AUTHOR'S NOTE

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are common psychiatric conditions in which affected individuals typically report significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. This condition may incur legal and financial difficulties as well. Formal ICDs include pathological gambling (PG), kleptomania, trichotillomania (TTM), intermittent explosive disorder (IED), and pyromania; these disorders are characterized by difficulties in resisting urges to engage in behaviors that are excessive and/or ultimately harmful to oneself or others. It is a component of the DSM-5 diagnoses Personality Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Conduct Disorder.

It may be more clinically useful to view Ineffective Impulse Control as behavior that contributes to a nursing diagnosis and/or a manifestation rather than as the response or nursing diagnosis. For example, Risk for Other-Directed Violence, Ineffective Coping, Dysfunctional Family Processes, Defensive Coping, Self-Mutilation, Impaired Social Interactions, Loneliness, Ineffective Health Maintenance, and Stress Overload all can have a component of poor impulse control that contributes to the diagnosis. Refer to the before-mentioned nursing diagnoses.