Hoarding disorder: symptoms, diagnosis and management

Although hoarding behaviour has been poorly understood by psychiatry in the past, research into hoarding has dramatically increased in the last 10 years. Traditionally, hoarding was considered a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); in fact, the term ‘compulsive hoarding’ was widely used until recently.

Hoarding disorder was introduced in DSM-5 in 2013 as a new diagnostic entity, separate from OCD. Hoarding disorder is included in ICD-11.

Hoarding disorder has serious risk implications for the patients as well as those around them, and the majority of individuals with the condition do not see their behaviour as problematic and are not motivated to seek help.

This module covers the clinical presentation of hoarding disorder, as well as its epidemiology and aetiology. It also explains how to carry out a diagnostic assessment and covers the current best evidence-based strategies for treatment and multi-agency management.