There are several different types of impulse control disorders.
People with ICDs may find it difficult to resist the temptation to perform a certain action.
How Common Are Impulse Control Disorders?
KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images
Pyromania and kleptomania are rarer, affecting about 1% of the population.
This impulse control disorder is diagnosed in children and teens, usually older than the age of 8.
However, younger children and adolescents may also receive an ODD diagnosis.
Their disruptive behaviors must go beyond typical, developmentally appropriate rule-breaking.
Some people have both ODD and CD, while others meet the criteria for only one or the other.
Many people with CD are diagnosed withASPDas adults.
They also cant occur while someone is taking a particular medication, drinking, or using drugs.
Kleptomania doesnt involve stealing for monetary or personal gain, for revenge, or out of necessity.
Instead, people with kleptomania feel an intense buildup of tension before stealing.
After they steal, they feel an immediate sense of relief and/or pleasure.
Pyromania
Pyromania is an impulse control disorder that involves repeatedly and deliberately setting fires.
People with pyromania are often fascinated by fire and anything related to fire.
Causes
There is no single known cause of impulse control disorders.
Functional family therapy aims to assess how interactions between different family members may contribute to a childs disruptive behaviors.
They may also prescribe medication to help with comorbid mental health conditions like anxiety,ADHD, or depression.
Verbal or physical outbursts, unnecessary risk taking, and lying are possible ICD symptoms.
Researchers have not identified a single known cause of impulse control disorders.
Treatment for impulse control disorders typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.
American Psychiatric Association.What are disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders?.
Silva B, Canas-Simiao H, Cavanna AE.Neuropsychiatric aspects of impulse control disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am.
2020;43(2):249-262. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2020.02.001
American Psychological Association.Impulse-control disorder.
Virginia Commission on Youth.Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders.
American Psychiatric Association.Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders.
Boston Children’s Hospital.What is oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)?.
American Psychological Association.Oppositional defiant disorder.
2023;59(1):113. doi:10.1186/s41983-023-00717-4
American Psychological Association.Conduct disorder.
Nationwide Children’s.What are conduct disorders?.
American Psychological Association.Intermittent explosive disorder.
National Institutes of Health.Intermittent explosive disorder affects up to 16 million Americans.
Sipowicz J, Kujawski R.Kleptomania or common theft - diagnostic and judicial difficulties.Psychiatr Pol.
2018;52(1):81-92. doi:10.12740/PP/82196
American Psychological Association.Pyromania.
Blum AW, Odlaug BL, Grant JE.Cognitive inflexibility in a young woman with pyromania.J Behav Addict.
2017;10:353-367. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S120582
Salvatore JE, Dick DM.Genetic influences on conduct disorder.Neurosci Biobehav Rev.
2014;55(12):e207-e209.
doi:10.11622/smedj.2014188
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Parkinson’s disease.
2020;29:e138.
