.
Talk openly and listen
Understanding what’s behind the behavior matters more than jumping to discipline:
- Ask gentle questions: Try to determine if the stealing was impulsive, driven by peer approval, or linked to stress or emotions.
- Create a safe space: Let your teen know you want to help, not just punish. Teens who are afraid to seek support may hide the problem longer.
Set clear and consistent boundaries
Teens need structure and consequences they can understand:
- Explain your expectations: Make it clear that stealing is unacceptable and explain why it undermines trust.
- Use natural consequences: Ensure they return stolen items or repay for what was taken while cooperating with authorities if the case is taken up legally.
Look for patterns and triggers
Repeated stealing may signal something deeper:
- Watch for signs: Notice if stealing happens when your teen is stressed, sad, or trying to fit in. These patterns often begin in the teen years.
- Track behavior: Keeping a simple log may help you see patterns over time. If you notice urges that seem hard to control or an urge to perform the act without reason, your teen may need help to resist the impulse.
Seek professional support when needed
If the behavior repeats or feels out of control, it’s time to involve a mental health provider:
- Consult a doctor: They can help rule out any underlying medical issues and refer you to the appropriate support. In some cases, there may be another mental health issue involved.
- Consider therapy: A professional can work with your teen to address underlying causes, whether emotional or behavioral in nature. If left untreated, this behavior can lead to legal problems or more severe distress.
Teens who compulsively take things may be struggling with more than just rule-breaking. Remind your teen that making mistakes does not define who they are and that needing help is not a character flaw.
Treatment options for teen kleptomania
Treating kleptomania in teens involves more than stopping the behavior. It means addressing the urges and emotional patterns behind it. A combination of therapy, possible medication, and family support can help reduce symptoms and build healthier coping tools. Here are the primary treatment approaches:
Medication-based treatments
Medications such as opioid blockers (like naltrexone) may help reduce urges or support impulse control. Naltrexone is a medication that blocks particular pleasure signals in the brain. In adult studies, it helped reduce the urge to steal and the frequency of stealing episodes. While not yet studied in teens, these results suggest it may be helpful under a doctor’s care.
Talk therapy and behavioral approaches
Therapy is often the first step in helping teens understand and change their behavior:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps teens learn to recognize the thoughts and feelings that come before stealing. It teaches skills to manage urges and respond in new ways.
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP): This technique helps teens face situations that trigger urges to steal while practicing self-control and managing their responses.
- Covert sensitization and aversion therapy: These methods help teens associate stealing with unpleasant outcomes. In covert sensitization, they picture feeling embarrassed or punished, which can make stealing feel less rewarding over time.
Multi-part treatment plans
Combining different types of support often leads to better results:
- Medication plus therapy: In some cases, combining both approaches may yield better results than using either approach alone.
- Family therapy and support: Helping parents and caregivers understand kleptomania can improve communication, reduce blame, and build a more supportive home environment.
A licensed mental health provider should always guide treatment. If you’re concerned about your teen, start by consulting a medical doctor or a mental health professional who specializes in adolescent behavior.
FAQs about kleptomania in teens
Sources
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
- Kohn, C. S. (2006). Conceptualization and treatment of kleptomania behaviors using cognitive and behavioral strategies.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 2(4), 553–559. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0101007
- Grant, J. E., Potenza, M. N., Krishnan-Sarin, S., Cavallo, D. A., & Desai, R. A. (2011). Stealing among high school students: Prevalence and clinical correlates. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39(1), 44–52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671850/
- Aboujaoude, E., Gamel, N., & Koran, L. M. (2004). Overview of kleptomania and phenomenological description of 40 patients. Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(6), 244–247. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v06n0605
- Sasaki, Y., Yagihashi, T., Kasahara, M., Usami, M., Kono, T., & Okada, T. (2020). Clinical implications of a history of stealing on psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. PLoS ONE, 15(8), e0237906. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237906
- Asaoka, Y., Won, M., Lee, Y.-A., & Goto, Y. (2024). Neurobehavioral mechanisms of kleptomania. In Handbook of the biology and pathology of mental disorders (pp. 1–26). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32035-4_41-1
- Grant, J. E., Kim, S. W., & Odlaug, B. L. (2009). A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the opiate antagonist, naltrexone, in the treatment of kleptomania. Biological Psychiatry, 65(7), 600–606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.11.022
Residential Treatment Program for Teens diagnosed with kleptomania
Is your teen battling uncontrollable urges to steal? We can help.
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