Aparecida Rangon Christianini1, Maria Aparecida Conti2, Norman Hearst3, Táki Athanássios Cordás4, Cristiano Nabuco de Abreu5, Hermano Tavares5. 1. Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil; Eating Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cidrchris@uol.com.br. 2. University of São Paulo School of Public Health; and Eating Disorders Program, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Department of Community and Family Medicine; and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. 4. Eating Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil. 5. Impulse Control Disorders Outpatient Unit, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Kleptomania is characterized by repetitive stealing and has severe consequences for patients. Stigma, a lack of standardized therapy and a limited number of assessment tools hinder advances in treatment. This study provides preliminary data on the Portuguese-language version of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (P-K-SAS) and preliminary data on an outpatient program. METHODS: Experts in the field analyzed an initial P-K-SAS version, produced through translation/back-translation, in order to arrive at a final version. Eight patients currently on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 10 patients under maintenance CBT were initially assessed, then re-assessed 6months later. RESULTS: The mean P-K-SAS score was higher among patients initiating CBT than among those under maintenance CBT (21.1±8.0 vs. 11.3±7.5; Mann-Whitney U=15.0, P=.024). The final version of the P-K-SAS presented excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.980; inter-item correlation, 0.638-0.907). CONCLUSIONS: The P-K-SAS presented solid psychometrics and seems ready for use in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for kleptomania. The findings suggest that kleptomania patients need follow-up treatment that goes beyond the traditional 12-session structure.
BACKGROUND:Kleptomania is characterized by repetitive stealing and has severe consequences for patients. Stigma, a lack of standardized therapy and a limited number of assessment tools hinder advances in treatment. This study provides preliminary data on the Portuguese-language version of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (P-K-SAS) and preliminary data on an outpatient program. METHODS: Experts in the field analyzed an initial P-K-SAS version, produced through translation/back-translation, in order to arrive at a final version. Eight patients currently on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and 10 patients under maintenance CBT were initially assessed, then re-assessed 6months later. RESULTS: The mean P-K-SAS score was higher among patients initiating CBT than among those under maintenance CBT (21.1±8.0 vs. 11.3±7.5; Mann-Whitney U=15.0, P=.024). The final version of the P-K-SAS presented excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.980; inter-item correlation, 0.638-0.907). CONCLUSIONS: The P-K-SAS presented solid psychometrics and seems ready for use in assessing the effectiveness of treatments for kleptomania. The findings suggest that kleptomaniapatients need follow-up treatment that goes beyond the traditional 12-session structure.