Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinition of HoardingSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTypes of HoardingTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition of Hoarding
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Types of Hoarding
Treatment
Coping
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People with hoarding disorder excessively save items that others may view as worthless. As a result, items are cluttered inside a home until rooms and furniture can no longer be used as intended. This can lead to unsafe and unsanitary conditions (including fire hazards and tripping hazards) for the hoarder, who may be unable to acknowledge and address their problem.
Hoarding may also lead to family strain and conflicts, isolation and loneliness, unwillingness to have anyone else enter the home, and an inability to perform daily tasks, such as cooking and bathing in the home.
Hoarding vs. Collecting
The urge to collect and keep a large quantity of objects often occurs alongside other mental health conditions, such asobsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) anddepression. While hoarding disorder exists within the spectrum of OCD and related disorders, it is considered independent from other mental disorders.Research shows that just 18% of people clinically diagnosed with hoarding disorder have additional OCD symptoms present.
Some researchers conceptualize hoarders as having addictive traits when it comes to objects. This means they have a strong desire to acquire items, and keeping them fulfills an emotional need that makes discarding the item highly upsetting.
The symptoms of hoarding disorder include:
How to Seek HelpIf you suspect that you or a loved one are struggling with hoarding, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
How to Seek Help
If you suspect that you or a loved one are struggling with hoarding, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you suspect that you or a loved one are struggling with hoarding, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
These criteria include:
Mental health professionals may also ask permission to speak with friends and family to help make a diagnosis or use questionnaires (rating scales) to help assess level of functioning.
In addition to the core features of difficulty with getting rid of possessions, excessive saving, and clutter, many people with hoarding disorder also have associated problems like indecisiveness, perfectionism, procrastination, disorganization, and distractibility.These associated features can contribute greatly to their problems functioning and overall severity.
Hoarding can happen for a variety of reasons. However, research shows that most people who hoard have experienced a traumatic life event (TLE). That refers to any incident that caused physical, emotional, or psychological harm, including childhood neglect, physical assault, loss of a loved one, serious injury, or a natural disaster.
Research demonstrates that 51% of people diagnosed as hoarders also have major depressive disorder.The same study showed that 24% of hoarders havesocial phobiaand 24% experience generalized anxiety.
These disorders can occur as a result of hoarding and its consequences, or hoarding can simply be associated with these other psychiatric disorders.
Risk Factors of HoardingIn some cases, hoarding is associated with self-neglect. People are more likely to have hoarding disorder if they:Live aloneAre unmarriedHave had a deprived childhood, with either a lack of material objects or a poor relationship with other members of their familyHave a family history of hoardingGrew up in a cluttered home and never learned to prioritise and sort items
Risk Factors of Hoarding
In some cases, hoarding is associated with self-neglect. People are more likely to have hoarding disorder if they:Live aloneAre unmarriedHave had a deprived childhood, with either a lack of material objects or a poor relationship with other members of their familyHave a family history of hoardingGrew up in a cluttered home and never learned to prioritise and sort items
In some cases, hoarding is associated with self-neglect. People are more likely to have hoarding disorder if they:
Researchers have also found that hoarding can have a significant genetic basis.
How hoarding interferes with one’s safety and hygiene depends on what they hoard. The main types of hoarding include:
Types of Items People May HoardSome people with a hoarding disorder will hoard a range of items, while others may just hoard certain types of objects.Items that are often hoarded include:Newspapers and magazinesBooksClothesLeaflets and letters, including junk mailBills and receiptsContainers, including plastic bags and cardboard boxesHousehold supplies
Types of Items People May Hoard
Some people with a hoarding disorder will hoard a range of items, while others may just hoard certain types of objects.Items that are often hoarded include:Newspapers and magazinesBooksClothesLeaflets and letters, including junk mailBills and receiptsContainers, including plastic bags and cardboard boxesHousehold supplies
Some people with a hoarding disorder will hoard a range of items, while others may just hoard certain types of objects.
Items that are often hoarded include:
Scientists continue to study the best treatments for hoarding disorder. More randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the best approach. However, there has been some demonstrated success with the following treatments for hoarding disorder:
Someone who hoards might not think they need help. If you suspect someone you know has hoarding disorder, reassure them that nobody is going to go into their home and throw everything out. You’re just going to have a chat with their doctor about their hoarding to see what can be done and what support is available to empower them to begin the process of decluttering.
If you think you have hoarding disorder, talk to your primary care provider about your problem and they may be able to refer you to a mental health professional who can help with diagnosis and treatment.
It’s generally not a good idea to get extra storage space or call in someone just to clear the rubbish away. This won’t solve the root of the problem—and may actually make matters worse.
A Word From Verywell
Hoarding is a great disruption to a person’s quality of life. It may also interfere with their safety and health, as well as the well-being of their family members inside the household. Maintaining compassion when helping someone with hoarding disorder can ensure their dignity while improving the potential of positive treatment outcome.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Hoarding Disorder?Vilaverde D, Gonçalves J, Morgado P.Hoarding Disorder: A Case Report.Front Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 28;8:112. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00112Frost RO, Steketee G, Tolin DF.Comorbidity in hoarding disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2011 Oct 3;28(10):876-84. doi: 10.1002/da.20861Lawrence LM, Ciorciari J, Kyrios M.Relationships that compulsive buying has with addiction, obsessive-compulsiveness, hoarding, and depression.Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.005Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Hombali A, Sagayadevan V, Tan WM, Chong R, Yip HW, Vaingankar J, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.A narrative synthesis of possible causes and risk factors of hoarding behaviours.Asian J Psychiatr. 2019 Apr;42:104-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001U.K. National Health Service.Hoarding disorder.Reinisch AI.Understanding the human aspects of animal hoarding.Can Vet J. 49(12):1211-4
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.What Is Hoarding Disorder?Vilaverde D, Gonçalves J, Morgado P.Hoarding Disorder: A Case Report.Front Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 28;8:112. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00112Frost RO, Steketee G, Tolin DF.Comorbidity in hoarding disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2011 Oct 3;28(10):876-84. doi: 10.1002/da.20861Lawrence LM, Ciorciari J, Kyrios M.Relationships that compulsive buying has with addiction, obsessive-compulsiveness, hoarding, and depression.Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.005Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Hombali A, Sagayadevan V, Tan WM, Chong R, Yip HW, Vaingankar J, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.A narrative synthesis of possible causes and risk factors of hoarding behaviours.Asian J Psychiatr. 2019 Apr;42:104-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001U.K. National Health Service.Hoarding disorder.Reinisch AI.Understanding the human aspects of animal hoarding.Can Vet J. 49(12):1211-4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychiatric Association.What Is Hoarding Disorder?Vilaverde D, Gonçalves J, Morgado P.Hoarding Disorder: A Case Report.Front Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 28;8:112. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00112Frost RO, Steketee G, Tolin DF.Comorbidity in hoarding disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2011 Oct 3;28(10):876-84. doi: 10.1002/da.20861Lawrence LM, Ciorciari J, Kyrios M.Relationships that compulsive buying has with addiction, obsessive-compulsiveness, hoarding, and depression.Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.005Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.Hombali A, Sagayadevan V, Tan WM, Chong R, Yip HW, Vaingankar J, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.A narrative synthesis of possible causes and risk factors of hoarding behaviours.Asian J Psychiatr. 2019 Apr;42:104-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001U.K. National Health Service.Hoarding disorder.Reinisch AI.Understanding the human aspects of animal hoarding.Can Vet J. 49(12):1211-4
American Psychiatric Association.What Is Hoarding Disorder?
Vilaverde D, Gonçalves J, Morgado P.Hoarding Disorder: A Case Report.Front Psychiatry. 2017 Jun 28;8:112. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00112
Frost RO, Steketee G, Tolin DF.Comorbidity in hoarding disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2011 Oct 3;28(10):876-84. doi: 10.1002/da.20861
Lawrence LM, Ciorciari J, Kyrios M.Relationships that compulsive buying has with addiction, obsessive-compulsiveness, hoarding, and depression.Compr Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;55(5):1137-45. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.005
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.29,DSM-5 Hoarding Disorder.
Hombali A, Sagayadevan V, Tan WM, Chong R, Yip HW, Vaingankar J, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.A narrative synthesis of possible causes and risk factors of hoarding behaviours.Asian J Psychiatr. 2019 Apr;42:104-114. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001
U.K. National Health Service.Hoarding disorder.
Reinisch AI.Understanding the human aspects of animal hoarding.Can Vet J. 49(12):1211-4
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