What Is Hoarder Disease?

Hoarding disease is known by many names. Also called compulsive hoarding, pathological hoarding, or disposophobia, hoarding disease is defined as a mental illness characterized by the compulsive need to purchase or acquire items from various sources and to keep them even when they are no longer useful. The cause of this disorder is unknown.

It is important to note that hoarding disease is a lot more serious than it may sound at first.

Someone with hoarder disease may realize that they have a problem and need to part with the items, however, the items have significant value to them that others do not see. To others the items they have amassed throughout the years appear to be useless junk, but to the hoarder, parting with the items will be too painful to bear.

People with this disease are commonly referred to as pack rats because they mimic this animal’s behavior as they are continually storing things - but there is a big difference between a casual "pack rat" who may be unwilling to throw out some relatively useless stuff and someone who is a hoarder.

When someone has hoarding disease, their behavior often interferes with everyday life and activities. The clutter often becomes so much of an issue in the home of a hoarder that the individual can no longer function in their that home.

• Papers and junk may pile up so high that the person who lives in the home cannot even distinguish one room from another.
• It becomes impossible for them to cook, clean, shower, or sleep because there is simply too much useless stuff in their home that creates an obstacle to do these things.

One category of hoarders, called animal hoarders, creates an even more dangerous situation as these people may collect a huge number of live animals. Often, this begins innocently with a hoarder wanting to help or rescue stray dogs or cats, and turns into a situation where large numbers of animals are living with inadequate care in unsanitary conditions. 

Any type of hoarding creates an environment for disease and other health hazards that not only effect the hoarder, but that can also effect the individual living immediately around them.

Diagnosing Hoarding Disease

Recently hoarding disease has been bought to the attention of the public through shows that air on both TLC and A&E. There is even a new show on Animal Planet that features the trials of animal hoarders. This widespread attention may lead to the increased ability to recognize and diagnose the disease.

Some experts say that hoarding disease is a disease in and of itself. However, others say that it stems from other mental conditions or diseases such as:

• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• OCPD (obsessive compulsive personality disorder)
• ICD (impulse control disorder)
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

The treatment for this disease is debatable. Some experts believe that simple talk therapy is needed to cure hoarder’s disease. However, there are also some that say medications, such as those used for the disorders mentioned above, works as well.

Hoarding disease is a serious medical condition. For more information you should contact a medical professional.