Pathological hoarding.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Compulsive hoarding is defined, in most cases, as 'the inability to resist the urge to acquire possessions and to discard possessions'. Compulsive hoarding has an early age onset, chronic course and significant levels of comorbidity and morbidity. OBJECTIVE: This article outlines the essential features of compulsive hoarding occurring as a symptom factor of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and alludes to hoarding co-occurring in a range of disorders other than OCD. A test screening for compulsive hoarding is provided. DISCUSSION: Compulsive hoarding occurs in illnesses other than OCD. Limited treatment studies have been completed only when compulsive hoarding is a symptom factor of OCD. These studies suggest that a pharmacological approach and multimodal cognitive behavioural therapy can achieve a moderate treatment outcome. The illness however is difficult to treat.

Author information

Author/s: Jefferys, Don (D); Moore, Kathleen A (KA);

Affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, The Melbourne Clinic Consulting Suite, Richmond, Victoria.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Australian family physician (Aust Fam Physician), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 37 (issue 4) : pp 237-41

Dates: Created 2008/04/09; Completed 2008/07/02;

PMID: 18398520, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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