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Published on: January 5, 2012
Hoarding versus collecting: where does pathology diverge from play?
Ashley E Nordsletten1, David Mataix-Cols
1Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. ashley.keller@kcl.ac.uk
Clinical Psychology Review
|February 11, 2012
Summary
The proposed Hoarding Disorder diagnosis in DSM-5 requires careful differentiation from normative collecting. Most collectors will not meet criteria, but extreme collectors may warrant further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- A new diagnosis, Hoarding Disorder, is proposed for the DSM-5.
- Efforts focus on differentiating Hoarding Disorder from other mental health conditions like OCD and OCPD.
- Less attention has been given to distinguishing pathological hoarding from normative collecting behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of proposed Hoarding Disorder criteria in differentiating pathological hoarding from collecting.
- To prevent overpathologization of collecting behavior and avoid false positives.
Main Methods:
- Review of the collecting literature in the context of proposed Hoarding Disorder diagnostic criteria.
- Analysis of similarities and differences between hoarding and collecting behaviors.
Main Results:
- The majority of individuals engaging in collecting behavior are unlikely to meet the criteria for Hoarding Disorder.
- A minority of 'extreme' collectors might potentially meet the criteria for Hoarding Disorder.
- Collecting behavior shares features with hoarding, such as acquisition and emotional attachment to objects.
Conclusions:
- The proposed diagnostic criteria for Hoarding Disorder appear adequate for differentiating most collectors from pathological hoarders.
- Further research is suggested to refine the understanding of extreme collecting behavior and its diagnostic boundaries.
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