Contents:
- Medical Video: Kleptomania: Understanding the mental disorder
- The cause of kleptomania you need to know
- 1. There is a problem with serotonin
- 2. Has an addictive disorder
- 3. Imbalance of the brain opioid system
Medical Video: Kleptomania: Understanding the mental disorder
Stealing is a criminal act by taking something belonging to someone else without permission. However, this bad habit not only occurs because of necessity and intentional, but can be an indication of mental illness, namely kleptomania.
This mental illness can make it difficult for a person to refrain from stealing or taking other people's belongings. In fact, the items they don't need, they can afford, or even not worth the money if they are resold. After committing theft, people with this condition will feel relaxed and relieved.
So, what causes someone to have kleptomania? Find out the answer in the review below.
The cause of kleptomania you need to know
Actually this "stealing" disease is not known with certainty. However, several theories suggest that brain changes in patients with this condition are associated with several things, such as:
1. There is a problem with serotonin
Serotonin is a natural chemical produced by the body from amino acids trytophan and can be found in the brain, digestive system, and in blood platelets. Serotonin has an important role for the body, such as helping the wound healing process, maintaining bone health, and regulating moods and emotions.
Serotonin levels in the body are very low, can make a person susceptible to impulsive behavior. That is, doing things suddenly according to your mood without thinking about the consequences. This is why researchers attribute the problem with serotonin to "stealing" mental illness.
2. Has an addictive disorder
Maybe at first this steal was done because it was forced due to economic difficulties. After successfully stealing once, twice, and so on, stealing can be habitual and addictive. Why?
Stealing can release dopamine, a hormone that stimulates pleasure. Well, feeling tense, happy, and relieved that is done after and during the steal, is likely to be someone's encouragement to do it repeatedly.
3. Imbalance of the brain opioid system
The use of illegal drugs, such as opioids, can cause an opioid imbalance in the brain. As a result, someone will become addicted to and dependence on this drug.
Opioid dependence can cause addictive disorders; someone is unable to resist doing something. For example, taking the property of another person and the possibility of taking such action repeatedly.
