The case of a 26-year-old Chinese woman with a history of benzodiazepine dependence and shoplifting who committed an act of robbery is presented. The various aetiological factors implicated in this complicated case are discussed in the light of the recent literature.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BradfordJ.BalmacedaR. (1983) Shoplifting: is there a specific psychiatric syndrome?Can. J. Psychiat.28, 248–53.
2.
CoidJ. (1984) Relief of diazepam withdrawal syndrome by shoplifting. Br. J. Psychiat.145, 552–4.
3.
FentonG. W. (1972) Epilepsy and automatism. Br. J. Hosp. Med.7, 57–64.
4.
FisherC. (1984) Psychiatric aspects of shoplifting. Br. J. Hosp. Med.31, 209.
5.
GibbensT. C. N.PalmerC.PrinceJ. (1971) Mental health aspect of shoplifting. BMJiii, 612–15.
6.
GudjonssonG. H. (1990) Psychological and psychiatric aspects of shoplifting. Med. Sci. Law30, 45–51.
7.
GoodM. I. (1989) Substance-induced dissociative disorders and psychiatric nosology. Clin. Psychopharmac.9, 88–93.
8.
MooreR. H. (1984) Shoplifting in Middle America: patterns and motivational correlates. Int. J. Offender Ther. and Comp. Criminol.28, 53–64.
World Health Organisation (1992) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders-Clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva, World Health Organisation.
