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Hoarding disorder: overview

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2025

Victor Michael Aziz*
Affiliation:
A consultant psychiatrist with the older persons community mental health team of Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, UK.
Maria Ghalli
Affiliation:
A postgraduate student in the Department of Psychology, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK.
Marian Alfons
Affiliation:
A biology lecturer at The College, Swansea University, Swansea, UK when the paper was written.
*
Correspondence Victor Michael Aziz. Email: victoraziz@doctors.org.uk

Summary

This article presents a narrative review of the literature on hoarding disorder, its aetiology and management. Hoarding disorder is defined by the excessive accumulation of items, leading to living environments that become so cluttered that their functionality and safety are compromised. It is a multifaceted condition that has an impact on both health and social care systems. Some individuals with this disorder show no signs of additional mental health problems, whereas for others, the effects on their mental well-being, their families and the surrounding community can be profound. Given the societal issues that hoarding generates, effective treatment strategies must extend beyond a clinical focus on the individual to encompass a collaborative approach that addresses both the home environment and the potential repercussions for the wider community.

Information

Type
Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Royal College of Psychiatrists

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