Introduction:
Impulse control disorders are a group of mental disorders where a person is impulsive, and the impulses are excessive and difficult to control. Patients with impulse control disorders usually have behaviors that are difficult to control and can be harmful to themselves and society as well. These disorders are considered to be caused by underlying mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Impulse control disorders are difficult to avoid but can be treated when diagnosed and referred to the psychotherapist at the earliest. For more information, continue reading the article below.
What Are Impulse Control Disorders?
Impulse control disorders are conditions in which the impulses are difficult or almost impossible to avoid.
The impulsive reactions include
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Anger.
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Setting things on fire.
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Claiming things that do not belong to them as their property.
Impulse Control Disorders Include
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Pathological gambling.
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Trichotillomania.
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Intermittent explosive disorders.
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Pyromania.
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Pathological skin picking.
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Compulsive buying.
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Compulsive sexual behaviors.
These disorders cause social, financial, and legal impairment; the person feels restless before the impulsive behaviors, a positive feeling of accomplishment during the act, and a sense of release or guilt follows the behaviors after the show.
1) What Is Pathological Gambling?
Pathological gambling is associated with persistent and recurrent episodes of gambling behaviors. Pathological gambling can further be divided into three subtypes called:
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Impulsive.
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Obsessive-compulsive.
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Addictive.
Subjects with pathological gambling often have an association with other mental health disorders.
2) What Is Kleptomania?
A habit of uncontrolled stealing characterizes this; it includes things that are not needed for personal use.
3) What Is Trichotillomania?
It is characterized by repetitive hair-pulling, and hair-pulling is done in any area of the body.
These subjects report significant hair loss and experience social anxiety due to alopecia.
4) What Are Intermittent Explosive Disorders?
These disorders have classic symptoms with recurrent outbursts of anger and aggression. The first symptom is noticed in early adolescence. On average, approximately 43 attacks in a lifetime are experienced.
5) What Is Pyromania?
Pyromania is an impulsive condition characterized by purposeful fire setting. It is associated with high rates of psychiatric comorbidities.
How Do Individuals With Impulse Control Disorder Present Themselves?
Individuals with impulse control disorder present with the following symptoms:
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Repetitive involvement in adverse behaviors, even after knowing the consequences.
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Inability to control problematic behaviors.
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An urge or craving state before getting involved in difficult situations.
Some commonly performed acts by individuals are:
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Setting things on fire.
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Violent behaviors or sudden outbursts of anger.
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Involvement in risky sexual behaviors.
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Robbery.
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Lying.
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Poor social interactions.
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Being loner.
The symptoms mentioned above can also be described as behavioral addictions. Impulsive behaviors are commonly seen in people with mental disorders like conduct disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disorders of personality, substance and alcohol abuse, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, and dementia.
What Are the Causes of Impulse Control Disorders?
Any significant cause for the disorder has not been mentioned by the researchers so far. But, impulse control disorders are thought to be caused by some of the following:
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Pre-existing Mental Health Conditions. It is believed that impulse control can manifest as a symptom of some mental health conditions with dual behaviors like obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disorders of personality, substance and alcohol abuse, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, and dementia.
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Genetics: Parents are essential in passing on the disorder to their children if they have it too. Hair pulling is a most common impulse control disorder with a genetic etiology.
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Medications: Drugs prescribed to treat some mental disorders can act on the part of the brain that controls behaviors, resulting in impulse control disorder. Medications that cause dopamine imbalance in patients with parkinsonism are one example of such drug-induced impulsive behaviors.
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Substance Abuse: Impulsive behaviors are commonly seen in alcoholics or drug addicts.
How Are Impulse Control Disorders Treated?
Impulsive disorders are draining and dangerous, but if a person is willing to undergo treatment and control impulsive behaviors, improve social, legal, and personal relationships.
The treatment modalities available include:
1) Medicinal Treatment: Medications used in treating Parkinson's disease have been reported to cause impulse control disorder. Thus the patient on medication is advised to either discontinue the medication or replace them with other drugs with less harmful effects. This can help improve the symptoms, but it is recommended only with professional advice from your physician. However, in many instances replacing or discontinuing medications has proved beneficial.
2) Therapies for Habit Reversal: Various therapies, including psychotherapy, meditations, exercises, and dairy maintenance, are an essential part of habit reversal. These therapies help a person to overcome his urge to react impulsively and replace the impulse with an alternative that is less harmful and can keep the notion in a minimal violent stage. Some common disorders that are benefited from these therapies include treatment tics, stammering, and skin picking.
These therapies mainly involve an individual's participation and willingness to overcome the impulse control disorder. In addition, psychologists advise such people to maintain a diary where they are asked to note down trigger incidences and help them overcome them.
3) Dual Diagnosis Impulse Control Treatment: Impulse control disorders can have the etiology of alcohol abuse or drug abuse, as mentioned above.
Therefore, treatment modalities differ in such cases, and the treatment can take place in three ways, which are as follows:
- Standard Facilities: These are formed in a way that can be affordable to everyone, including both residential and non-residential structures. The comfort is a bit compromised compared to the luxury or executive facilities. These are best suitable for those who cannot afford or want to spend a lot on treatments.
- Luxury Facilities: This aims to make the treatment experience pleasant and memorable. Treatments are carried out in a resort or luxury hotel kind of environment. These treatments are carried out as residential structures.
- Executive Facilities: This structure was mainly developed for busy business professionals who can carry out their work simultaneously and stay connected with the work environment during the ongoing treatment. This structure provides high-end facilities and is also residential.
Conclusion:
Impulse control disorders are a group of physiological disorders where a person fails to resist the urge to express anger and behave violently in various circumstances. Such behaviors are considered harmful to the individuals themselves and society. The symptoms of such disorders include extremely violent behaviors, setting things on fire, hair cooling, compulsive life, etc. In addition, impulse control disorders have been reported in patients with mental health disorders like dual behaviors like obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disorders of personality, substance and alcohol abuse, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, eating disorders, and dementia. Other causes of impulse control disorder include substance abuse and chronic alcoholism. This condition can be treated by altering the medications and undergoing various therapy that promotes the replacement of impulsive thought.
