Hoarding behaviour in an Italian non-clinical sample

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hoarding disorder is associated with significant functional impairment.
• Traditionally viewed as an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptom, hoarding is increasingly considered a distinct condition.
• Limited data exists on hoarding prevalence in non-clinical Italian populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of self-reported hoarding behavior in Italy.
• To investigate the clinical correlates of hoarding in a non-clinical sample.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Italian version of the Saving Inventory-Revised to assess hoarding.
• Examined associations between hoarding and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, compulsive buying, anxiety, and depression.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of pathological hoarding ranged from 3.7% to 6.0%.
• No demographic differences (gender, age, education, employment) were observed between hoarding and non-hoarding groups.
• Significant correlations found between hoarding, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and compulsive buying, even after controlling for anxiety and depression.

Conclusions:

• Pathological hoarding appears to be prevalent in Italy.
• Further epidemiological research with validated instruments is necessary to assess hoarding disorder.