Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
09:12
Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
Published on: March 17, 2019
[Cognitive-behavioral treatment for impulse control disorders]
David C Hodgins1, Nicole Peden
1Departmento de Psicologia, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. dhodgins@ucalgary.ca
Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria (Sao Paulo, Brazil : 1999)
|August 24, 2007
Summary
Cognitive-behavioral therapies show promise for treating kleptomania, compulsive buying, and pathological gambling. While research is limited, these techniques offer an effective intervention model for these impulse-control disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Kleptomania, compulsive buying, and pathological gambling are impulse-control disorders.
- Limited empirical research exists for effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies for kleptomania, compulsive buying, and pathological gambling.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of the published literature was conducted.
Main Results:
- Cognitive-behavioral techniques reviewed include covert sensitization, imaginal/systematic desensitization, aversion therapy, relaxation training, stimulus control, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention.
- Treatment research for these disorders is limited, with no empirical support for compulsive buying treatments.
- Pathological gambling treatment has shown success using multimodal and cognitive techniques.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapies are recognized as an effective intervention model for kleptomania, compulsive buying, and pathological gambling.
- Individualized case formulation and suggested clinical practice guidelines are provided.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:24Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...