Diagnosis
There's is no test to diagnose kleptomania. There are physical and psychological evaluation that can be made to conclude if there are signs of the disorder (Ala, R. (n.d)). If you are asking how exactly is a physical exam going to determine if kleptomania is impairing someone life. A physical exam helps determine if there is an impairment other than psychological triggering the individual symptoms. However, when diagnosing kleptomania physician can't only go by what its concluded through a physical exams; because its an impulse control disorder doctors must also take a look at the patients signs and symptoms.
Doctors Procedure
Doctors generally would sit the patient down and ask them questions about their impulses, how they may feel as they are going through those urges. They later proceed to go over a few questionnaire scenarios with the patients to better determine the state of the patients whether it is physically or mentally.
Process
The questionnaire may include but are not limited to the following:
- Does the patient have inability to resist urges to steal objects that aren't needed for personal use or monetary value.
- Do they feel the increasing tension leading up to the theft.
- Do they feeling of pressure, relief or gratification during the act of stealing.
- Theft isn't committed as a way to exact revenge or to express anger, and isn't done while hallucinating or delusional.
- Stealing isn't related to manic episodes of bipolar disorder or other mental health disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder.