Translate Deenz Kleptomania Inventory (DKI)

Deenz Kleptomania Inventory (DKI)

Kleptomania is an impulse control disorder characterized by a recurrent failure to resist urges to steal items that are generally not needed for personal use or monetary value. Unlike typical theft motivated by financial gain, anger, or vengeance, individuals with kleptomania experience a mounting sense of tension immediately before the act, followed by gratification, relief, or pleasure during the theft. Despite the temporary relief, the disorder frequently leads to significant feelings of guilt, shame, social isolation, and potential legal consequences.
The Deenz Kleptomania Inventory (DKI) is designed to evaluate these psychological patterns across three primary clinical dimensions: Impulsive Urges & Tension, Gratification & Affective Relief, and Post-Theft Distress & Impairment. Understanding these distinct components can help highlight the severity of impulse-control challenges and the associated emotional cycles.

The Deenz Kleptomania Inventory is designed for adults and adolescents interested in understanding their patterns of compulsive stealing or impulse control. It can also be utilized by clinicians, educators, and researchers for screening and research purposes. Participation is completely anonymous, and individual session data is not permanently stored.

This assessment consists of 20 items scored on a five-point scale (0 to 4). Responses are summed according to the scoring procedures of the assessment. Higher scores generally indicate greater severity of kleptomania symptoms.
Reverse-Scored Items:
Items 4, 11, 12, and 19 are reverse-scored.
Dimension Scoring Keys:
• Impulsive Urges & Tension: Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (Possible raw score range: 0–28)
• Gratification & Affective Relief: Items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (Possible raw score range: 0–24)
• Post-Theft Distress & Impairment: Items 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 (Possible raw score range: 0–28)
Overall Score: Calculated across all 20 items (after adjusting for reverse-scored items) with a possible raw score range of 0–80. Dimension scores are standardized to a 0–100 scale for profiling purposes.

I experience a sudden, uncontrollable urge to take items that do not belong to me.

I feel a growing sense of tension or anxiety right before I steal an item.

I find myself planning or thinking about taking things when walking through retail stores.

I am able to easily resist the urge to take items that do not belong to me.

The desire to take things feels like an intrusive physical or mental craving.

I find myself taking items even when I have more than enough money to pay for them.

When I see unattended objects, I feel an immediate impulse to pocket or conceal them.

Taking an item gives me a temporary sense of relief or release from internal stress.

I feel an intense rush of pleasure or excitement at the moment I successfully steal something.

The act of taking an item makes me feel powerful or in control during times of stress.

I feel neutral or indifferent after taking something, experiencing no change in my mood.

I steal primarily because I genuinely need the item or cannot afford it.

The emotional "high" I get from taking things is difficult to replicate with any other activity.

I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt, shame, or regret after the initial rush of stealing subsides.

I hide, hoard, or secretly discard the items I have taken because I do not actually want or need them.

I worry about the legal, social, or professional consequences of my urge to take things.

My relationships or daily life have been disrupted due to my secretive behaviors or thoughts around taking items.

I have tried to stop taking items on my own but found myself unable to control the behavior over time.

I feel comfortable and at peace with my habits regarding personal property and shopping.

I spend a significant amount of time ruminating on past episodes of taking items, fearing exposure.