In my other article, “Hoarding: How Much Stuff is Too Much?”, I provide definitions of hoarding, discuss the association between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and hoarding, and provide an overall snapshot of the average hoarder as well as a laundry list of what people commonly hoard. This article provides more clinical information concerning the risk factors involved in becoming a hoarder, signs and symptoms to observe and the type of treatments that may be able to help hoarders to lead healthy lives.
Hoarding Risk Factors
According to the medical and psychiatric literature, the average age of onset for hoarding behaviors to emerge is age 12, and clinically, it gets worse with age. There is usually a family history involved with hoarding. Stressful life events may trigger hoarding events or exacerbate symptoms. People may begin to hoard when they are dealing with the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce, being evicted or losing one’s possessions in a fire or flood.
Other risk factors include social isolation, withdrawal from society and family, and being lonely and wanting to keep personal items around them. Being a perfectionist may be a risk factor for hoarding. Worrying about making the right decisions, and worrying about throwing things away or keeping them (indecisiveness) are risk factors as well.
Hoarding Signs and Symptoms
There are numerous and highly visible signs and symptoms associated with hoarding. Cluttered living spaces, and inability to discard items of no value, and keeping stacks of old newspapers, magazines and mail around for years are easy to spot. People may “churn” their items, which means moving piles of things from one space to another and never discarding them.
Some people exhibit excessive attachment to possessions and show great discomfort letting others touch or borrow them. Others will acquire large quantities of unneeded or seemingly useless items including garbage and trash. People may have difficulty managing their daily routines, procrastinate and have trouble making decisions. Some exhibit difficulty organizing items in their living spaces. Others will eliminate socialization and interactions with loved ones and others.
Hoarding Treatments
The best place to start treatment for hoarding is with a thorough physical and psychological evaluation. It is important to rule out any physiological or biological cause of the behavior. Psychotherapy may be beneficial as well as the use of certain psychotropic medications (e.g. antidepressants).
During therapy, a discussion surrounding why the person hoards may yield valuable information. Behavioral cognitive therapy may address ways to learn how to organize and categorize personal possessions in healthier ways. It can teach people how to throw things out that really serve no purpose or have no value. Therapy can also help with decision-making skills, stress management, and relaxation.
A therapist can come to the person’s home and help them declutter. The individual can attend individual therapy or treatments in group settings with other people who have similar problems. The family may also become involved in therapy. In severe circumstances, psychiatric hospitalization may be necessary. The ultimate goal of therapy and treatment is maintenance of symptoms and improving quality of life.
Final Thoughts on Hoarding
Hoarding is a real problem that causes not only physical health and emotional problems, it can be dangerous and lead to fires, growth of molds and mildew, and pests like rats and roaches. It may be a difficult problem to treat and many people who are hoarders, in general, do not seek treatment, but instead they are referred to healthcare professionals by city officials, fire departments, family and friends.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Behavioral and Mental Health? Checkout my Behavioral and Mental Health CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)
More Behavioral and Mental Health Articles
- Hoarding: How Much Stuff Is Too Much?
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- Psychology of Obesity: A Brief Introduction
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- Geriatric Suicide
- Crisis Intervention in Mental Health
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