
Impulse control disorder is a set of psychiatric disorders including intermittent explosive disorder (hot-headedness), kleptomania(stealing), pathological gambling, pyromania (fire-starting), and three body-focused repetitive or compulsive behaviors of trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull one’s hair out), onychophagia (compulsive nail biting) and dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking).
• Impulse control disorder is a set of psychiatric disorders including intermittent explosive disorder (hot-headedness), kleptomania(stealing), pathological gambling, pyromania (fire-starting), and three body-focused repetitive or compulsive behaviors of trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull one’s hair out), onychophagia (compulsive nail biting) and dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking).
• The onset of these disorders usually occurs between the ages of 7 and 15. 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.
• The essence of emotional self-regulation is the ability to control one’s impulses in the service of a goal.