- Tendency to hoard in people with ADHD - new discovery
- What is pathological gathering?
- Research on the link between pathological hoarding and ADHD
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Many of us have things that clutter up our living space, but we don't get rid of them "in case we need them." For some people, parting with their belongings is a huge problem, and as a result they can develop an obsession with hoarding.
Tendency to hoard in people with ADHD - new discovery
So far, little attention has been paid to understanding how hoarding manifests itself and how it relates to other difficulties in daily life. It was only in 2013 that pathological gathering was officially described in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
Recent studies suggest that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a much higher frequency of symptoms of hoarding disorders compared to the general population. This shed new light on how ADHD patients should be routinely assessed.
What is pathological gathering?
Disorder of pathological hoarding makes getting rid of unnecessary things that are usually often unnecessary, it is even impossible to do. As a result, there is an excessive accumulation of things that may clutter the living space. While this issue is not a concern at first glance, the consequences can be serious.
Excessive accumulation of things can cause a feeling of anxiety, lead to problems in social contacts, to problems at work and other areas of everyday functioning. Research also shows that people struggling with hoarding disorder have greater problems with attention compared to others.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition in which one of the key features is attention problems. They cause problems with concentration, difficulties in organizing, forgetfulness, procrastination and ease of distraction, which significantly reduces the quality of life and everyday functioning.
Research on the link between pathological hoarding and ADHD
Adult UK patients were asked to complete a series of trait and behavior questionnaires which also included hoarding. 88 people participated in the study. A control group of similar age, sex and education, uwho had not been diagnosed with ADHD answered the same questions.
About 20 percent participants with ADHD reported clinically significant symptoms of accumulation disorder, compared to 2%. in the comparison group. Hamstering was more or less common in both sexes, and patients who showed symptoms of related disorders were on average 30 years of age. Pathological hoarding in people with ADHD was associated with a worse quality of life, as well as stronger depression and anxiety.
The results of the first study of pathological hoarding in adult ADHD patients suggest that hoarding symptoms should be routinely assessed - especially given the limited awareness of the associated disorders.
Research evidence suggests that hoarding can be better understood by focusing attention on younger people with ADHD to gain a broader picture of symptoms. This can ultimately support more effective interventions and treatments for both ADHD and hoarding disorder, and help explain the relationship between them.