Hoarding disorder is currently understood to be an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, with the World Health Organisation adding Hoarding Disorder as a new category under OCD (Code: F42.3) in ICD-10 in October 2017. In ICD-11 ‘Hoarding disorder’ has been formally listed (Code: 6B24) under the newly introduced category of obsessive-compulsive or related disorders.
I started an online multidisciplinary NHS network on this condition which was operational between 2010-2013 before we subsumed its membership and functions into the RCPsych’s OCARD group.
Between 2010-2012 our group at the National OCD/BDD Services at Springfield Hospital highlighted an unmet need for developmental screening tools for this disabling condition. In 2013 myself with Lynne Drummond organised and co-chaired a clinical round table at the 7th World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (WCCBT) to discuss remedial strategies for such neglected challenges in the treatment of hoarding disorder. Later that year we started research to validate a simple to use five item screening questionnaire for hoarding disorder for use in primary care, which was previously presented at the American Psychiatric Association annual conference. A copy of this questionnaire, which is freely available (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license) is available on request.
In the late stages, it is difficult to treat the condition, management of which requires working with housing associations, local councils, and voluntary organisations. To promote awareness and good practice I often do masterclasses on the disorder and its management to various NHS trusts and local authorities across the country. Please contact me if you would like me to speak to your team or organise a workshop to train your staff.
Resources
Below are some vetted resources on this topic:
For patients and carers:
- The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ information leaflet on hoarding disorder for anyone worried about their hoarding and for family and friends who want to know more.
- MIND charity’s resouce pages on hoarding
- Film Beyond Hoarding presents a fresh look at hoarding through the stories of people caught in the destructive grip of this compulsion @beyondhoarding
For clinicians and researchers:
- Challenges in Treating Hoarding in Midlife and Older Adults by Gail Steketee and Catherine R. Ayers