Hoarding Disorder – Definition .
Hoarding – The action of accumulating items & piling them
on different surfaces , in the living / working space .
Hoarding Disorder – Mental disorder . The compulsive urge
to accumulate items , combined with the persistent
inability to discard them .
Hoarding Disorder ranges from mild to severe .
Decided upon the extent of the Hoarder’s dysfunctional
level in his / hers daily life .
Hoarder vs. Collector .
- Behavior – Compulsive urge ( to fulfill emotional needs ) results in
discomfort . A passion for the collection results in pleasure .
- Organization – Piles of items can be all over the place & they are not
categorized . A collection has it’s dedicated space , is categorized
& maintained .
H. D. Symptoms .
As time goes by , the clutter gradually grows . The piles of items cover
more & more surfaces & block access to them .
Slowly but surely , the ability of the Hoarder & others , that live with
him / her , to live & function properly ,on a daily basis , diminish .
As a result , personal hygiene & sanitation & safety conditions , in the
living space , deteriorate .
H. D. Causes .
- The process of gathering information .
Hoarder pays attention to unusual details of an item .
The 3 main reasons we keep items are : 1. Sentimentality ,
2. Aesthetics , 3. Usefulness .
Hoarder’s reasons are magnified & respond to fulfill intense
emotional needs .
In any case , he / she feels a strong bond with the item .
Simple considerations , like : Do i have a use for it ? & / Do i need it ?
& / Do i have the space for it ? , are irrelevant for him .
- Organization .
Hoarder organize items visually & spatially , not categorically . The item
is somewhere in the pile , which is located on top of that surface .
- The process of decision making .
Since a Hoarder prioritize a different set of qualities , in an item , decision
making , even what others consider a simple one , is difficult & may cause
him embarrassment .
Hoarding Disorder Treatment .
The common treatment for Hoarding Disorder is :
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy .
C. B. T. is a form of psychotherapy . A psycho – social intervention , which
aims to improve the patient’s mental health .
Cognitive Therapy – Examine the patient’s thoughts & beliefs .
Behavioral Therapy – Examine the patient’s actions .
The focus is on what effects the patient’s life now / in the present .
C. B. T. is based on a theory that assumes a person’s thoughts &
beliefs affect his / her feelings & behavior .
Repetition of the same cycle , again & again , turns it to a habit .
The therapist will try to break the cycle .
He / She will challenge the thoughts & beliefs , that have a negative
effect on the patient’s life . The idea is to help the patient understand
what is wrong & why .
In the next phase , the therapist will offer the patient alternative sets
of ideas to think about . Ideas that will help get his / her life back on
track .