Kleptomania as risk-taking behavior in response to depression.

The psychodynamic etiology of kleptomania has historically been linked to "ungratified sexual instinct." This paper is the first report of kleptomanic behavior associated with masturbation during the shoplifting or at the time of discovery by authorities. However, in this case kleptomania was in fact risk-taking behavior in response to depression. Psychodynamically, risk-taking behavior may be important in kleptomania.