Venlafaxine extended-release treatment of hoarding disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hoarding disorder is a distinct mental health condition recognized in the DSM-5, often chronic and difficult to treat.
• Previous research on pharmacotherapy for hoarding disorder is limited, with one study showing moderate response to paroxetine but poor tolerability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of venlafaxine extended-release as a treatment for hoarding disorder.
• To prospectively assess treatment response in patients with hoarding disorder using standardized measures.

Main Methods:

• An open-label trial involving 24 patients diagnosed with hoarding disorder according to DSM-5 criteria.
• Participants received venlafaxine extended-release for 12 weeks, with no concurrent psychotropic medications or therapies.
• Hoarding severity was measured using the Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R) and UCLA Hoarding Severity Scale (UHSS) pre- and post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in hoarding symptoms were observed, with mean decreases of 36% in UHSS scores and 32% in SI-R scores.
• Seventy percent (16 out of 23 completers) of patients were classified as responders to venlafaxine extended-release.
• The medication was generally tolerated, with 23 out of 24 patients completing the 12-week treatment.

Conclusions:

• Venlafaxine extended-release appears to be an effective treatment option for hoarding disorder.
• The findings support further investigation into selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) for hoarding disorder management.