Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is a mental condition in which patient feels it difficult to discard things of possession because they have persistent need to save them.
Symptoms
- Excessive collection of items of no need and acquiring them when there’s is no space.
- Difficulty in discarding items
- Being upset to discard items and feel the need to save them
- Building up piles even when there is no space left
- indecisiveness, perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination tendencies
- Conflict with others about excessive items
- Difficulty organizing things
Causes
No exact cause is identified. However, malfunctioning brain, genetical factors and stress can contribute in its development.
Complications
- Trauma from trapping during shifting of items
- Tendencies of falling
- Fire hazards
- Poor working
- Unhygienic conditions
- Eviction and other legal issues.
- Depression and anxiety
- Obsessive compulsive disorder.
Diagnosis
- Detailed medical history
- Phycological evaluation
- Also, for diagnosis criteria proposed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used
Treatment
- Psychotherapy
- For children, family accommodation.
- Medications such as antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed.