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April 2019

Hoarding Disorder is a growing problem. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it affects 2 to 6 percent of people in the United States, and most commonly involves an individual’s inability to remove clutter from his or her living space. In some cases, this can create dangerous living conditions, especially for older adults. Older adults are also especially vulnerable to hoarding-related problems – up to three times as much as younger people.

Make a difference. Do your Hoarding Questionnaire.

Hoarding Disorder and How Anyone—Including You—Can Help!

A recently published study from a team led by Dr. Carol Mathews from the University of Florida found promising treatments for Hoarding Disorder. In addition to treatment by mental health providers, Dr. Mathews and her collaborators used “peer groups” to teach and practice simple changes in thinking habits as a form of treatment. This method was effective in reducing symptoms and shows promise for more accessible, affordable, and community-involved treatment.

Living with Hoarding Disorder

Dr. Mathews recently began a new collaboration with neuropsychologist Dr. Scott Mackin, one of the Brain Health Registry’s research scientists, to study Hoarding Disorder and excessive clutter. Dr. Mackin developed a new questionnaire for the Brain Health Registry that asks about habits related to Hoarding Disorder. The information collected from this questionnaire helps Drs. Mackin and Mathews make cutting-edge progress in studying the disorder.

Please come to the Brain Health Registry now to complete the Hoarding Disorder questionnaire, if you have not already. This will help us increase our understanding of what may cause Hoarding symptoms, and how to treat them.  We need information from those struggling with clutter, as well as those who are not! This helps us to build a complete picture of these issues.