• A disorder characterized by the recurrent failure to resist the impulse to steal items of little intrinsic value; the individual experiences a rising subjective sense of tension before the theft and a sense of gratification or relief during the theft.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• Pathological compulsion to steal.
  Sadock's Comprehensive Glossary of Psychiatry and Psychology
  BJ Sadock Titles Press, 2012
• Kleptomania (klep-toe-MAY-nee-uh) is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don't really need and that usually have little value. Kleptomania is a rare but serious mental health disorder that can cause much emotional pain to you and your loved ones if not treated.
  Mayo Clinic
  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2025
• Kleptomania, recurrent compulsion to steal without regard to the value or use of the objects stolen. Although widely known and sometimes used as an attempted legal defense by arrested thieves, genuine kleptomania is a fairly rare mental disorder. A kleptomaniac may hide, give away, or secretly...
  Encyclopedia Britannica
  Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025