The Problem and Main Aspects of Hoarding - Coursework Example

Lana Kiser Goldbaugh English 111-81 21 July Hoarding Hoarding is a mental disorder which is marked by an unceasing difficulty in getting rid of possessions. Paperwork, old clothing, books, bags and newspapers are few of the most frequently hoarded items (Mataix-Cols, 2023). The disorder however does not only apply to meaningless items but valuable possessions also. People with hoarding disorder face considerable difficulty in abandoning items due to their intrinsic value, perceived future usefulness, and strong emotional attachment with the item (Metcalf, n.pag.). Distress upon the possibility of losing an item is an indicator of possible hoarding disorder, which sets the criterion for undergoing diagnosis. Patients with hoarding disorder often collect large number of worthless items that get accumulated in a disarranged mass beyond their intended use. The result is an obstruction to living areas of the house which is responsible for causing social, occupational, and functional impairment (Mataix-Cols, 2023). Hoarding behavior involves a consistent urge not to let go of possessions, be they valuable or useless. The irresistibility of the disorder makes it quite similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) although both are regarded as distinct disorders. Tolin, Villavicencio, Umbach, and Kurtz have documented a study they carried with OCD and hoarding disorder patients (413). The results showed the patients from both disorders do not differ significantly in their measures of attenuated attentional capacity. However, patients with hoarding disorder display a greater attenuation of the attentional ability. A majority of hoarding patients scored relatively higher in the neuropsychological test for impairment. Metcalf mentions in his article that the relationship between OCD and hoarding disorder is not considerably strong. With the emergence of more and more studies into the subject, experts are finding out that hoarding disorder is, in fact, not an outgrowth of OCD but a distinctive disorder. According to a recent research, patients meeting the criteria of hoarding disorder had experienced a deficiency of clothing, shelter, food and money in their early lifetime (Landau et al., 192). A number of studies have found unusually elevated levels of distress or stressful life events among people who hoard items. These events are sometimes associated to trait onset or aggravation. Once the symptoms begin to surface, the progression of hoarding is often persistent. A minority of the patients encounter a revoking and a deteriorating sequence. In most cases, no evidence has been found if hoarding disorder is caused due to a specific factor. Many common reasons for hoarding behavior exist including attachment with the object, perceived future use, and value. However, not every hoarding behavior can be classified as a disorder and there are a few criteria when hoarding behavior crosses the line and that’s when intervention is needed. Hoarding disorder patients may develop social awkwardness and stress (Landau et al 192-197). Before getting down to the diagnostic procedures for hoarding disorder, it is important to mention that it has been added to DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition). The implication of this development is that HD is now accepted as a mental disorder which will follow the same diagnostic procedures as other mental illnesses in the DSM 5 category. In an article written by Mataix-Cols and Pertusa, a discussion follows that assesses the possible risks and benefits of such a development (608). The authors have then concluded that the benefits of such an inclusion of hoarding disorder into DSM 5 outweigh the risks. The inclusion has shown to help in the identification of HD cases where other diagnostic criteria could have resulted in ignorance of the disorder. So, the authors conclude that hoarding disorder’s present recognition as a mental disorder is largely beneficial for the patients as it helps in identification of the condition (Mataix-Cols and Pertusa, 615). Mataix-Cols, in another article, has described the criteria that point towards diagnosis of hoarding disorder. When a riddance of possession yields distress within an individual, it is likely that she or he may be having hoarding disorder. However, not all hoarding behaviors may be classified as so. Nevertheless, a tendency to collect unnecessary objects that eventually build up thereby restricting movement or other social activity may prompt diagnosis. Finally, because hoarding disorder has been included as a mental disorder, diagnosis would follow DSM 5. After the above mentioned criteria are met, an interview takes place between the evaluator and the potential patient. Data collection methodologies such as questionnaires, structured interviews, and clinician rated mechanisms could be used which ask direct questions relating to cluttering at home or difficulty in getting rid of items. Further diagnosis takes place upon any response in the affirmation. It is also common to discover the presence of hoarding disorder when patients are consulted for other reasons. After the interview, further examination involves a home visit so that the evaluator gets an idea of the amount of clutter that is present in the house. This also allows the evaluator to assess the degree of social and psychological impairment that has been done. Clinicians may also interview close relatives or friends of the patient in order to receive more reliable information that may further help in understanding the intensity of the disorder. Also, such a method is recommended as it can verify the information while providing reliable and valid sources of information. As established earlier, not all hoarding behaviors can be categorized under hoarding disorder. As a result, it is necessary to rule out any other neurological conditions and mental illnesses before diagnosis for hoarding disorder can proceed. For various reasons, it may be difficult to distinguish an OCD patient from a HD patient, although both are fairly distinct disorders. Hoarding can also be a result of OCD, in which case the clinicians should diagnose for OCD instead of hoarding disorder. Because many symptoms could erroneously point towards hoarding disorder, there is a strict criteria for what really qualifies for an HD diagnosis. Individuals, in particular those who live in poor conditions or in cluttered spaces may not qualify for an HD diagnosis. This is mainly because such a situation may be unavoidable. Equally important is the fact that several individuals may have collected various objects throughout their lives due to attachment or other reasons, thereby being unwilling to discard those items. This is quite common among children and some adults. However, this behavior does not mean that the individual may be having a hoarding disorder. In his article, Mataix-Cols has mentioned such a habit as normative collection which is significantly different from hoarding disorder. The distinction is made because of an important factor, mainly the presence of disorganized and untidy clutter of objects obstructing the pathway, movement or just simply causing distress and cognitive impairment. A great deal of studies has focused their attention towards adults with hoarding disorder. However, very few, if any, researchers have focused their studies on the effect or simply prevalence, of hoarding disorder on elderly individuals. Kim, Steketee, and Frost have investigated the prevalence of hoarding disorder among the elderly people. Their article documents their assessment of the elderly people they evaluated based on information and data from phone calls from services for elderly people. The aim of the study was to gather information regarding the impairments caused, cognitive and psychological, among elderly patients of hoarding disorder. It was found that most of the hoarding disorder patients who fell in the elderly age bracket were females, unmarried and lived alone, which may indicate a connection between the factors and the causes for onset of the disorder. The paper later explains how the unmarried status contributes towards an increase in or onset of hoarding behavior. Also, the fact that these elderly women lived alone could help explain how the clutter could build up into a huge mess thereby generating cognitive impairment and stress. These factors are really important because of their impact on treatment of patients with hoarding disorder. An important fact to consider before treatment is that the diagnostic procedure should not inhibit the treatment. In fact, diagnosis should actually facilitate treatment. However, diagnostic procedure for hoarding disorder is fairly complicated as one must rule out all possibilities of involvement of other factors or disorders such as normative collection, obsessive compulsive disorder, and so on. Photographs as evidences can help in the treatment process as it could assist in tracking the progress. Intervention methodologies that are usually used for treating hoarding disorder include multi-component psychological treatment. This treatment method is based on the model of cognitive behavior. The treatment is mostly qualitative; it educates the patients on subjects like hoarding, allows the patient to set goals and basically helps the patient to keep up their motivation in abiding by their goals. Treatment also involves educating patients about how to keep their possessions and homes tidy and organized (Mataix-Cols 2026-2027). Decision making skills are also inculcated so that patients are able to decide on what items to retain and what items to discard. This strategy can effectively enable them to get rid of a huge pile of unnecessary objects. Gradually this allows the patients to only keep items that are actually useful, getting rid of objects that are unneeded. Treatment really demands a strict abidance to their goals that they have set. However, motivation can deteriorate as time passes by. This is why treatment is regulated through consultation and counseling. Photographs play an important role in helping clinicians track the progress that patients are making with their treatment. Generally, patients are regularly taught how to enhance their motivation so that they can keep up their treatment through inspiration. Treatment of hoarding disorder may be long and one that requires great fulfillment to the objectives that have been set. Hoarding disorder is not necessarily positive for the society as patients may development impairments that may prevent them from interacting or mixing with the society naturally. This may also instigate awkwardness and push the patients into further risks. Hoarding disorder symbolizes cognitive impairment. What is more concerning for the society is its widespread prevalence among the society members. The numbers are surprisingly large. The downsides of hoarding disorder do not merely include a disorganized home but the disorder also poses health risks for the patients. Furthermore, the disorder can also impact the immediate family members or friends of those involved. However, simply hoarding is different from hoarding disorder which has a significantly greater health risk involved. This fact lays a great part in both diagnosis and treatment of the mental disorder. Works Cited Kim, Hyo-Jin, Gail Steketee, and Randy O Frost. Hoarding By Elderly People. Health & Social Work 26.3 (2001): 176--184. Print. Landau, Danielle, Iervolino AC, Pertusa A, Santo S, Singh S, and Mataix-Cols D. Stressful Life Events And Material Deprivation In Hoarding Disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders 25.2 (2011): 192--202. Print. Mataix-Cols, David, and Alberto Pertusa. Annual Research Review: Hoarding Disorder: Potential Benefits And Pitfalls Of A New Mental Disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 53.5 (2012): 608--618. Print. Mataix-Cols, David. Hoarding Disorder. The New E ngland Journal of Medicine 370 (2014): 2023-2030. Print. Metcalf, Eric. Hoarding: More Than Just A Mess. WebMD. N. p., 2014. Web. 9 Jul. 2014. Tolin, David F, Villavicencio A, Umbach A, and Kurtz MM. Neuropsychological Functioning In Hoarding Disorder. Psychiatry Research 189.3 (2011): 413--418. Print. Read More