Hoarding disease is a psychological disorder characterized to have a desire to hold up many items despite their monetary value, and when leaving it leads to severe anxiety. 

The hoarded items include magazines, newsletters, appliances, and household items. People with this disorder mostly gather large numbers of animals like which were not taken care of properly. 

This disease leads to hazardous clutter and interferes with quality of life. Finally, it may cause stress and embarrassment from social community and professionally. 

Hoarding disorder prevalence rate is 1.5% and majority of those with hoarding disorder (67%), who were also older. Additionally, few of them were more likely to get benefits (47.4%) a limited by a current physical health condition (52.6%) or comorbid mental disorder (58%). 

Hoarding disorder (HD) is recently added to DSM-5 category which is characterized by an inability to let go of or organize possessions, which leaves living spaces cluttered and makes it difficult to carry out daily tasks. 

Although there is no standard approach to treating HD, cognitive behavioral therapy methods can be somewhat helpful. 

If left untreated, hoarding is a chronic condition that manifests early in life. Genetics, neurocognitive functioning, attachments, beliefs, avoidance, personality, and life events are among the factors that influence its manifestation. It is still unclear how the factor of each etiological factor makes to hoarding. Even though studies, on the origins and traits of hoarding are developing, there is still much to learn about the biological and environmental factors. 

The prognosis for hoarding disorder is not good though some people with the disorder do well with cognitive behavioral therapy. Living in unsafe conditions and being unable to complete daily tasks are common consequences of the condition. It may result in health code violations, tripping hazards, and fire hazards. A decline in relationships and social interactions can also result in tension within the family, arguments, loneliness, and isolation. Unlivable conditions may result in custody loss, divorce, eviction, or separation, which could impact children’s social development. 

Clinical history: 

Hoarding Awareness and Treatment 

Patients often lack awareness about hoarding. 

Relatives often urge help. 

Hoarding can co-occur with depression and anxiety. 

Screening for hoarding can detect problems. 

Patients who live in filthy conditions may develop cellulitis or skin infections. Additionally, they might have fractures from falls brought on by accumulated objects that could trip someone.

Nonpharmacological Approach to Hoarding disease: 

Lifestyle changes: 

Hoarding disorder treatment can be successful, but it’s very challenging if you keep trying to acquire new abilities. If this disease is untreated, it increases to risk of life, negatively affecting the person. It is proven that people with this disease mostly get comfort with the pets or items what they have when compared with humans and if these items are taken away these people often respond with rage and frustration. They might gather more quickly to help meet their emotional needs. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): 

To identify hoarding diseases, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) serves as the preferred approach which promotes ongoing therapy and support. 

Challenging thoughts and beliefs about holding onto things 

Learning to organize 

Resisting the urge to acquire more 

Improving decision-making skills 

Reducing feelings of loneliness 

Medication: 

The drugs are not approved by FDA specifically for hoarding disorder. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants like serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

Investigation suggests these drugs, that are utilized for the management of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have been more effective at treating hoarding disorder. Several drugs demonstrate potential, especially paroxetine and venlafaxine, however additional study needs to be done to identify the most effective options. 

Follow-up: 

Even if you experience challenges, follow to your treatment plan in order to improve your view of things, boost confidence, and reduce hoarding. Make an effort each day to clear hoarding, particularly if you are feeling motivated. You’ll be happier regarding yourself and clear out more mess as a result. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Seek assistance: 

Seek support from family and friends, professional coordinators, and local help for working jointly on clearing out and setting up the inside of your house while placing your safety and wellbeing before anything else. This might require some time and assistance to keep things arranged in a place that’s secure. 

Stay clear from isolation: 

Make relationships with other people to avoid isolation, that may worsen hoarding impulsive behaviors. If you aren’t happy of having individuals aside, think about hanging out with family members alternatively or incorporating the hoarding disorder group for support. The following may provide that you a range of helpful information and guidance in addition to render you feel realized. 

The cleaning and sanitation: 

Always make your own personal hygiene an essential in order to keep your attention keep clean. Plan your bathroom in order to assist in implementing a bath easier and more pleasant. Ensure that your kitchen is clean and useful so you can cook and consume meals without obstructions as well as take good care of your health. Do not ignore the fact that you require to live in an uncluttered quiet home. Pay attention on achieving your goals of removing clutter, ensuring few steps with assistance from professionals, and recognizing every small win as it happens. 

Taking charge of pets: 

Consider good care of the animals you love through making certainly they get proper food, tidy surroundings, and medical care. Whenever making choices with respect to the maintenance for numerous pets, focus their well-being into consideration. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Counseling is crucial for managing the disorder because it helps to avoid emotions of separation and feeling alone. CBT operates particularly well via behavioral therapy; counselors helps individuals in challenging their opinions and measures associated with hoarding and collecting goods. The above home-based instruction therapy sessions may assist with arranging items of value, strengthening making decisions, and dealing with the need to acquire additional items. Furthermore, CBT encourages interaction with others, and that may reduce sentiments of separation. Meetings with family or social therapy may be extremely helpful in providing encourage and supporting people with sustaining healthier habits as time goes on. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Fluvoxamine: 

this improves serotonin levels within the brain utilized to manage OCD. It has lower adverse reactions when compared with other antidepressant drugs, helpful for treating hoarding-related disorders along with depression. 

Sertraline: 

Sertraline is used to manage anxiety-related conditions, involving MDD (major depressive disorder) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has not been approved especially for HD, however it is given as off-label even though. This has been suggested that the sertraline’s effectiveness within managing HD symptoms stems from its capacity to treat anxiety-related disorders. 

Psychiatry/Mental Health

Venlafaxine: 

Venlafaxine is helpful in controlling OCD, especially when dealing with cases involving impulsive actions. This drug reduces the symptoms of hoarding disorder by diminishing serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. Notwithstanding knowing the drug is not the medication of option, health care professionals might continue to prescribe it to patients as a substitute because of its proven the effectiveness of treatment.