Compulsive hoarding - 必应 Sign in Compulsive hoarding Compulsive hoarding, also known as hoarding disorder, syllogomania and disposophobia, is a pattern of behavior that is characterized by excessive acquisition and an inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that cover the living areas of the home and cause significant distress or impairment. Compulsive hoarding behavior has been associated with health risks, impaired functioning, economic burden, and adverse effects on friends and family members. When clinically significant enough to impair functioning, hoarding can prevent ... (展开) typical uses of space, enough so that it can limit activities such as cooking, cleaning, moving through the house, and sleeping. It could also potentially put the individual and others at risk of causing fires, falling, poor sanitation, and other health concerns. Compulsive hoarders may be conscious of their irrational behavior but the emotional attachment to the hoarded objects far exceeds the motive to discard the items. Researchers have only recently begun to study hoarding, and it was first defined as a mental disorder in the 5th edition of the DSM in 2013.

It was not clear whether compulsive hoarding is a separate, isolated disorder, or rather a symptom of another condition, such as OCD, but the current DSM lists hoarding disorder as both a mental disability and a possible symptom for OCD. Prevalence rates have been estimated at 2-5% in adults, though the condition typically manifests in childhood with symptoms worsening in advanced age, at which point collected items have grown excessive and family members who would otherwise help to maintain and control the levels of clutter either die or move away. Hoarding appears to be more common in people with psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other factors often associated with hoarding include alcohol dependence, paranoid schizotypal, and avoidance traits. In 2008, a study was conducted to determine if there is a significant link between hoarding and interference in occupational and social functioning. Hoarding behavior is often severe because hoarders do not recognize it as a problem. It is much harder for behavioral therapy to treat compulsive hoarders successfully with poor insight about their disorder. Results show that hoarders were significantly less likely to see a problem in a hoarding situation than a friend or a relative might.

This is independent of OCD symptoms, as people with OCD are often very aware of their disorder. treatment for compulsive hoarding 本结果选自707项相关网络资源 Not only are there significant health risks associated with compulsive hoarding, but scientists are also trying to pinpoint how significant the interference is with occupational and social functioning in a hoarder's daily life. In a pool of compulsive hoarders, 42% found their behavior problematic t... Compulsive hoarding in its worst forms can cause fires, unsanitary conditions (e.g. rat and roach infestations), and other health and safety hazards. Listed below are possible symptoms hoarders may experience: 1. They hold onto a large number of items that most people would consider useless or worthless, such as: Junk mail, old catalogs and newspapers. Worn out cooking equipment. Things that might be useful for making crafts. Clothes that "might" be worn one day. Broken things/trash. "Freebies" or other promotional products. 2. Their home is cluttered to the point where many parts are inaccessible and can no longer be used for intended purpose. For example: Beds that cannot be slept in.

Kitchens that cannot be used for food preparation, refrigerators filled with rotting food, stove tops with combustibles (such as junk mail, as well as old food piled on top of burners). Tables, chairs or sofas that cannot be used for dining or sitting. Unsanitary bathrooms; piles of human or animal feces collected in areas of the home, giant bags of dirty diapers that have been hoarded for many years. Tubs, showers, and sinks are filled with items to the point where it can no longer be used for washing or bathing. Hoarders would thus possibly forgo bathing. Some hoard animals they cannot even marginally care for; dead animals cannibalized by other animals are often found under the heaps. Animals often suffer due to lack of mobility. 3. Their clutter and mess is at a point where it can cause illness, distress, and impairment. As a result, they: Do not allow visitors in, such as family and friends or repair and maintenance professionals, because the clutter embarrasses them. Are reluctant or unable to return borrowed items. Steal due to the impulse of possession. Keep the shades drawn so that no one can look inside. Get into a lot of arguments with family members regarding the clutter.

Are at risk of fire, falling, infestation or eviction. Often feeling depressed or anxious due to the clutter. Obsessive–compulsive disorder For many years, hoarding has been listed as a symptom or a subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. People with OCD experience unwanted thoughts that incline them to do something repetitively. Some of these behaviors are excessive cleanliness or even excessive toothbrushing. The current DSM says that an OCD diagnosis should be considered when: 1. The hoarding is driven by fear of contamination or superstitious thoughts. 2. The hoarding behavior is unwanted or highly distressing. 3. The individual shows no interest in the hoarded items. 4. Excessive acquisition is only present if there is a specific obsession with a certain item. Compulsive hoarding does not seem to involve the same neurological mechanisms as more familiar forms of obsessive–compulsive disorder and does not respond to the same drugs, which target serotonin. In compulsive hoarding the symptoms are presented in the normal stream of consciousness and as such, they are not perceived as repetitive or distressing like in OCD patients.

Also, despite the statistics indicating that there is a prevalence of hoarding in 18-40 percent of patients with OCD, only five percent of compulsive hoarders experience symptoms of OCD. In another study, a sample of 217 patients diagnosed with significant hoarding, only 18% were diagnosed with OCD, as opposed to the 36% that were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. There are significant differences and issues between the diagnostic features of compulsive hoarding and OCD which are being considered in a possible addition to the DSM-V of a new independent disorder such as compulsive hoarding. It is also said that there may be an overlap with a condition known as impulse control disorder (ICD), particularly when compulsive hoarding is linked to compulsive buying or acquisition behavior.

Recent findings suggest to differentiate between three types of hoarding, that is: pure hoarding, hoarding plus OCD (i.e., comorbid OCD), and OCD-based hoarding Given the aforementioned distinction, it was proposed to increase coverage of compulsive hoarding in the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V), both by creating a distinct category for compulsive hoarding, provisionally named, Hoarding Disorder (either in the main manual under "obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders" or in the appendix), and by including hoarding as a potential symptom of OCD. Book hoarding Main article: Bibliomania. Bibliomania is a disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. One of several psychological disorders associated with books (such as bibliophagy or bibliokleptomania), bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a more conventional book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.

One of the most famous bibliokleptomaniacs in American history, Stephen Blumberg, never felt that he was doing anything wrong. "Blumberg was trying to save a forgotten world from a system (the libraries) that neglected it." Compulsive hoarding Diagnosis The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder are: Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of the value others may attribute to these possessions. (The Work Group is considering alternative wording: "Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.") This difficulty is due to strong urges to save items and/or distress associated with discarding. The symptoms result in the accumulation of a large number of possessions that fill up and clutter active living areas of the home or workplace to the extent that their intended use is no longer possible. If all living areas become decluttered, it is only because of the interventions of third parties (e.g., family members, cleaners, authorities). The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (including maintaining a safe environment for self and others). The hoarding symptoms are not due to a general medical condition (e.g., brain injury, cerebrovascular disease).

The hoarding symptoms are not restricted to the symptoms of another mental disorder (e.g., hoarding due to obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, decreased energy in Major Depressive Disorder, delusions in Schizophrenia or another Psychotic Disorder, cognitive deficits in Dementia, restricted interests in Autism Spectrum Disorder, food storing in Prader–Willi syndrome). Understanding the age of onset of hoarding behavior can help develop methods of treatment for this “substantial functional impairment”. Hoarders pose danger to not only themselves, but others as well. The prevalence of compulsive hoarding in the community has been estimated at between two and five percent, significantly higher than the rates of OCD, panic disorder, schizophrenia and other disorders. 751 people were chosen for a study in which the people self-reported their hoarding behavior. Of these individuals, most reported the onset of their hoarding symptoms between the ages of 11 and 20 years old, with 70% reporting the behaviors before the age of 21. Fewer than 4% of people reported the onset of their symptoms after the age of 40.

The data shows that compulsive hoarding usually begins early, but often does not become more prominent until after age 40. Different reasons have been given for this, such as the prominence of family presence early in life and the extent of limits and facilitates they have on removing clutter. The understanding of early onset hoarding behavior may help in the future to better distinguish hoarding behavior from “normal” childhood collecting behaviors. A second key part of this study was to determine if stressful life events are linked to the onset of hoarding symptoms. Similar to self-harming, traumatized persons may create "a problem" for themselves in order to avoid their real anxiety or trauma. Facing their real issues may be too difficult for them, so they "create" a kind of "artificial" problem (in their case, hoarding) and prefer to battle with it rather than determine, face, or do something about their real anxieties. Hoarders may suppress their psychological pain by "hoarding".

The study shows that adults who hoard report a greater lifetime incidence of having possessions taken by force, forced sexual activity as either an adult or a child, including forced intercourse, and being physically handled roughly during childhood, thus proving traumatic events are positively correlated with the severity of hoarding. For each five years of life the participant would rate from 1 to 4, 4 being the most severe, the severity of their hoarding symptoms. Of the participants, 548 reported a chronic course, 159 an increasing course and 39 people, a decreasing course of illness. The incidents of increased hoarding behavior were usually correlated to five categories of stressful life events. Differential diagnosis Collecting and hoarding may seem similar, but there are distinct characteristics between hoarders and collectors that set them apart. Collecting often involves the targeted search and acquisition of specific items that form—at least from the perspective of the collector—a greater appreciation, deeper understanding, or increased synergistic value when combined with other similar items. Hoarding, by contrast, appears haphazard and involves the overall acquiring of common items that should not be especially meaningful to the person who is gathering such items in large quantities.

People that hoard commonly keep items that hold little to no true meaning or value to most others unlike some collectors whose items may be of great value to select people. Most hoarders are disorganized and their undersized living areas are crowded and in disarray. Most collectors can afford to store their items systematically or have enough room to put their collections on display. There have been on occasion collectors who because of their age, mental state, or finances have had their collections or collecting fall into a hoarding state. Compulsive hoarding Mechanism Some evidence based on brain lesion case studies also suggests that the anterior ventromedial prefrontal and cingulate cortices may be involved in abnormal hoarding behaviors, but sufferers of such injuries display less purposeful behavior than other individuals that compulsively hoard, thus making the implication of these brain structures unclear. Other neuropsychological factors that have been found to be associated with individuals exhibiting hoarding behaviors include slower and more variable reaction times, increased impulsivity, and decreased spatial attention.

A study comparing neural activity in hoarders, people with OCD and a control group when deciding to throw possessions away found that when hoarders were trying to decide to throw away their own possessions, they had lower activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and insula regions of the brain. The study suggested this lower activity was related to "problems in identifying the emotional significance of a stimulus, generating appropriate emotional response, or regulating affective state during decision making". Hoarders had normal levels of activity in those regions when making decisions about possessions that did not belong to them. Compulsive hoarding Treatment Not only are there significant health risks associated with compulsive hoarding, but scientists are also trying to pinpoint how significant the interference is with occupational and social functioning in a hoarder's daily life. In a pool of compulsive hoarders, 42% found their behavior problematic to the 63% of their family and friends who saw the behavior as problematic. The findings suggest that individuals who hoard may exhibit impaired sensitivity to their own and others’ emotions, and conversely, relate the world around them by forming attachments to possessions rather than to people. Lower emotional intelligence among hoarding patients may also impact their ability to discard and organize their possessions.

With such detrimental characteristics, comprehensive research has been performed to find a cure. Although this is ongoing research, most investigations have found that only a third of patients who hoard show an adequate response to these medications and therapeutic interventions. With the modifications to the DSM, insurance coverage for treatments will change as well as special education programs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a commonly implemented therapeutic intervention for compulsive hoarding. As part of cognitive behavior therapy, the therapist may help the patient to: Discover why he or she is so compelled to hoard Learn to organize the possessions in order to decide what to discard. Develop the decision-making skills Declutter the home during in-home visits by a therapist or professional organizer Gain and perform relaxation skills Attend family and/or group therapy Be open to trying psychiatric hospitalization if the hoarding is serious. Have periodic visits and consultations to keep a healthy lifestyle. This modality of treatment usually involves exposure and response prevention to situations that cause anxiety and cognitive restructuring of beliefs related to hoarding. Furthermore, research has also shown that certain CBT protocols have been more effective in treatment than others.

CBT programs that specifically address the motivation of the sufferer, organization, acquiring new clutter, and removing current clutter from the home have shown promising results. This type of treatment typically involves in-home work with a therapist combined with between-session homework, the completion of which is associated with better treatment outcomes. Research on internet-based CBT treatments for the disorder (where participants have access to educational resources, cognitive strategies, and chat groups) has also shown promising results both in terms of short- and long-term recovery. Other therapeutic approaches that have been found to be helpful are: Motivational interviewing: originated in addiction therapy. This method is significantly helpful when incorporated in hoarding cases whereby insight is poor and ambivalence around change is marked. Harm reduction rather than symptom reduction: also borrowed from addiction therapy. The goal is to decrease the harmful implications of the behavior, rather than the hoarding behaviors. Groups therapy: reduce social isolation and social anxiety and are cost effective compared to one-on-one intervention. Yet individuals who present with hoarding behaviors are often described as having low motivation, and poor compliance levels, as being indecisive and procrastinators, which may frequently lead to premature termination (i.e., dropout) or low response to treatment.

Therefore, it was suggested that future treatment approach and pharmacotherapy in particular, be directed to address the underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairments demonstrated by individuals with hoarding symptoms. Mental health professionals frequently express frustration towards hoarding cases, mostly due to premature termination, and poor response to treatment. Respectively, patients are frequently described as indecisive, procrastinators, recalcitrant, and as having low or no motivation, which can explain why many interventions fail to accomplish significant results. In order to overcome this obstacle, some clinicians recommend accompanying individual therapy with home visits to assist the clinician in: Getting a better insight into the hoarding severity and style. Devising a treatment plan that is more suitable to the particular case. Desensitizing sufferers to visitors. Compulsive hoarding Footnotes ^ "Epidemiology of hoarding disorder". Bjp.rcpsych.org. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2014-05-01. ^ Frost R., Hartl T. (1996). "A cognitive-behavioral model of compulsive hoarding". Behavior Research and Therapy 34 (4): 341–350.

doi:10.1016/0005-7967(95)00071-2. ^ Tolin D.F. (2008). "Family burden of compulsive hoarding: Results of an internet survey". Behaviour Research and Therapy 46: 334–344. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.12.008. ^ a b Tolin D.F., Frost R.O., Steketee G. (2007). "An open trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for compulsive hoarding". Behaviour Research and Therapy 45: 1461–1470. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.01.001. ^ "Hoarding: Risk factors - MayoClinic.com". ^ "Hoarding Disorder". American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 2013-10-16.

^ a b c Mataix-Cols, David; Frost, Randy O.; Pertusa, Albert; Clark, Lee Ann; Saxena, Sanjaya; Leckman, James F.; Stein, Dan J.; Mastunaga, Hisato; Wilhelm, Sabina (2010) Hoarding Disorder: A New Diagnosis for DSM-V? Depression and Anxiety, 27, 556–572. ^ Steketee G, Frost R (December 2003). "Compulsive hoarding: current status of the research". Clinical Psychology Review 23 (7): 905–27. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2003.08.002. PMID14624821. ^ Pertusa, A., Frost, R.O., Fullana, M. A., Samuels, J., Steketee, G., Tolin, D., Saxena, S., Leckman, J.F., Mataix-Cols, D. (2010). Refining the boundaries of compulsive hoarding: A review.

Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 371-386. ^ "Age at onset and clinical features ... [Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010] - PubMed - NCBI". Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2014-05-01. ^ "Hoarding Definition - Diseases and Conditions". Mayo Clinic. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2014-05-01. ^ Samuels J.F., Bienvenu O.J., Grados M.A., Cullen B., Riddle M.A., Liang K., Eaton W.W., Nestadt G. (2008). "Prevalence and correlates of hoarding behavior in a community-based sample". Behaviour Research and Therapy 46: 836–844. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2008.04.004. ^ Tolin David F., Fitch Kristin E., Frost Randy O., Steketee Gail (2010).

"Family Informants' Perceptions of Insight in Compulsive Hoarding". Cognitive Therapy & Research 34 (1): 69–81. ^ Kaplan, A. (2007). "Hoarding: Studies Characterize Phenotype, Demonstrate Efficacy". Psychiatric Times. ^ ^ Hoarding Definition, Mayo Clinic ^ "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder". psychiarty.org. American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 11 December 2014. ^ Hartl TL, Duffany SR, Allen GJ, Steketee G, Frost RO (2005). "Relationships among compulsive hoarding, trauma and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". Behaviour research and therapy 43 (2): 269–76. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.02.002. ^ Frost, Randy (2010). "Treatment of Hoarding". Expert Review. 2 10: 251–261. doi:10.1586/ern.09.159.

^ Mataix-Cols, D.; Fernandez de la Cruz; T. Nakao; A. Pertusa (2011). "Testing the validity and acceptability of the diagnostic criteria for Hoarding Disorder: a DSM-5 survey". Psychological Medicine 41: 2475–2484. doi:10.1017/s0033291711000754. ^ Pertusa, Alberto; Frost, Mataix-Cols (2010). "When hoarding is a symptom of OCD: A case series and implications for DSM-V". Behavior Research and Therapy 48: 1012–1020. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2010.07.003. ^ Weiss, Philip (January 1994). "The Book Thief". Harper's Magazine 288 (1724): 37. ^ Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium (HARC) (2004). "Commonly asked questions about hoarding". ^ "Mental health issues and animal hoarding".

^ Berry, Colin, M.S., Gary Patronek, V.M.D., Ph.D. and Randall Lockwood, Ph.D. "Long-Term Outcomes in Animal Hoarding Cases" (PDF). ^ Patronek, Gary (May–June 2001). "The Problem of Animal Hoarding". Animal Law 19: 6–9. ^ Arluke, Arnie; et al. (May 2002). "Health Implications of Animal Hoarding". Health & Social Work 27 (2): 125. doi:10.1093/hsw/27.2.125. ^ a b Frost, Randy (2000). "People Who Hoard Animals". Psychiatric Times 17 (4). ^ Hoarding Facts ^ F 02 Hoarding Disorder, DSM5.org, American Psychiatric Association ^ a b Tolin David F., Meunier Suzanne A., Frost Randy O., Steketee Gail (2010). "Course of compulsive hoarding and its relationship to life events". Depression and Anxiety 27: 829–838.

doi:10.1002/da.20684. ^ "Hoarding Disorder". American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 2014-10-30. ^ Neziroglu, Fugen. "Hoarding: The Basics". ADAA. Retrieved October 30, 2014. ^ "Hoarding Disorder". psychiarty.org. American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved 11 December 2014. ^ ^ ^ Pertusa, A., Frost, R.O., Fullana, M. A., Samuels, J., Steketee, G., Tolin, D., Saxena, S., Leckman, J.F., Mataix-Cols, D. (2010). Refining the boundaries of compulsive hoarding: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 371-386. ^ Grisham J.R., Brown T.A., Savage C.R., Steketee G., Barlow D.H. (2007). "Neuropsychological impairment associated with compulsive hoarding".

Behaviour Research and Therapy 45: 1471–1483. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2006.12.008. ^ Tolin, David F.; Stevens, Michael C.; Villavicencio, Anna L.; Norberg, Melissa M.; Calhoun, Vince D.; Frost, Randy O.; Steketee, Gail; Rauch, Scott L.; Pearlson, Godfrey D. (1 August 2012). "Neural Mechanisms of Decision Making in Hoarding Disorder". Archives of General Psychiatry 69 (8): 832. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.1980. ^ Grisham, Jessica R., Steketee, Gail, Frost, Randy F. (2008). Interpersonal problems and emotional intelligence in compulsive hoarding. Depression and Anxiety, 25, E63-E71. ^ Roberts, Christine.

"Hoarding to receive new clinical definition by the Psychiatric Association ‘Bible’." New York Daily News 09 12 2012, n. pag. Web. 29 Mar. 2013. ^ Paxil treats Compulsive Hoarding ^ Roger, Harms W. "Definition". Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 May 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. ^ Muroff J., Steketee G., Himle J., Frost R. (2010). "Delivery of internet treatment for compulsive hoarding (D.I.T.C.H.)". Behaviour Research and Therapy 48: 79–85. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2009.09.006. ^ Gilliam, C. M.; Tolin (2010). "Compulsive Hoarding". Bulletin of Menninger Clinic. 74 (2): 93–121. ^ a b Tolin, D. F. (2011). "Challenges and advances in treating hoarding".

Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 67 (5): 451–455. doi:10.1002/jclp.20796. ^ a b c Frost, R. O. (2010). "Treatment of hoarding". Expert Review. 10 (2): 251–261. ^ Tolin, D. F. (2011). "Understanding and treating hoarding: A biopsychological perspective". Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 67 (5). ^ Saxena, S. (2011). "Pharmacotherapy of Compulsive Hoarding". Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 67 (5): 477–484. ^ Tolin, D. F. (2011). Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 67 (5): 451–455. Missing or empty |title= (help) ^ Frost, R. O.; Hristova, V. (2011). Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session. 67 (5): 456–466.

Missing or empty |title= (help) Bibliomania B Bibliomania Bibliomania is an obsessive–compulsive disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. One of several psychological disorders associated with books, bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a genuine book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania. The term was coined by Dr. John Ferriar, a physician at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Bibliomania is not to be confused with bibliophily, which is the usual love of books and is not considered a clinical psychological disorder. Other abnormal behaviours involving books include book-eating (bibliophagy), compulsive book-stealing (bibliokleptomania), and book-burying (bibliotaphy). Examples People with bibliomania Stephen Blumberg, who was convicted of stealing $5.3 million worth of books Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872) suffered from severe bibliomania.

His collection, which at his death contained over 160,000 books and manuscripts, was still being auctioned off over 100 years after his death. Rev. W.F. Whitcher 19th century Methodist pastor who after having stolen and rebound rare books, would assert they were rare "finds" from local booksellers. Fictional characters with bibliomania Mel Gibson 's character in the movie Conspiracy Theory suffers from triggered bibliomania, a form of mind-control that prompts him to buy a copy of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye every time he goes outside his apartment. (cf. MK-ULTRA papers, National Security Archives.) Sheska from the anime Fullmetal Alchemist is often seen to be consumed by books. As seen in one episode she at one point even became trapped by a pile of books which had fallen on her. Bibliomania is a common trait of papermasters from the manga and anime series Read or Die such as Yomiko Readman.

Zexion from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is the only character in the game who uses a book as a weapon, is normally considered a bookworm, and will pummel characters in battle with books. From personality ratings, it seems that he would prefer to be in a library instead of with his fellow Organization XIII members. Lord Groan from Gormenghast has a gargantuan library. When it is burned to the ground he becomes slightly demented and eventually kills himself. Calvin Tower of Stephen King's Dark Tower series is depicted as a bibliomaniac. Peter Kien in Elias Canetti 's novel Auto-da-Fé (published in 1935 in German as Die Blendung) is a Chinese scholar obsessed with his book collection. (Wikipedia) Bibliomania | Work In Progress Work In Progress by dkg5095 In past weeks we’ve talked about disorders that are well known and you’ve probably had some prior knowledge about before reading this blog. This week however may be different. Today I am discussing the interesting and unheard of condition called bibliomania. From the root of the word one can probably infer that the condition has something to do with books.

In fact, bibliomania is a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder which involves the collecting or even hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. An individual with this unusual disorder will collect books that have no value or worth to them. They have an exaggerated preoccupation with the acquisition and ownership of books. Often times they will have many copies of the same book and edition. The collection of books however becomes beyond capacity for use and enjoyment. To paint a picture of how severe bibliomania can be, a man named Steven Blumberg was arrested for stealing more than 23,600 rare, valuable and assorted books from 268 or more universities and museums in 45 states and two Canadian provinces along with Washington D.C. Their value was placed at about $20 million, but was later changed to $5.3 million, the largest book theft in US history. Along with bibliomania are conditions such as bibliokleptomania, the stealing of books, bibliotaphy, the burying of books, and bibliophagy, the eating of books.

That last one does not seem to have two much credibility or history online to determine if it is a valid disorder, but perhaps I’ll go collect some books from the library and investigate further. A Detailed Study About Bibliomania -InlifeHealthCare A Detailed Study About Bibliomania A Detailed Study About Bibliomania Bibliomania, the term is common to our ears, but how many of us know the exact meaning to this. Yes, it is a psychological disorder when a person has an impulsive obsession of buying and hoarding lots and lots of books. This is often referring to as a compulsive disorder. The extreme form of bibliomania can cause health hazards and also cause problems in personal relationships. This particular form of the disorder is also referred to as pathological collecting and compulsive hoarding of books. Thought the psychiatrist of the American Psychiatric Association does not recognize bibliomania or any compulsive hoarding as a serious mental or psychological disorder. People are liable to become a victim of bibliomania at a very early age, but it does not seem to create much of a problem until and unless the person is on the wrong side of forty.

According to some psychiatrists, this disorder may occur as a defense mechanism in a person who had suffered a great trauma or has a history of being badly abused in his past. This type of person becomes very skeptical about the underlying cause of the problem and tries to morph it under his maniac hoarding of unwanted thing, especially books. He doesn’t want people around him to know that his abusive or traumatic past is still bothering him. How to recognize Bibliomania There are some symptoms that reflect the disorder as pathological hoarding or bibliomania. These can cause serious health hazards to the victims. Hoarding useless and valueless books Unsuppressed desire to possess books though they are never read Collecting numerous copies of the same book The addiction of hoarding books becomes so impulsive that it even intervenes with the victims daily schedules Anxiety, depression and unending worries regarding the collection Lack of interest in personal life or personal relationships People suffering from an acute form of bibliomania may face serious safety hazards. Like in some cases the victims try to block all that exists of his room and even his house with all the books he had hoarded in. the racks stuffed with books tend to fall apart or get demolished at any time.

These hoarded books are often infested by rats, termites and cockroaches that can cause serious ailments. Books and books are everywhere, even in the kitchen, bedroom and bathrooms, none of the spaces is spared disrupting the normal hygiene, eating and sleeping habits. Hoarding so many books can even lead to severe fire threat that can burn down the entire house if any of the paper pieces catch fire sometimes. Living with a person who has bibliomania is not easy. Hence, personal relationships tend to suffer a lot. A person suffers from this disorder cares for none in front of his books, he becomes unsocial and never wants to part himself from his collection that he is so possessive about. This leads to continuous conflicts among the family members. A bibliomaniac may end up losing his job, his relatives, and his spouse and be completely bankrupt after his compulsive book buying habit. What is the treatment for Bibliomania? The diagnosis of bibliomania depends upon some factors like symptoms, signs and history of the patient. The medical professionals often refer to these points while they are handling such cases. The most important problem with these victims is that they do not want leave their collection even for a minute to visit the doctor.

Inspire of the fact that the DMS-IV for not accepted bibliomania or any form of hoarding as a serious disease but the next edition has admitted that it is a disease if the following symptoms are present Excessive possessiveness about books irrespective of their worth A deep feeling of anxiety or stress and always sensing a fear that someone may destroy their collection Do not have normal social or personal relationship The hoarding comes to an extent where it may become a serious health or safety stress. No other mental disorder found except for the compulsive hoarding of books If a person has these symptoms, it is advisable for his family members or friends to immediately contact a doctor. Since bibliomania or hoarding as been recognized as a disorder recently, there are not much specific medicines and therapies for this disorder. Since it is generally categorized as obsessive-compulsive disorder, the similar treatment is recommended for bibliomania too. The medical professionals prescribe drugs like Clomipramine, Tricyclic antidepressants, citalopram (Celexa), fluvoxamine (Luvox) and so on. However, the drugs alone are not the only cure for bibliomania, the cognitive behavioral therapy by expert therapists are also recommended curing this disorder completely.

This therapy includes psychotherapies treatment along with activities that are designed to achieve various goals. However, like all the other psychological disorder, the victim of bibliomania also needs to be handled with a lot of love and affection. New Book Hoarding! Psychiatric Symptoms . . . – Stephen's Lighthouse #Book_hoarding “ Bibliomania is a disorder involving the collecting or hoarding of books to the point where social relations or health are damaged. One of several psychological disorders associated with books (such as bibliophagy or bibliokleptomania ), bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a more conventional book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.” [25] “ Bibliomania “One of several unusual behaviors associated with books, bibliomania is characterized by the collecting of books which have no use to the collector nor any great intrinsic value to a genuine book collector. The purchase of multiple copies of the same book and edition and the accumulation of books beyond possible capacity of use or enjoyment are frequent symptoms of bibliomania.

Bibliomania is not a psychological disorder recognized by the DSM-IV. The term was coined by John Ferriar (1761-1815), a physician at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. [1] Ferriar coined the term in 1809 in a poem he dedicated to his bibliomanic friend, Richard Heber (1773-1833). [2] In the early nineteenth century, “bibliomania” was used in popular discourse (such as in periodical essays and poems) to describe obsessive book collectors. In 1809, the Reverend Thomas Frognall Dibdin published Bibliomania; or Book Madness, a work described by literary critic Philip Connell as “a series of bizarre rambling dialogues which together comprised a kind of dramatized mock pathology, lavishly illustrated and, in the second edition, embellished with extensive footnotes on bibliography and the history of book collecting”.

[3] The “symptoms” displayed by the biblomaniacs in Dibdin’s work include “an obsession with uncut copies, fine paper or vellum pages, unique copies, first editions , blackletter books, illustrated copies, association copies, and condemned or suppressed works”. [4] “ Bibliophilia “Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books . Accordingly a bibliophile is an individual who loves books. A bookworm is someone who loves books for their content, or who otherwise loves reading . The -ia-suffixed form “bibliophilia” is sometimes considered[ by whom? ] to be an incorrect usage; the older “bibliophilism” is considered[ by whom? ] more correct. The adjective form of the term is bibliophilic. A bibliophile may be, but is not necessarily, a book collector .” Bibliokleptomania Kleptomania is the inability to refrain from the urge to steal items for reasons other than personal use or financial gain. First described in 1816, kleptomania is classified in psychiatry as an impulse control disorder .

[1] Alternatively, some of the main characteristics of the disorder, which consist of recurring intrusion feelings, an inability to resist the urge to steal, and a release of pressure following the theft, suggest that kleptomania could be an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, [2] although this is disputed.[ citation needed ] The disorder is frequently under-diagnosed and is regularly associated with other psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and eating disorders , and alcohol and substance abuse . Patients with kleptomania are typically treated with therapies in other areas due to the comorbid grievances rather than issues directly related to kleptomania. [3] “ “One of the most famous bibliokleptomaniacs in American history, Stephen Blumberg , never felt that he was doing anything wrong. “Blumberg was trying to save a forgotten world from a system (the libraries) that neglected it.” And the web always leads me on tangents . . . Bibliophagy “Symptoms of Bibliophagy The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Bibliophagy includes the 3 symptoms listed below: Compulsive eating of books Feelings of relief upon eating books Reduced anxiety brought on by eating books” So,I enjoyed Michael Sauers posting today:

Question: Bibliomania is the compulsive collecting or hoarding of what?
Answer: Books