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Assessing Burrowing, Nest Construction, and Hoarding in Mice
Published on: January 5, 2012
Comparison of object and animal hoarding.
Randy O Frost1, Gary Patronek, Elizabeth Rosenfield
1Smith College, Department of Psychology, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063, USA. rfrost@smith.edu
Depression and Anxiety
|May 25, 2011
Summary
People who hoard animals meet criteria for hoarding disorder, exhibiting clutter and difficulty relinquishing animals. However, animal hoarding presents unique differences warranting further research and potential subtype consideration.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Hoarding disorder is proposed for DSM-5, but its application to animal hoarding is unclear.
- Understanding the similarities and differences between object and animal hoarding is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if individuals who hoard animals meet the diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder.
- To explore the unique characteristics of animal hoarding compared to object hoarding.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of clinical features and diagnostic criteria for object and animal hoarding.
- Review of existing research on hoarding behaviors and their impact.
Main Results:
- Individuals hoarding animals demonstrate core symptoms of hoarding disorder, including cluttered living spaces and difficulty discarding possessions (animals).
- They form intense attachments to animals, leading to significant impairment in functioning.
- Key differences exist between animal and object hoarding, suggesting potential unique aspects of the disorder.
Conclusions:
- Animal hoarding appears to align with the basic diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder.
- Distinctive features of animal hoarding warrant inclusion in diagnostic criteria descriptions and consideration as a potential subtype.
- Further research is essential to fully elucidate the relationship between object and animal hoarding.
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