Impulse Control Disorder – A Detailed Account

Impulse control disorder is characterized by losing self control at specific situation or events and showing aggressive behavior towards people or things present at the moment. There are several forms of impulse control disorder which are discussed here briefly. Let’s have a look over them to understand the disorder of impulse control completely.

Forms of Impulse Control Disorder

* Intermittent Explosive Disorder

* Pyromania

* Kleptomania

* Pathological Gambling

* Trichotillomania

* Onychophagia

* Dermatillomania

1- Intermittent Explosive Disorder

During intermittent disorder patient passes through occasional episodes of sudden outburst which lead towards the attempts of physical assaults on others and property destruction. By doing such aggressive activities patient gets relief and satisfaction. But a strange thing about this disorder is that the patient completely denies the fact that he had done some destructive activity rather he blames the victim to be the actual cause of such bad happening. In this way this disorder involves two stages of inability or disturbance in inner self, one is losing control over one’s self and other is not accepting the reality. The second one further complicated the situation because if patient is not ready to accept his manic condition then how he could be induced to bring some change in himself and how could be prepared to follow treatment pattern for dealing with aggressive condition of intermittent explosive disorder.

Domestic violence is another form of intermittent explosive disorder which involves harming family members on minor clashes with them. There is also a possibility of involving the negative behavior of substance abuse, depression, severe persistent tension behind aggravating this kind of disorder.                

2- Pyromania

People suffering from pyromania involves in setting up fire to get satisfaction and relaxation out of their tense state of mind. Such activity does not show their anger or revenge rather the patient experiences gratification and fascination by doing so. So in this case setting up fire is usually related to euphoria instead of anger or aggression.     

3- Kleptomania

Kleptomania makes patient stealing or hoarding things they do not need. Such patients steal things jut for getting pleasure not for mercenary purposes. This disorder compels a patient to steal thing to get relaxed. Almost 5% cases of stealing are related to kleptomania alone. Once they succeeded in stealing the thing they feel as they have won some important battle going on in them. Such feeling of getting victory over depression and anxiety enhances the probability of repeating this activity again and again.        

4- Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling compels patient to involve in gambling activities to extreme limits. In such cases patient shows extreme behavior upon winning or losing the game because wining a game is just like an escape from his inner anxiety and depression. In pathological gambling patient often faces major financial problems and to deal with these financial problems he often tries to get money through illegal activities. Most of such persons have to face bankruptcy and related legal procedures as well.                  

5- Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is characterized by self pulling of hair present in all body parts including scalp hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, arm and legs etc. Usually this condition develops in infants but children from 9 to 13 years can also develop this disorder. Trichotillomania mostly develops in females as compared to males. Almost 1.5% males and about 3.5% females are reported to be suffering from trichotillomania. Though the process of hair pulling is teasing for patient himself but he gets pleasure by this feeling of pain and discomfort.            

6- Onychophagia

Onychophagia involves compulsive nail biting all the time. Almost 30% of children are suffering from this disorder which often causes to enhance the possibility of getting injured during this self biting activity but they get relief from their anxiety by doing so. So if you see that your child is indulged in nail biting activity then consult a child health care specialist or psychiatrist to treat this mental problem completely.         

7- Dermatillomania

Dermatillomania also involves self injury in the form of compulsive skin picking. It compels patient to pick his own skin again and again for getting relief from stress and anxiety. This activity could be dangerous to patient and could injure him seriously in case of severe anxiety.    

So if you find someone around you exhibiting any of the aggressive or destructive activities mentioned here then do not take it easy and try to convince him or his family members to take proper treatment for eliminating any form of impulse control disorder he or she is suffering from.

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