Personality traits in adults with hoarding disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Previous research suggests a link between compulsive hoarding and personality traits.
• No prior studies have examined this relationship in individuals formally diagnosed with hoarding disorder (HD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of personality traits in adults diagnosed with HD.
• To explore the association between hoarding severity and personality disorder traits in this population.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-two veterans diagnosed with HD completed self-report measures.
• Linear regression analyses assessed hoarding severity as a predictor of personality disorder traits using the MCMI-III.

Main Results:

• Most participants scored elevated on at least one personality scale, particularly Avoidant, Dependent, Depressive, and Schizoid.
• Hoarding severity significantly predicted 10 out of 14 MCMI-III personality scales.

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of co-occurring personality pathology exists in adults with HD.
• Assessing underlying personality structure is crucial for developing effective, individualized treatment plans for HD.