Impulse Control Disorder: Common Among Ages, Genders, Lifestyles & Genes - Essay Sample

Introduction

In the contemporary world, psychiatric disorders have been subjected to passionate discussion. Millions have depicted undeniable signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders presented in forms of anxiety, mania, depression, and neurosis. However, age, lifestyle, genetics, and ultimately genders are important factors of concern when determining the nature and the commonality of the psychiatric disorders. Among the known disorders, Impulse Control Disorder has been identified to be common among individuals. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are common psychiatric conditions entailing social and occupational functioning impairment (Voon et al., 2017). The ICDs hitches are not fixed to impairment of social and occupational functioning as the complexity may be extended to financial difficulties. Despite the commonality of the ICDs, diagnosis difficulties by clinicians, the general public, and persons are indisputable. The complexity of the disorder has geared towards the need to evaluate and comprehensively analyze its cause, symptoms, and treatment measures. Precisely, the discussion presented revolves around evaluating and analyses of the causes, signs, and symptoms of ICDs personalities and ultimately presenting its treatment criterion.

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Undoubtedly, there are different types of Impulse Control Disorder, but their causes have remained a mystery to researchers and medics. Intermittent explosive disorder, Oppositional defiant disorder, Conduct disorder, and Kleptomania are common types of Impulse Control Disorders. Since the exact cause of ICDs is not identified, researchers have provided the risk factors related to the disorder. Furthermore, to bring a concrete understanding of this disorder, environmental factors, biological and physical factors have been cited for playing a significant role in the emergency of ICD. According to (Lochman, & Matthys, 2017), males are at high risk of ICD when compared to females.

Moreover, preexisting mental illness, severe head injury, and epilepsy have been identified as other common risks of the disorder. Young people and family history on mental illness and addiction can play a significant role in causing the ICD. Therefore, there is a need to comprehensively analyze these risk factors when relating or determining whether a patient is suffering from ICDs or other disorders.

Despite the diagnosis complexity of Impulse Control Disorder (ICD), some symptoms can be related to the disorder. The symptoms linked with impulse control disorders exemplify to be an individual's inability to control impulses. Additionally, the symptoms associated with these disorders get worse with time irrespective of the type of Impulse Control Disorder. Therefore, the ICD symptoms revolve around behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychological facets. The common behavioral symptoms depicted by ICD individuals include poor social skills, explosive anger, hair pulling, and need to start a fire. They can also be involved in risky sexual behaviors, stealing, or isolating from their friends or family (Corvol et al., 2017).

Moreover, physical symptoms are also vital facet determining ICD patients. For instance, due to the need to spark violence and fire, the patients have burn marks and physical injuries. Vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies are undeniable occurrences among ICD patients. On the other hand, ICD patients find it difficult to control their impulses while tending to be experiencing compulsive thought patterns. Fear of abandonment, anxiety, and depression are common among the Impulse Control Disorder related individuals.

The Impulse Control Disorders have diverse impacts on personal daily life, and when left untreated, the daily complications may develop to serious long term consequences interfering with a person's life. The negative outcomes of the disorders include consistent hospitalization, failing in academics, school expulsion, and financial difficulties, among other consequences (Voon et al., 2017).

The complication and the negative effects of ICDs have sparked the need to identify the most suitable and preferable treatment techniques. Researchers have unveiled cognitive-behavioral therapies and medications to be suitable treatment measures for impulse control disorders complexity. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful as it aids a person to learn to relax, combat negative thoughts, cope up with stress, and prevent one from engaging in damaging behaviors. Besides, medication can play a pivotal role in treating Impulse Control Disorders; however no approved drug specification with the ability to treat these disorders (Lochman & Matthys, 2017). Medics and researchers have identified Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to be helpful in the treatment of Impulse Control Disorder.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Impulse Control Disorder is a common psychiatric disorder allied with biological, physical, environmental risk factors. The disorder affects personal cognitive behavior and psychological behaviors. The common symptoms for ICD patients include the inability to control impulse, need to spark violence and fire. The symptoms profoundly affect a person's life as they can result in negative impacts if left untreated. Consistent hospitalization, financial difficulties, and academic failures are the negative outcomes allied with ICD individuals. The complication and the negative effects of the Impulse Control Disorder on a person's health have sparked intense debate targeting on giving the right treatment measures for the disorder. After a concrete evaluation of the treatment criterion for impulse control disorders, medics and researchers have landed on cognitive therapies and medications as the pertinent treatment methods. The drug which has received much praise in the treatment process of impulse control disorder is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The drug has yielded positive results when applied to treat the disorder.

References

Corvol, J. C., Artaud, F., Cormier-Dequaire, F., Rascol, O., Durif, F., Derkinderen, P., & Lacomblez, L. (2018). Longitudinal analysis of impulse control disorders in Parkinson disease. Neurology, 91(3), e189-e201.

Lochman, J. E., & Matthys, W. (2017). A Framework for the Handbook's Exploration of Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, and Impulse-Control Disorders. The Wiley Handbook of Disruptive and Impulse-Control Disorders, 1.

Voon, V., Napier, T. C., Frank, M. J., Sgambato-Faure, V., Grace, A. A., Rodriguez-Oroz, M., ... & Fernagut, P. O. (2017). Impulse control disorders and levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease: an update. The Lancet Neurology, 16(3), 238-250.