kleptomania
kleptomania — noun
1. a mental condition in which a person has an uncontrollable urge to steal things,
a mental condition in which a person has an uncontrollable urge to steal things, even when they do not need the items or have enough money to buy them
After months of therapy and family support, Caio's kleptomania began to improve.
The clinic specialises in treating kleptomania and other impulse control disorders.
collocation: treating kleptomania
When Tendai was under heavy stress at work, the kleptomania symptoms grew worse.
Doctors explain that kleptomania is a recognised mental health condition, not a sign of weakness.
Nikhil learned to manage his kleptomania through regular therapy and support groups.
- compulsive stealing
a descriptive phrase for the same behaviour, less clinical and not used as a formal diagnosis
- impulse control disorder
the broader category of mental conditions that includes kleptomania; refers to a larger group of disorders, not just stealing
用法筆記
Frequently used in medical contexts with verbs such as 'suffer from', 'diagnose with', and 'treat'. Unlike ordinary theft, kleptomania describes a psychological compulsion rather than a deliberate criminal act.