Hoarding Disorder

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.

**Hoarding Disorder** is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. An individual with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs.

### Hoarding Disorder vs Collecting

Hoarding disorder is different from collecting. Individuals who have collections deliberately search out specific items, categorize them and carefully display their collections. Although collections may be large, they aren't usually cluttered and they don't cause distress or impairments that are part of hoarding disorder.

## Signs & Symptoms

Someone who has hoarding disorder may typically:

* Keep or collect items that may have little to no monetary value or items they intend to reuse or repair.
* Find it hard to categorize or organize items.
* Have difficulty making decisions.
* Struggle to manage everyday tasks.
* Become extremely attached to items, refusing to let anyone touch or borrow them.
* Have poor relationships with family or friends.

Hoarding can start as early as the teenage years and gets more noticeable with age.

Excessive acquiring and refusing to discard items results in:

* Disorganized piles or stacks of items.
* Possessions that crowd and clutter walking spaces and living areas and make the space unusable for the intended purpose.
* Buildup of food or trash to usually excessive, unsanitary levels.
* Significant distress or problems functioning or keeping oneself and others safe in their home.
* Conflict with others who try to reduce or remove clutter from their home.
* Difficulty organizing items.

### Hoarded Items

Some individuals with 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 magazines.
* Books.
* Clothes.
* Leaflets and letters, including junk mail.
* Bills and receipts.
* Containers, including plastic bags and cardboard boxes.
* Household supplies.

More recently, hoarding of data has become more common. This is when someone stores huge amounts of electronic data and emails that they're extremely reluctant to delete.

#### Hoarding Animals

Some individuals also hoard animals, which they may not be able to look after properly.

Individuals who hoard animals may collect dozens or even hundreds of pets. Animals may be confined inside or outside. Because of the large numbers, these animals often aren't cared for properly. The health and safety of the individual and the animals are at risk because of unsanitary conditions.

Individuals with hoarding disorder typically save these items because:

* They believe these items are unique or will be needed at some point in the future.
* The items have important emotional significance.
* They feel safer when surrounded by the things they save.
* They don't want to waste anything.

## Causes

The exact cause of hoarding disorder is not yet know. So far, these has been several information processing deficits identified that are associated with hoarding, including issues with:

* Planning.
* Problem-solving.
* Visuospatial learning and memory.
* Sustained attention.
* Working memory.
* Organizations.

Hoarding disorder may exist on its own or may be part of another condition. OCPD, OCD, ADHD and depression are most often associated with hoarding disorder.

Other risk factors associated with hoarding disorder that may make it more likely that one will develop the condition include:

* Having a relative with hoarding disorder.
* Brain injury.
* Traumatic life event.
* Impulsive buying habits.
* Inability to pass up free items, such as coupons and flyers.
* Substance use disorder, or more specifically, alcohol use disorder.
* Prader-Willi syndrome.

## References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hoarding-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20356056

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/hoarding-disorder/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17682-hoarding-disorder