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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffIn the homes of people who engage in compulsive hoarding, countertops, sinks, stoves, desks, stairways and virtually all other surfaces are usually stacked with stuff. And when there's no more room inside, the clutter may spread to the garage, vehicles and yard.
Hoarding affects emotions, thoughts and behavior. Signs and symptoms of hoarding may include:
- Cluttered living spaces
- Inability to discard items
- Keeping stacks of newspapers, magazines or junk mail
- Moving items from one pile to another, without discarding anything
- Acquiring unneeded or seemingly useless items, including trash
- Difficulty managing daily activities, including procrastination and trouble making decisions
- Difficulty organizing items
- Perfectionism
- Excessive attachment to possessions, and discomfort letting others touch or borrow possessions
- Limited or no social interactions
People who engage in hoarding typically collect items because they believe these items will be needed or have value in the future. A person also may hoard items that he or she feels have important emotional significance — serving as a reminder of happier times, for example, or representing beloved people or pets. People who hoard may report feeling safer when surrounded by the things they collect.
Hoarding animals
People who hoard animals may collect dozens or even hundreds of pets. They usually hoard animals that can be confined inside and concealed more easily. Because of their sheer numbers, these animals often aren't cared for properly. Veterinarians may be the first to notice signs of animal hoarding when owners seek help for a steady stream of sick or injured pets.
When to see a doctor
Hoarding ranges from mild to severe. In some cases, hoarding may not have much effect on your life, while in other cases it affects you on a daily basis.
Clutter and difficulty discarding things are usually the first symptoms of hoarding. These early indications of a problem usually surface during the teenage years. As an affected person grows older, he or she typically starts acquiring things for which there is no need or space. By middle age — when the condition is usually diagnosed — symptoms are often severe and difficult to treat.
If you or a loved one has symptoms of hoarding, talk with a doctor or mental health provider as soon as possible. Some communities have agencies that help with hoarding problems. Check with your local or county government for resources in your area.
As hard as it might be, you may also need to contact local authorities, such as police, fire, public health or animal welfare agencies, especially when health or safety is at stake.
- Maidment K. Compulsive hoarding syndrome - An introduction. Obsessive Compulsive Foundation.http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/about-hoarding/compulsive-hoarding-syndrome-introduction.php. Accessed April 14, 2009.
- Neziroglu F, et al. How compulsive hoarding affects families. Obsessive Compulsive Foundation.http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/effects-family-society/how-compulsive-hoarding-affects-families.php. Accessed April 14, 2009.
- Abramowitz J, et al. The status of hoarding as a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2008;46:1026.
- Pertusa A, et al. Compulsive hoarding: OCD symptom, distinct clinical syndrome, or both? The American Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;165:1289.
- Saxena S. Recent advances in compulsive hoarding. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2008;10:297.
- Frost RO, et al. Measurement of compulsive hoarding: Saving inventory - revised. Behavior Research and Therapy. 2004;42:1163.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Maidment K. Problems in treating compulsive hoarding. Obsessive Compulsive Foundation. http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/treatment/problems-in-treating-compulsive-hoarding.php. Accessed April 14, 2009.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 17, 2009.
