Hoarding Disorder: A Comprehensive Overview-View Presentation

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Video Summary

In this session led by Randy Frost from Smith College and Karen Rodriguez from Stanford, the focus is on diagnosing, understanding, and treating hoarding disorder. Hoarding disorder was officially recognized as a mental disorder in 2013 and involves persistent difficulty discarding possessions due to perceived need and distress when discarding. Symptoms lead to clutter that compromises living spaces and can cause distress or impairment socially and occupationally. The disorder's criteria include whether the behavior is due to another medical condition or another DSM-5 disorder, insight level, and excessive acquisition.<br /><br />The presentation discusses the prevalence of hoarding disorder, estimated globally at 2.5%, and its comorbidity with disorders like major depression. The disorder often appears in early adulthood and worsens over time. Environmental hazards associated with hoarding include sanitation issues, mobility hazards, and fire risks, contributing to social and community costs.<br /><br />The presenters described the cognitive model of hoarding focusing on vulnerabilities like health problems and perfectionism, information processing deficits such as attention problems, and attachment to possessions motivated by emotions ranging from fear of loss to aesthetic pleasure. The attachment beliefs reinforce hoarding behavior by associating items with safety and comfort or opportunities for future identities.<br /><br />Therapeutic interventions discussed include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically for hoarding and community strategies like the Buried in Treasures workshop. Current medications have shown some effectiveness, though no medication is FDA-approved for hoarding disorder yet. Challenges include finding more effective treatments and improving client engagement.<br /><br />Overall, this session outlines the complexity of hoarding disorder, covering its diagnostic criteria, contributing factors, research, and therapeutic interventions, emphasizing the need for personalized and varied strategies in managing the disorder.

Keywords

Hoarding Disorder

Randy Frost

Karen Rodriguez

DSM-5

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Comorbidity

Environmental Hazards

Cognitive Model

Attachment Beliefs

Therapeutic Interventions

Buried in Treasures

Client Engagement

Mental Disorder