Impulse control disorder is a set of psychiatric disorders including intermittent explosive disorder (hot-headedness), kleptomania (stealing), pathological gambling, pyromania (fire-starting), trichotillomania (pulling one's hair out) and dermatillomania (skin picking). The onset of these disorders usually occurs between the ages of 7 and 15.^[1] 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. Those with the disorder repeatedly demonstrate failure to resist their behavioral impetuosity.

Impulse control disorders are considered to be part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum.^[2]

The essence of emotional self-regulation is the ability to control one's impulses in the service of a goal.

[edit] See also

• Body-focused repetitive behavior
• Child pyromaniac

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• University of Minnesota Impulse Control Disorders Clinic Provides useful information and resources for patients and their families, including free questionnaire-based rating scales that patients can use to assess and track the severity of their condition.

Container after pyromania attack

Trichotillomania

Dermatillomania pattern and affect on the skin

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