Psychology

Compulsive hoarding is one type of mental disorders that is marked by an obsessive need of acquiring a significant amount of possessions (Murren, 2010). The condition is also known as pathological hoarding, Messie mindset or disposophobia. Mostly seen among individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or pathological collecting, the disorder is characterized by individuals acquiring and saving too many objects which may seem to normal humans useless or having no value(Steketee  Frost, 2009).

The items gathered by the individuals with OCD are usually useless, unsanitary and hazardous. The condition causes significant cluttering and impairment to basic activities such as cooking, cleaning, mobility, sleeping and showering (Steketee  Frost, 2009). People living with compulsive hoarding have always been referred to as pack rats because of the behavior that relates to the animals fondness for a number of material objects.

It has not been known whether compulsive hoarding is a condition on its own or a symptom that appears due to another condition such as OCD, dementia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer and anorexia (Steketee  Frost, 2009). The hoarding of useless possessions is called syllogomania. However, it is now agreed among most health providers and researchers that compulsive hoarding is one type of OCD. It has also been observed that compulsive hoarding shares may features that are observed in bipolar disorders, depression, social anxiety, impulsive control disorders and certain types of personality traits (Aardema  OConnor, 2007).

In the United States, the condition affects about 2 million people although the actual number may turn out to be higher than the approximated figure (Steketee  Frost, 2009). Although hoarding problem begins in childhood then progresses through adolescence, the condition does not get worse until one is an adult. It is in the adult age is when individuals present the severe effects of compulsive hoarding (Steketee  Frost, 2009). The condition may run in families which is a suggestion that some genetical causes may be blamed. The individuals with compulsive hoarding do not usually know how problematic their condition is it is the family members who experience problems coping with constant cluttering.

Research into the causes of compulsive hoarding has witnessed some positive results although the condition itself is poorly understood. The condition has been identified to be caused by a single or a combination of factors. There three main causes of compulsive hoarding may be related to information processing problems, beliefs about possessions and a number of emotional distress that arise from discarding (Rachman, 2007). In information processing, individuals have problems in categorizing their own possessions.

People with compulsive hoarding condition find problems classifying and differentiating between what is valuable to them and what is not. The afflicted individuals may also have problems in making decisions about what to do with their possessions and also have troubles remembering where their possessions are (Maidment  Saxena, 2007). As a result of this, they always want to keep everything in their sight to avoid forgetting.

Beliefs about possessions have been identified as one of the causes of compulsive hoarding. The individuals with compulsive hoarding often feel a stronger emotional attachment sense towards their own possessions (Steketee  Frost, 2009). Some objects are perceived by them a very valuable that they are regarded as part of them. Losing the objects means much to them hence they retain them leading to congesting their someplace.

Individuals with compulsive hoarding always feel that they want to sty in control of all their possessions and no one should be allowed to even touch them or move them (Maidment  Saxena, 2007). Because they worry of forgetting their things they make their possessions as their visual reminders uncase something is forgotten.

The last cause of compulsive hoarding is the emotional distress that follows after discarding something (Steketee  Frost, 2009). People with the disorder of compulsive hoarding often have problems with feeling anxious or sometimes getting upset especially when they have to make decisions about discarding their own possessions. They also feel rather distressed when they see something that they want and they tend not to feel happy until they receive the things they desire.

Another aspect of emotional distress is the control of the uncomfortable feelings by keeping away from making decisions until later times (Mayo Clinic, 2009). The individuals with compulsive hoarding condition do not always want to make their own decisions and as a result undesirable events happen.

Disposophobia or compulsive hoarding occurs in five levels although the levels have not been applied in clinical psychology. The guidelines for identifying the levels of compulsive hoarding have been set by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganizations (NSGCD). The guidelines are now known as the NGSCD Clutter Hoarding Scale. The scale distinguishes five different levels of hoarding using the professional organizers perspective.

The levels are named according to severity with level I being the least severe while level V being the most severe (Steketee  Frost, 2009). There are some other subcategories between each level and these define the severity of cluttering and the hoarding potential. These subcategories include the zoning and structure, rodents and pets, household functions as well as the cleanliness and sanitation.

Levels of Compulsive Hoarding
In Level I compulsive hoarder the household is considered as a standard. There is no specific and special knowledge concerning the treatment that can be provided to individuals in this level. In addition, there is no specific knowledge required in working with the Chronically Disorganized individuals (Steketee  Frost, 2009).

Level II hoarders may require the services of a household in addition to the services which may be provided by a professional organizer (Murren, 2010). Other professionals may also provide substantial help to Level II hoarders. Knowledge of dealing with people with Chronic Disorganizations is highly required in Level II hoarders.

The household may need the services in addition to the professional organizers in level III hoarders. Other professional may also be needed to manage the problem of compulsive hoarding in level III. It is a requirement that the professional organizers managing individuals in Level III compulsive hoarding should have sufficient training in Chronic Disorganization and should have a sound helpful community network of resources particularly the mental healthcare providers (Murren, 2010).

A coordinated team of service providers is needed as well as the service of a professional organizer to help manage problems of Level IV compulsive hoarding. In this problem of Level IV compulsive hording, medical and financial issues should be solved. Issues to do with pest control and financial counseling should be addressed by handy people (Steketee  Frost, 2009).

The most sever of all levels is the Level V hoarder. Here, the household requires the interventions from an array of agencies. However, the professional organizers should not be involved directly in working alone when tackling this problem (Rachman, 2007). Level V household may as well be under the care of a conservator or still be an inherited estate of a mentally ill person.

A special form of assistance is needed in Level V household and a special team needs to be assembled. Before beginning any additional work, the members of the team have to be identified. The team may include members of social service providers, conservators, fires and safety team, landlords and legal service providers (Steketee  Frost, 2009).

Treatment
The treatment of compulsive hoarding is unclear and there is no treatment which can be said to be used in managing compulsive hoarding. However, some of the methods have been used to manage the symptoms in an effective way. The method that has been applied in most cases is the cognitive-behavioral therapy and some medications which increase the levels of serotonin activity in the brain (Mayo Clinic, 2009).

In cognitive-behavioral therapy, the therapist visits the afflicted individuals home and assists the patient how to make decisions about his or her possessions (Mayo Clinic, 2009). It is not known to what extent this strategy is effective since there have not been many studies of this form of treatment.

Although some studies have indicated that cognitive-behavioral therapy is more effective than the medications, medications strategies to manage the condition have also been successful. The use of antidepressant aims at increasing the levels of serotonin activity in the brain and a number of individuals with compulsive hoarding have responded well to antidepressants (Maidment  Saxena, 2007).

In general, compulsive hoarding is a condition that should be given good attention because the effects of the condition can be disturbing both to the individual and the people living with the person. Although the individual with compulsive hoarding does not realize that he or she has the problem, the people around the person suffer seeing the behavior and it may proceed up to the workplace. As a result, this problem affects the social relationship both in workplace and in the homes.