The article "What Is Hoarding Disorder?" by Carol A. Mathews delves into the historical and clinical aspects of hoarding disorder (HD). Recognized officially as a psychiatric illness in 2013, HD involves persistent difficulty in discarding possessions, leading to clutter that impedes living spaces' intended use. Historical references to hoarding date back to the 14th century, often linked to greed. The article highlights famous cases like the Collyer brothers and the Beale women, illustrating the extreme impacts of hoarding. HD is characterized by excessive accumulation due to perceived need and distress associated with discarding items. The modern conceptualization of HD emphasizes the difficulty in discarding as the core symptom, leading to significant impairment in daily functioning. The article outlines the diagnostic criteria, the evolution of the disorder's understanding, and the types of items typically hoarded. Insight into the disorder varies among individuals, with many lacking awareness of the severity of their condition.

  • Understand the historical evolution and recognition of hoarding disorder as a distinct psychiatric illness.

  • Identify the core symptoms and diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder as outlined in the DSM-5.

  • Examine the impact of hoarding disorder on individuals' daily functioning and living environments.

  • Analyze famous cases of hoarding, such as the Collyer brothers and the Beale women, to understand the extreme manifestations of the disorder.

  • Explore the psychological and behavioral factors that contribute to difficulty in discarding possessions and excessive accumulation.

  • Assess the varying levels of insight individuals with hoarding disorder may have about their condition and its implications for treatment and management.

Content

    1. Interview with Carol Mathews on Hoarding Disorder

    2. What is Hoarding Disorder? by Carol A. Mathews

Expert

Carol Mathews

Dr. Mathews is the Director of the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders at UF. Her research and clinical interests center around identifying the causes and neural underpinnings of obsessive compulsive and anxiety spectrum disorders, including OCD, hoarding disorder, tic disorders, and grooming disorders. She is actively engaged in studying the genetic causes of Tourette Syndrome (TS) and OC spectrum disorders, as well as examining how individuals with these disorders process information using standard neuropsychological assessments, electrophysiological methods such as EEG, and neuroimaging. She is also the principal investigator of a large study comparing community-based behavioral treatment for hoarding disorder to the current standard of care, group treatment by psychologists. She hopes that ultimately, this information will help to refine diagnosis, prevention, and intervention for these disorders. She serves on several advisory boards for non-profit organizations, including the Tourette Association of America, the International OCD Foundation, and the MHASF Task Force on Hoarding and Cluttering. She is also the chair of the TS/OCD Workgroup of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC).

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