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Hoarding behavior among young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hannah Frank1, Elyse Stewart1, Michael Walther1
1Alpert Medical School of Brown University/Bradley-Hasbro Children's Research Center.
Summary
Young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and hoarding behaviors show earlier symptom onset and higher rates of ADHD and anxiety. Further research is needed for a developmental definition of childhood hoarding.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Hoarding disorder is recognized in adults and older children with OCD, often linked to poor treatment outcomes.
- Limited research exists on the phenomenology and prevalence of hoarding behaviors specifically in young children (age 10 and under).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical presentation and phenomenology of hoarding behaviors in young children diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 68 children with OCD (ages 10 and under) was assessed using structured interviews and clinician, parent, and child reports.
- Inclusion in the hoarding group (n=33) was based on clinician ratings and checklist endorsement of hoarding symptoms, compared to a non-hoarding group (n=35).
Main Results:
- Children with hoarding symptoms exhibited an earlier age of primary OCD diagnosis onset compared to those without hoarding.
- The presence of hoarding symptoms was associated with a higher proportion of co-occurring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and provisional anxiety diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Findings partially align with adult and older child OCD hoarding literature, suggesting shared developmental pathways.
- More research into the clinical presentation and phenomenology of hoarding in young children is essential for a developmentally informed definition.
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