hoarding disorder

noun

: a psychological disorder characterized by the persistent accumulation of a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others and by the inability to discard such items without great distress

Note: The accumulation and clutter of items that occur in hoarding disorder lead to significant obstruction and congestion of living areas.

Many people with hoarding disorder benefit significantly from cognitive behavioral therapy, in which a therapist helps reduce clutter and prevent future hoarding.Robert Ashley
The problem with detecting hoarding disorder is the extremely long time-frame in which it manifests. A person may have traits of the disorder early in life, but functional impairment may take a long time to show up.Anne Halliwell
Besides dementia, hoarding disorder is the only mental health disorder that increases in severity and prevalence with age …Emily Gurnon

Examples of hoarding disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Here's the truth about hoarding disorder – and how to help someone Animal shelter pleads for help after rescue The Animal Protective Association of Missouri, or the APA, also shared news Wednesday about the large cat rescue online and in a news release. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2024 There are simply not enough clinicians who know how to treat hoarding disorder. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 15 July 2024 Cognitive behavioral therapy is the current best treatment for hoarding disorder. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 15 July 2024 An estimated 2% to 6% of people suffer from a hoarding disorder, according to the International OCD Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 21 June 2024 Hoarding and 'shock value' Treatments for hoarding disorder, naturally, will vary depending on severity. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024 Various experts have diagnosed him with several other disorders including depression, anxiety, PTSD and complex PTSD, and hoarding disorder. Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hoarding disorder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hoarding disorder was in 1999

Dictionary Entries Near hoarding disorder

Cite this Entry

“Hoarding disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoarding%20disorder. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

hoarding disorder

noun
: a psychological disorder characterized by the persistent accumulation of a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others and by the inability to discard such items without great distress regardless of their value

Note: The accumulation and clutter of items that occur in hoarding disorder lead to significant obstruction and congestion of living areas.

The problem with detecting hoarding disorder is the extremely long time-frame in which it manifests. A person may have traits of the disorder early in life, but functional impairment may take a long time to show up.Anne Halliwel
Many people with hoarding disorder benefit significantly from cognitive behavioral therapy, in which a therapist helps reduce clutter and prevent future hoarding.Robert Ashley
Besides dementia, hoarding disorder is the only mental health disorder that increases in severity and prevalence with age …Emily Gurnon
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