Intervention in Compulsive Hoarding

Abstract

Historically, the compulsive hoarding of possessions has been examined in the context of other obsessive-compulsive disorders. More recently, researchers have begun to explore compulsive hoarding as a separate and distinct syndrome. The cognitive behavioral model proposed by Frost and Hartl suggests that deficits in information processing, emotional attachment problems, behavioral avoidance, and beliefs about the nature of possessions are important components in understanding compulsive hoarding. This article presents a case study of a successful intervention with a compulsive hoarder that addresses each of the components proposed in the model. Implications for future interventions are discussed.