Impulse Control Disorders and Substance Abuse

Impulse control disorders may be overlooked or misdiagnosed, meaning that many individuals suffering from these disorders may not get the help they need. A better understanding of the disorder can help close the treatment gap and get individuals proper care to improve symptoms. Treatment for impulse control disorders often involves behavioral therapies, and medications may also be beneficial.

Understanding Impulse Control Disorders

Impulse control disorders usually appear in childhood or adolescence.¹ Males may be slightly more prone to impulse control disorders than females, and these disorders may commonly co-occur with other mental health disorders or with substance use disorders.¹

Some of the common types of impulse control disorders include:

• Intermittent explosive disorder: This disorder, also known as IED, is characterized by persistent impulsive and angry outbursts. The person may be violent or aggressive toward people, animals, or property. These tirades may only last about a half hour and are usually triggered by a minor issue with someone the person knows. The outbursts may result in legal or financial issues, disrupt a person’s interpersonal relationships, cause significant distress, and potentially result in problems at work or school. According to one study from the National Institute of Mental Health, IED may be more prevalent than previously thought, with as many as 7.3% of adults in the U.S. being affected in their lifetimes.^1,2,4
• Oppositional defiant disorder: A person with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) frequently loses their temper, is easily annoyed, and often becomes angry or resentful. They challenge authority figures, flout rules, bother other people on purpose, and blame other people for their problems. As a result of these behaviors, the person suffers problems at work and school, and socially. Symptoms may appear as early as preschool. The prevalence rate of lifetime ODD rates in an adult community sample was 10.2%.^1,2
• Conduct disorder: Conduct disorder consists of persistent behavior that violates social rules. The person may be aggressive toward people or animals, destroy other people’s property, lie or steal, or violate rules, such as run away or skip school at an early age. The behavior causes serious problems at school or socially. People are usually not diagnosed with this disorder over the age of 18. Adults with these symptoms are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. The prevalence rate is estimated to be about 4%.^1,2
• Kleptomania: Impulsive and unnecessary stealing of things that are not needed characterizes kleptomania. Individuals may steal things and give them to other people or even throw them away. The disorder is not about the things stolen, but instead about the compulsion to steal and lack of self-control over this compulsion. Individuals may feel a sense of relief or gratification after committing the theft. Legal, family, career, and personal troubles are common for individuals with kleptomania. Between 4% to 24% percent of people who shoplift may suffer from kleptomania, and prevalence in the general population is about 0.3% to 0.6%.¹
• Pyromania: An individual who repeatedly and deliberately sets fires may suffer from pyromania. An attraction or obsession with fire and fire-setting paraphernalia, along with a compulsive need to set fires, and relief and pleasure after doing so characterize this disorder. Individuals do not set fires for any other reason other than their compulsion to do so to dispel their mounting tension. Pyromania is considered relatively rare, and the lifetime prevalence of people in the United States who intentionally set fires is reported to be around 3.3%.¹

Root Causes of Impulse Control Disorders

There is no single cause for impulse control disorders. Temperamental, physiological, environmental, and genetic factors may play a role in the development of a disorder.¹

• Intermittent explosive disorder—history of physical and emotional trauma, relatives with IED, and serotonin abnormalities in the limbic system and orbitofrontal cortex are possible risk factors and causes of IED.¹
• Oppositional defiant disorder—problems with emotional regulation; harsh, inconsistent, and neglectful parenting; reduced basal cortisol reactivity; and abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala are possible risk factors and causes of ODD.¹
• Conduct disorder—difficult temperament as an infant; below average intelligence; abusive and/or inconsistent parenting; exposure to violence; relatives with conduct disorder, depression, alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ADHD; and structural and functional differences in the ventral prefrontal cortex and amygdala are possible causes and risk factors for conduct disorder.¹
• Kleptomania—relatives with obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorders may be a risk factor for kleptomania.¹

Co-Occurring Impulse Control and Substance Use Disorders

About 48.7 million people in the United States aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2022, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports, and about 21.5 million Americans age 18 and older suffered from co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders in 2022.⁵ Conduct disorders are one of the more commonly co-occurring disorders with addiction.

Impulse control disorders and substance use disorders frequently co-occur. Studies have found that:⁶

• About 35% to 48% of people with intermittent explosive disorders also have substance use disorders.
• About 33% of people with pyromania also have substance use disorders.
• About 22% to 50% of people with kleptomania also have substance use disorders.

The two types of disorder also share similar features. For example, both impulse control and substance use disorders are characterized by compulsion and a lack of control—over a behavior or use of a substance, respectively. People with either disorder also experience a craving to use the substance or carry out the behavior, and both disorders are believed to involve the dopaminergic “reward system” of the brain.⁷

Depression and anxiety disorders are also comorbid conditions with impulse control disorders. The National Institutes of Health reports that as many as 82% of people suffering from intermittent explosive disorder have a co-occurring substance abuse, anxiety, or depressive disorder as well.⁸

How to Get Help for Co-occurring Disorders

Sometimes, a person with a substance use disorder understands that they have a problem and is willing to get help. However, those suffering from both an impulse control and a substance use disorder may be less likely to seek treatment on their own.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in 2022, of the 48.7 million people who had a substance use disorder in the past year only about 10% received any treatment in the same year. Nearly all of the people with an SUD who did not get treatment at a facility reported that they did not believe they needed treatment.⁴

Often, a loved one or family member may be able to help the person recognize the need for and the potential benefits of a specialized treatment program. Some steps that you can take if a loved one is struggling with co-occurring disorders include:

• Encourage your loved one to talk to their doctor or mental health professional.
• Reach out for help. There are a number of helpful tools that you can use to find information, resources, or help for your loved one.
• Seek out specialized treatment centers. Look for centers that offer co-occurring treatment programs.
• Considering joining a support group. Support groups can provide a safe space to connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges.

Treatment Programs and Methods for Impulse Control Disorders and Addiction

Treatment programs for co-occurring disorders may be either residential, where the person lives on site for a period of time, or outpatient, where the person attends treatment for some portion of the day and goes home at night.

• Inpatient or residential programs often consist of individual and group therapy, some level of medical care, supplemental/alternative therapies such as art therapy or meditation, and 12-step meetings. Residents also participate in activities together such as movie nights or outdoor recreation.
• Outpatient programs can vary in their structure. Partial hospitalization programs are similar to residential programs in structure and schedule during the day, with the main difference being that the person returns home each night. More flexible outpatient programs can be structured to fit a person’s existing schedule and life obligations.

The intensity and duration of symptoms, potential severity of a person’s dependence on a psychoactive substance, and other factors such as physical health dictate what type of treatment program would be best. For example, some people may require a period of detox before they begin treatment. Detox is sometimes available at inpatient/residential programs but can also be done in standalone facilities or hospitals.

Impulse control disorders and drug or alcohol addiction (or other types of addiction) may be treated with a variety of therapies within a treatment program.⁹

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely used form of therapy that helps individuals to learn how to modify potentially detrimental thought patterns and behaviors.
• Dialectical behavior therapy helps people control self-harm behaviors such as suicidal attempts, thoughts, or urges, as well as drug use.
• Contingency management offers rewards for engaging in healthy behaviors or avoiding unhealthy behaviors such as drug use.

Therapy can take place in an individual, group, or family setting. For parents of adolescents or children with impulse control disorders, treatment may also include working with the parents on how to respond to their child’s behaviors in a positive manner.²

American Addiction Centers to Offer Primary Health Services in Florida

Coming in Fall 2024, American Addiction Centers’ River Oaks location is expansing its commitment to whole-person healing by offering comprehensive primary mental health services. This new program offers specialized care for major depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anxiety disorders empowering you to overcome the challenges that come with living with a mental health disorder and thrive.

Impulse Disorders & Medications in Treatment

Medications may aid in the treatment of impulse control disorders, but no drugs are specifically approved to treat these disorders.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressant medications that have been studied for the treatment of impulse control disorders. For example, Frontiers in Psychiatry reported improvement in aggression and irritability in people battling intermittent explosive disorder who took Prozac (fluoxetine).⁶

The opioid antagonist drug naltrexone, which is often used in the treatment of opioid dependence, may be useful in treating kleptomania as well as addiction. Other medications such as glutamatergic agents and mood stabilizers are also being researched for the treatment of these disorders.⁶

Medications can also be used for other disorders that people will impulse control disorders and substance abuse may struggle with such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or anxiety.²

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