Treatment Implications in a Geriatric Schizophrenia Patient with Hoarding

Abstract

Abstract. Severe hoarding is associated with a number of health and safety risks, such as fire hazards and health code violations. Older adults in particular are vulnerable to the consequences of hoarding, including malnutrition, medication mismanagement, and social isolation. We describe the case of a 69-year-old woman with established chronic schizophrenia and hoarding disorder. This patient was removed from her apartment by the Mobile Crisis Team and the Police Department for psychiatric evaluation and treatment after she was found exhibiting bizarre behavior in a pest-infested apartment filled with debris and old furniture, placing herself and her neighbors in danger. Treatment challenges posed by these complicated patients alongside safety and legal implications are discussed.