It’s characterized by the extreme difficulty of getting rid of possessionseven those of little or no value.
When severe, hoarding can put a person (and others in their home) in danger.
Types of Hoarding
There are a few different types of hoarding that people may experience.
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Some people may exhibit a specific throw in of hoarding, while others may experience a more general form.
With this behavior, a person actively seeks to acquire more unneeded items.
People who hoard have varying levels of insight into their behavior.
For example:
Other risks are specific to what a person hoards.
For example, a person who hoards animals may have exotic pets who are more likely to carry pathogens.
The risk of illness is increased further if a person who hoards cannot properly care for their animals.
They also have a high rate of utilization of social service agencies.
Diagnosis
Hoarding is a primary symptom of a condition known as hoarding disorder.
The DSM-5 outlines the following diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder:
What Causes Hoarding?
There isn’t a single factor that predisposes someone to hoard or causes the disorder to start.
Hoarding behaviors often start in childhood or adolescence and progressively worsen as a person gets older.
Those who do seek treatment are usually 50 years of age or older.
Treating hoarding disorder is a process.
Psychostimulants and cognitive enhancers are also being investigated as possible treatments.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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