Hoarding Disorder

Treatments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy    

Treatment Summary: The typical treatment for hoarding is individual cognitive behavioral therapy. In an effort to increase motivation as well as cost effectiveness, a combination of group cognitive behavioral therapy as well as home visits were used. Group treatment was found useful as many hoarders are increasingly isolated. Each group met once a week for 2 hours for over 16 weeks. Each group member also received two home visits lasting 1.5 hours each. These home visits were conducted around week 3 and week 12. Group therapy concentrated on hoarding-specific areas including hoarding education, beliefs, emotional attachments, decision making, identifying barriers, and maintaining gains. The group cognitive behavioral therapy did have modest success in improving hoarding outcomes. This type of therapy was not only cost-effective, but it also created greater motivation among participants through the social networking of the group. 

• Reference: Muroff, J., Steketee, G., Rasmusse, J., Gibson, A., Bratiotis, C., & Sorrentino, C. (2009). Group cognitive and behavioral treatment for compulsive hoarding: A preliminary trial. Depression and Anxiety, 26(7), 634-640. doi:10.1002/da.20591 

• Submitter: Tracey Eddy