Hoarding in Adults

by Kelly Weaver, MA, RYT, Resource & Referral Counselor, Project INTERFACE

What is Compulsive Hoarding?

Compulsive hoarding can be distinguished from “normal” collecting by a number of extreme characteristics. According to Frost & Hartl, compulsive hoarding is a complex psychological disorder involving the acquisition of large quantities of seemingly useless items, accompanied by an inability to discard these items. Compulsive hoarders believe their possessions are particularly valuable and experience tremendous anxiety at the possibility of parting with them. Some compulsive hoarders are overly emotionally attached to possessions; they constantly purchase or obtain new items regardless of whether these are needed.

Resource Organizations » Hoarding

No agencies or organizations presently listed.

Additional Sources of Information

• The Obsessive Compulsive Foundation Hoarding Website
• How to Help a Hoarder
• Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• Massachusetts Housing Hoarding Resources (includes treatment resources)
• The Institute of Living, Hartford Hosptial: Anxiety Disorders Center: Compulsive Hoarding
• Boston University School of Social Work Hoarding Research Project
• From Oprah: How to Stop Hoarding Resources

General Resources on Aging and Wellness

• From Project INTERFACE: Caregiver Resources.
• Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.
• “Older Adults and Mental Health,” from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
• PubMed, a collaboration of the U. S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, provides a comprehensive list of journal articles regarding mental health and older adults.