Hoarding Disorder

What is Hoarding Disorder (HD) and how do I know if someone has it? The American Psychiatric Association (APA) added Hoarding Disorder to their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, (DSM-V) in 2013. This is significant because it was previously lumped in with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, among others. Research shows that HD has unique characteristics including:

• Persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value.

• This difficulty is due to a perceived need to save the items and to the distress associated with discarding them.

• The difficulty discarding possessions results in the accumulation of possessions that congest and clutter active living areas and substantially compromises their intended use. If living areas are uncluttered, it is only because of the interventions of third parties (e.g., family members, cleaners, or the authorities).

Treatment for HD may include a number of professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, organizers, social workers, and life coaches. Family members and friends may be able to help, but removing items from the home without permission can actually make the problem worse.

HD is becoming more prevalent as our population ages. Finding help while the issue is in its early stages can make recovery less stressful and more successful.