Comments on: Hoarding Disorder: A new disorder in the draft of the DSM-V http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Sun, 27 May 2012 03:16:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Sarah http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-55594 Sarah Mon, 24 May 2010 02:39:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-55594 I feel like hoarding should stand on its own as a disorder. It obviously takes its toll on everyone involved. Many people made valid points in the fact it will clear up a lot of gray area and get those help who truly need it. I'm also curious about the debate as to whether or not it's exclusively a symptom of other disorders. Could it not be that hoarding causes other things like anxiety or depression, but we think it the other way around because we are more familiar with the symptoms of the other disorders? Also, I definitely do not agree with the post saying that the DSM is a book full of options casually voted upon from a few psychologists. Firstly, you just don't cast a vote, you actually have to prove your case for the diagnosis to be considered. In proving your case, you develop a standardization of the diagnosis. This comes from hundreds of patient cases from not one, but many different psychologists and professionals. They take a look at this data collected, and make an analysis from that. Plus, there are accepted standard tests that psychologists use (beck's depression scale,MMPI-II, etc) that help evaluate norms to establish what is not considered normal and what needs to be included in the DSM. I feel like hoarding should stand on its own as a disorder. It obviously takes its toll on everyone involved. Many people made valid points in the fact it will clear up a lot of gray area and get those help who truly need it.
I’m also curious about the debate as to whether or not it’s exclusively a symptom of other disorders. Could it not be that hoarding causes other things like anxiety or depression, but we think it the other way around because we are more familiar with the symptoms of the other disorders?

Also, I definitely do not agree with the post saying that the DSM is a book full of options casually voted upon from a few psychologists. Firstly, you just don’t cast a vote, you actually have to prove your case for the diagnosis to be considered. In proving your case, you develop a standardization of the diagnosis. This comes from hundreds of patient cases from not one, but many different psychologists and professionals. They take a look at this data collected, and make an analysis from that. Plus, there are accepted standard tests that psychologists use (beck’s depression scale,MMPI-II, etc) that help evaluate norms to establish what is not considered normal and what needs to be included in the DSM.

]]> By: Erin Lane http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-53834 Erin Lane Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:49:47 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-53834 Hoarding should stand on its own, for the simple reason that that is how it often affects people. I am treating a woman who is a CPA. She speaks well, she functions, she appears normal. BUT she hoards. She owns three houses but has to live at her office b/c all 3 houses are so full of junk you can no longer open the door. She has over 3 storage sheds that she admits to. She even wanted to store some things in my garage that she trash picked on the way to our appointment. She pays all her bills so no one bothers her. But this disease controls her life and prevents her from having any other activity other than work. Is that not its own disease deserving of its own discrete diagnosis? Hoarding should stand on its own, for the simple reason that that is how it often affects people. I am treating a woman who is a CPA. She speaks well, she functions, she appears normal. BUT she hoards. She owns three houses but has to live at her office b/c all 3 houses are so full of junk you can no longer open the door. She has over 3 storage sheds that she admits to. She even wanted to store some things in my garage that she trash picked on the way to our appointment. She pays all her bills so no one bothers her. But this disease controls her life and prevents her from having any other activity other than work. Is that not its own disease deserving of its own discrete diagnosis?

]]> By: Jesse Edsell-Vetter http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-52021 Jesse Edsell-Vetter Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:13:54 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-52021 As a case manager and trainer who specializes in working with those suffering from compulsive hoarding, I cannot stress how important a separate classification in the upcoming DSM is. There is clear research evidence to show that hoarding should be classified as a separate diagnosis and to show that there is a strong genetic component as well. In particular, the brain function for those with hoarding is different than people without hoarding - especially in the front part of the brain where memory and decision making occur. In order to manage their hoarding, individuals must not only learn to separate out the emotional connections to items but they must also learn skills such as sorting, discarding and organizing. Without assistance in learning these skills, the individual will not be able to limit acquiring and manage their possessions. A separate classification will also allow those who suffer from hoarding to better access specific cognative behavioral therapy (CBT) and other critical support resources that assist them in managing their clutter successfully over the long term. As a case manager and trainer who specializes in working with those suffering from compulsive hoarding, I cannot stress how important a separate classification in the upcoming DSM is. There is clear research evidence to show that hoarding should be classified as a separate diagnosis and to show that there is a strong genetic component as well. In particular, the brain function for those with hoarding is different than people without hoarding – especially in the front part of the brain where memory and decision making occur.

In order to manage their hoarding, individuals must not only learn to separate out the emotional connections to items but they must also learn skills such as sorting, discarding and organizing. Without assistance in learning these skills, the individual will not be able to limit acquiring and manage their possessions.

A separate classification will also allow those who suffer from hoarding to better access specific cognative behavioral therapy (CBT) and other critical support resources that assist them in managing their clutter successfully over the long term.

]]> By: Alison http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51167 Alison Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:59:15 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51167 @Ursula, gb, cris - I would hesitate to think that "Hoarding Disorder" is hereditary. An underlying disorder that CAUSES the hoarding behaviour may be hereditary, but not "Hoarding Disorder" as a stand-alone disorder. More likely (in my opinion, at least) it is a learned and repeated behaviour that is then continued through multiple generations. @Ursula, gb, cris – I would hesitate to think that “Hoarding Disorder” is hereditary. An underlying disorder that CAUSES the hoarding behaviour may be hereditary, but not “Hoarding Disorder” as a stand-alone disorder.

More likely (in my opinion, at least) it is a learned and repeated behaviour that is then continued through multiple generations.

]]> By: cris http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51135 cris Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:10:39 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51135 @Ursula and gb - I also think it has to be hereditary, also from personal experience, my mom, my brother, my nephew (he is only 7!), and of course myself. Reading all your entrys made me think a lot... @Ursula and gb – I also think it has to be hereditary, also from personal experience, my mom, my brother, my nephew (he is only 7!), and of course myself.
Reading all your entrys made me think a lot…

]]> By: gb http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51030 gb Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:06:52 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51030 Just the other day I thought this should be a separate diagnosis. It is a pathology. All over the media and outside our doors is snow, lots of it. We see it, name it and try to do something about it--shovel,etc. Hoarders do not see anything wrong. Unless they acknowledge it you can't help them. Clean up and they do it again. Ursula--yes it is hereditary--that is not a 100% answer, but I speak from my unfortunate experience. Uncles, niece, parents, sibling. This illness is all of the above: a spectrum, separate. Some of my friends try to understand but you can't unless you actually see a "house" in totally neglected condition. This catastrophe is what I am facing now. Just the other day I thought this should be a separate
diagnosis. It is a pathology. All over the media and outside our doors is snow, lots of it. We see it, name it and try to do something about it–shovel,etc. Hoarders do not see anything wrong. Unless they acknowledge it you can’t help them. Clean up and they do it again. Ursula–yes it is hereditary–that is not a 100% answer, but I speak from my unfortunate experience. Uncles, niece, parents, sibling. This illness is all of the above: a spectrum, separate.
Some of my friends try to understand but you can’t unless you actually see a “house” in totally neglected condition. This catastrophe is what I am facing now.

]]> By: steph http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51022 steph Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:15:36 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51022 After a teary trip to my therapist yesterday and reading this article, I see that it's best to confront my husband about his hoarding problem. I can deal with some clutter (we have a nine-month-old), but I can't handle feeling like my son cannot safely crawl around the house. After a teary trip to my therapist yesterday and reading this article, I see that it’s best to confront my husband about his hoarding problem. I can deal with some clutter (we have a nine-month-old), but I can’t handle feeling like my son cannot safely crawl around the house.

]]> By: Jill http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51020 Jill Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:10:37 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51020 Very good post. Very good post.

]]> By: Katie http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-51008 Katie Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:22:44 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-51008 The magic words are "safety of self and others". That will give social service and public safety people the green light to intervene. Yes, it is bad whatchacallit-ology, as previous poster points out, like calling talking to yourself the disorder instead of schizophrenia. But, the DSM, like it or not, is most often "The Compendium of Codes for which Care May Be Authorized" and this finagling with the categories helps fix a hole in the social safety net. The magic words are “safety of self and others”. That will give social service and public safety people the green light to intervene.

Yes, it is bad whatchacallit-ology, as previous poster points out, like calling talking to yourself the disorder instead of schizophrenia. But, the DSM, like it or not, is most often “The Compendium of
Codes for which Care May Be Authorized” and this finagling with the categories helps fix a hole in the social safety net.

]]> By: Cathy http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50993 Cathy Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:27:00 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50993 I worked with an animal rescue organization that helped out a man who was compulsively hoarding animals. It was pathetic how many people had decided before they even met him that he was just a bad person, and not ill. He was a VERY good man with a big heart who was not able to control himself. Sadly, finding homes for the 400+ animals we took from his house was not the hard part - getting him into a treatment program was. HE was willing to seek help after we spent some time with him, but _nobody_ was willing to give us the financial aid to get him some help. We pulled it together mostly out of our own pockets (after paying to get the animals vetted!!) eventually, but the whole situation made me sad and a little more jaded towards people in general. I worked with an animal rescue organization that helped out a man who was compulsively hoarding animals. It was pathetic how many people had decided before they even met him that he was just a bad person, and not ill. He was a VERY good man with a big heart who was not able to control himself.

Sadly, finding homes for the 400+ animals we took from his house was not the hard part – getting him into a treatment program was. HE was willing to seek help after we spent some time with him, but _nobody_ was willing to give us the financial aid to get him some help.

We pulled it together mostly out of our own pockets (after paying to get the animals vetted!!) eventually, but the whole situation made me sad and a little more jaded towards people in general.

]]> By: gypsy packer http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50991 gypsy packer Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:18:44 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50991 @Linda--in poor areas, and/or during the Depression, hoarding was a survival mechanism rather than a disorder. People multitasked everything, multiple times if at all possible. When I was out of work, what looked like hoarding actually was the collection of used and antique furniture parts off garbage piles, which were kept until I could find a piece of broken furniture to repair and sell. Once employed, the antique parts fetched a nice price at auction. But, lordy, it was one cluttered and ugly sight while it lasted. I've seen, over and over, one thing that is a precursor of senile dementia and/or hoarding--the storage of every darned plastic bowl and/or bag the hoarder can acquire. I work for one man with early-onset diabetic Alzheimers family history--the plastic has to be smuggled out to the recycler, on tiptoe, while he's asleep. @Linda–in poor areas, and/or during the Depression, hoarding was a survival mechanism rather than a disorder. People multitasked everything, multiple times if at all possible. When I was out of work, what looked like hoarding actually was the collection of used and antique furniture parts off garbage piles, which were kept until I could find a piece of broken furniture to repair and sell. Once employed, the antique parts fetched a nice price at auction. But, lordy, it was one cluttered and ugly sight while it lasted.

I’ve seen, over and over, one thing that is a precursor of senile dementia and/or hoarding–the storage of every darned plastic bowl and/or bag the hoarder can acquire. I work for one man with early-onset diabetic Alzheimers family history–the plastic has to be smuggled out to the recycler, on tiptoe, while he’s asleep.

]]> By: Vanessa http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50988 Vanessa Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:05:09 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50988 To my understanding, hoarding is generally a symptom of obsessive compulsive PERSONALITY disorder (not OCD). But I think it's interesting that it could stand alone as its own disorder. To my understanding, hoarding is generally a symptom of obsessive compulsive PERSONALITY disorder (not OCD). But I think it’s interesting that it could stand alone as its own disorder.

]]> By: Erin Doland http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50985 Erin Doland Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:09:58 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50985 @Linda -- The disorders you name aren't new, they're just now being named. For example, when I was born, my parents were told that I was one of 12 people on the planet with my skin disorder. Then, about 20 years ago, when the faulty gene was discovered by the human genome project (it was one of the first three to be discovered), scientists found that my disorder was actually one of five disorders. There were five different disorders in the medical books that were actually all the same thing, just with differently expressed symptoms. Now doctors know that there are about 2,500 people with my skin disorder alive right now. It's called something different than when I was diagnosed, but the treatment, research, and information about it are vastly improved. As we learn more about the human body and genetics, we "discover" new things all the time. The inflictions were always there, we simply didn't understand them. @Linda — The disorders you name aren’t new, they’re just now being named. For example, when I was born, my parents were told that I was one of 12 people on the planet with my skin disorder. Then, about 20 years ago, when the faulty gene was discovered by the human genome project (it was one of the first three to be discovered), scientists found that my disorder was actually one of five disorders. There were five different disorders in the medical books that were actually all the same thing, just with differently expressed symptoms. Now doctors know that there are about 2,500 people with my skin disorder alive right now. It’s called something different than when I was diagnosed, but the treatment, research, and information about it are vastly improved. As we learn more about the human body and genetics, we “discover” new things all the time. The inflictions were always there, we simply didn’t understand them.

]]> By: Beverly Wade http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50980 Beverly Wade Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:57:49 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50980 You might be interested in a new information website on compulsive hoarding – www.compulsive-hoarding.org This is a comprehensive resource of up-to-date information about compulsive hoarding, its diagnosis, research, treatment and the available support. You’ll also find FAQs, tests and the latest views on this disabling illness. As declutterers in the UK, Beverly Wade and Chrystine Bennett of Cluttergone have worked with over 200 individual declutter clients, some of whom are hoarders. They have developed the website for sufferers of compulsive hoarding, their friends, families and anyone with an interest in the subject. We hope you find the site useful. You might be interested in a new information website on compulsive hoarding – http://www.compulsive-hoarding.org

This is a comprehensive resource of up-to-date information about compulsive hoarding, its diagnosis, research, treatment and the available support. You’ll also find FAQs, tests and the latest views on this disabling illness.

As declutterers in the UK, Beverly Wade and Chrystine Bennett of Cluttergone have worked with over 200 individual declutter clients, some of whom are hoarders. They have developed the website for sufferers of compulsive hoarding, their friends, families and anyone with an interest in the subject.

We hope you find the site useful.

]]> By: Linda http://unclutterer.com/2010/02/18/hoarding-disorder-a-new-disorder-in-the-draft-of-the-dsm-v/comment-page-1/#comment-50978 Linda Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:50:57 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=8430#comment-50978 What I just don't get is.... why didn't people have this 100 years ago? (as in: how can it be that these 'diseases' just pop out like that?) The same with adhd, gluten intolerance, all those 'new' diseases that we face nowadays.. What I just don’t get is…. why didn’t people have this 100 years ago? (as in: how can it be that these ‘diseases’ just pop out like that?)

The same with adhd, gluten intolerance, all those ‘new’ diseases that we face nowadays..

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