Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
09:14
Exploring the Neural Correlates of Cognitive Reappraisal in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Using Task-based Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: March 14, 2025
Do traumatic events influence the clinical expression of compulsive hoarding?
Kiara R Cromer1, Norman B Schmidt, Dennis L Murphy
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA. cromer@psy.fsu.edu
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|August 4, 2007
Summary
Traumatic life events (TLEs) are linked to compulsive hoarding in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Experiencing TLEs significantly worsens hoarding symptoms, particularly the accumulation of clutter.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Traumatic experiences are hypothesized to trigger obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- Compulsive hoarding, a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), may be influenced by trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between traumatic life events (TLEs) and compulsive hoarding in individuals with OCD.
- To determine if TLEs influence the severity of hoarding symptoms.
Main Methods:
- 180 individuals with OCD were interviewed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID).
- Participants were classified based on hoarding criteria and history of TLEs.
- Hoarding symptom severity was assessed, including factors like clutter, discarding difficulty, and acquisition.
Main Results:
- 24% of individuals with OCD met criteria for hoarding.
- Hoarders were significantly more likely to have experienced at least one TLE compared to non-hoarders.
- TLEs were associated with significantly greater hoarding symptom severity, specifically the clutter factor, independent of other variables.
Conclusions:
- Traumatic life events are significantly associated with compulsive hoarding in OCD.
- The accumulation of clutter in hoarding disorder appears most strongly linked to a history of trauma.
- Findings suggest trauma may play a crucial role in the development and severity of hoarding symptoms in OCD.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
01:20Traumatic Memory
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...