Hoarding and Developmental Disabilities
Research has shown that hoarding behavior begins at asymptomatic levels in early adolescence and gradually worsens. However, a limited number of studies have examined the prevalence of hoarding behavior in young adults and its association with developmental disabilities. The purpose of the study presented will be to estimate the prevalence of hoarding behavior and to identify correlations between hoarding behavior and characteristics of developmental disabilities in college students.
The study participants included.
801 college students (616 males and 185 females) who responded to the survey.
The following instruments were used to assess: ASRS: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale version 1.1, AQ16: 16-item Autism Spectrum Index, and CIR: Clutter Image Rating.
Results.
Of the 801 participants, 27 (3.4%) exceeded the CIR cutoff score. In addition, participants with hoarding behavior were found to have a significantly higher percentage of ADHD traits compared to participants without hoarding behavior. Additionally, 7.4% of HB(+) participants had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits compared to 4.1% of HB(-) participants.
Correlation analysis revealed that the CIR composite score correlated more strongly with the ASRS inattention score than with the hyperactivity/impulsivity score.
Conclusions.
A high prevalence of ADHD traits among college students with hoarding behavior was demonstrated. In addition, we found that hoarding behavior correlated more strongly with inattentive symptoms than with hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, and these results support the general pathophysiological concepts behind hoarding behavior and ADHD in young adults.
Kajitani, K., Tsuchimoto, R., Nagano, J. et al. Relevance of hoarding behavior and the traits of developmental disorders among university students: a BioPsychoSocial Med 13, 13 (2019). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-019-0156-1
Summary
In this study, hoarding behavior refers to accumulating unnecessary things or buying unnecessary numbers of things even if they are necessary, and garbage disposal can be considered as one of them.
It may be possible to make a diagnosis based on the result that people with high ADHD tend to have hoarding behavior, and vice versa. Many studies have shown that there is no gender difference, but this study shows that men are more likely to engage in this behavior. This behavior is not only a symptom of ADHD, but can also be a symptom of other mental disorders.
In childhood, it is difficult to see the signs of hoarding because the individual does not have the money on hand, but in college, which was the subject of this study, it is easier to secure funds that can be used by oneself, and this is why some people behave in this way.
The results of this study were obtained from a sample of a single university, so gender differences and prevalence rates may differ, but there is a link between hoarding behavior and ADHD.
