Memantine reduces stealing behavior and impulsivity in kleptomania: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Kleptomania involves repetitive stealing and leads to negative outcomes like legal issues and suicidal behavior.
• Pharmacological treatments for kleptomania are scarce, highlighting a significant unmet clinical need.
• Memantine, an NMDA-receptor antagonist, shows potential due to its efficacy in other addiction-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of memantine for treating kleptomania.
• To assess memantine's impact on kleptomania severity, impulsivity, mood, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week open-label trial involving 12 individuals diagnosed with kleptomania.
• Participants received memantine, with dosages adjusted based on response and tolerability (10-30 mg/day).
• Treatment effects were evaluated using validated measures, neurocognitive tests, and clinical assessments (last observation carried forward).

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in kleptomania disease severity scores were observed across all measures.
• 11 out of 12 participants (91.7%) met responder criteria, indicating substantial clinical improvement.
• Improvements were noted in mood, anxiety, disability scores, and stop-signal response inhibition, demonstrating enhanced impulse control.

Conclusions:

• Memantine is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for reducing kleptomania symptoms, including urges to shoplift.
• Memantine treatment positively impacts impulsivity, mood, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning in individuals with kleptomania.
• This study supports memantine as a promising therapeutic option for the neglected condition of kleptomania.