Impulse control disorder

Impulse control disorder refers to a collection of psychiatric disorders that include Intermittent explosive disorder, kleptomania, pathological gambling, pyromania and trichotillomania. The onset of these disorders usually occurs between the ages of 7 and 15.

Impulsivity, the key feature of these disorders, can be thought of as seeking a small, short term gain at the expense of a large, long term loss. Impulse-control disorders are considered to be part of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder spectrum, [1] and include:

• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Kleptomania
• Pyromania
• Pathological gambling
• Trichotillomania