Oct 27, 2024 20:00:00

Why do people develop hoarding disorder, the inability to throw things away?

People who accumulate garbage and unnecessary furniture and create a garbage house, and '

digital hoarding ' where unnecessary data cannot be easily thrown away, are called ' compulsive hoarding ' in the field of psychiatry, or 'hoarding disorder' in Japanese. Jessica Grisham, a professor of psychology at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, explains why people become hoarders and why hoarders are unable to throw things away or organize them.

Why do people with hoarding disorder hoard, and how can we help?
https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-with-hoarding-disorder-hoard-and-how-can-we-help-208102

Hoarding disorder is associated with an obsession with the same types of objects, an excessive dependency on possessions, and an inability to part with them. A 2016 study suggested that hoarding disorder may have a genetic component, but no single gene has been identified that causes the disorder. Instead, a variety of psychological, neurobiological, and social factors may be at play.

A paper published in 2022 showed that people who are prone to hoarding and stockpiling are associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) . The same study also found that hoarding disorder was associated with a decreased quality of life and increased depression and anxiety.

Research shows that people with ADHD are 'significantly more likely to not throw things away' - GIGAZINE

Grisham lists 'emotional deprivation' as another cause of hoarding. In a paper published in 2010 by psychiatrists at King's College London, it was shown that 'traumatic life events and material deprivation in childhood have been identified as potential environmental risk factors for the development of pathological hoarding behavior.' Emotional deprivation is thought to apply to people who received little love from their parents in childhood, had difficulty connecting with others, or reported some kind of traumatic experience. According to Grisham, people who have experienced emotional deprivation may think that 'people are unreliable and untrustworthy, and it is better to rely on things for a sense of security and safety.'

There are many reasons why people with hoarding disorder collect things and cannot throw them away. Some people have a desire to control and protect their objects, while others are unable to organize due to cognitive impairment. Some people also feel too responsible for their objects and environment, which makes it difficult for them to throw away broken or disposable items. Therefore, when treating hoarding disorder as a psychiatric problem, it is important to identify the causes and tendencies and take an individualized approach, says Grisham.

Grisham said of hoarding disorder, 'Treatment can involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specific to hoarding, helping people understand and gradually question their beliefs about possessions. But hoarding disorder is different from most other mental disorders, and complex cases may require different agencies to work together. We must continue to improve our understanding and treatment of complex hoarding disorder and address barriers to accessing support. This will ultimately help reduce the devastating impact hoarding disorder has on individuals, their families and communities.'