HOARDING

What is Hoarding? | How Serious Is My Hoaring Problem?
How to Talk to Someone About a Hoarding Problem | Additional Resources

What is Hoarding?

According to the Karron Maidment RN, M.A. Behavioral Therapist and Program Coodinator for the UCLA OCD Intensive Treatment Program, “Hoarding is defined as the acquisition of, and inability to discard worthless items even though they appear (to others) to have no value.” Collectors and tinkerers aren’t always hoarders. A large collection of baseball memorabilia or one or two old Jalopy’s in the garage may get on a spouse’s nerves, but it’s far from a hoarding disorder. “People with compulsive hoarding syndrome may have immense difficulty throwing anything away, from the oldest paper clip, to a used food container, to an out-of-date newspaper, for fear that they might need those items in the future. Their homes are often full of stuff that the rest of us would call ‘junk.’ The most commonly saved items include newspapers, magazines, old clothing, bags, books, mail, notes, and lists.”
For more Information on defining Hoarding, Read Karron’s Full article at the International OCD Foundation website.

It’s estimated that 700,000 to 1.4 Million people in the United States have compulsive hoarding syndrome. The scientific community is divided on exactly what kind of disorder hoarding is. Most scientists believe that hoarding has to do with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Hoarding is quite common among those with OCD; 20-30% of individuals diagnosed with OCD have hoarding symptoms). Other specialists believe that it is more closely linked to Impulse Control Disorder, while some believe Hoarding should be classified as its own disorder.

Regardless of how Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome is classified, when compulsive hoarding gets out of hand it can be a serious and dangerous problem. When rooms are over cluttered, mood, proper sanitary conditions, and fire safety are all put at risk.