WHAT IS COMPULSIVE HOARDING?

It is very natural for humans to give objects special importance, however, when this tendency gets out of hand complications can begin.  Hoarding behavior should be seen on a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe.

Compulsive Hoarding, can be defined as:

“1. The acquisition of, and failure to discard a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value;

2. Living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as to preclude activities for which those spaces were designed;

3. Significant distress of impairment in functioning caused by the hoarding.”

(Frost and Hartl 1996:342)