Impulse Control Disorders

Introduction to Impulse Control Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders includes a chapter on “Impulse-Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified”. Because we aim to mirror the DSM when this is practical, we offer this Impulse Control Disorders topic center.

The impulse control disorders are a loosely grouped set of conditions that have in common that they all centrally feature behavior that is acted out in an uncontrolled, and impulsive manner that often has self-destructive consequences. The DSM lists the following impulse control disorders:

Impulse Control Disorders — In The News

Some Emotions May Spur Urge to Pick or Pull at Skin, Hair, Nails

WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Boredom, frustration and impatience can trigger chronic skin-picking, nail-biting, hair-pulling and other repetitive behaviors in some people, a new study suggests. The University of Montreal researchers conducted experiments with 24 people who had these types of behaviors and a "control group" of 24... Read More

Parkinson's Drugs May Spur Compulsive Behaviors

MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drugs commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may raise the risk of so-called impulse control disorders, according to a new review. These disorders include compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping and/or hypersexuality. That increased risk was seen in a fresh review of a decade's... Read More

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Weblog Entries

Video Game Addiction

Video game addiction is an impulse control disorder. These types of disorders are characterized by the inability to resist temptation, urge or impulse that can potentially harm oneself or others... Read More

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“A patient arrived in the office for his psychotherapy appointment. He was visibly agitated and when I asked him what happened he reported the following incident: He was driving... Read More

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Compulsive or pathological buying, or monomania, is defined as frequent preoccupation with buying or impulses to buy that are experienced as irresistible, intrusive, and/or senseless. The buying behavior causes marked... Read More