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Hoarding disorder is the excessive saving of objects and difficulty parting with them to a point that interferes with one's ability to properly use rooms and furnishings in the home. Hoarding can become dangerous, sometimes resulting in structural problems and fires, or in hazardous sanitary conditions. Studies indicate that around one in every 25 people suffers from hoarding. This means that almost all of us know someone who hoards.
Hoarding: What Everyone Needs to Know demystifies this complex problem, what it looks like and why it may develop, and how it can be treated. With their combined expertise in psychological treatments for hoarding and community interventions, Drs. Steketee and Bratiotis explain how to understand hoarding as a mental illness, describing the disorder in layman's terms and explaining the various facets and manifestations of the behavior. Chapters focus on one or more common questions regarding diagnosis, features, how to assess severity, and treatment. The book will dispel myths and help readers identify hoarding that touches their own lives. As such it will be of great value not only to those who suspect a loved one may be hoarding, but also to first responders, such as firefighters, public health officials, and housing and social service personnel, who will find here an essential resource for use in the field.
List of contents
- Chapter 1. What Is Hoarding And Hoarding Disorder?
- Chapter 2. What Are The Common Features Of Hoarding?
- Chapter 3. What Are The Neuro-Cognitive Features Of Hoarding?
- Chapter 4. What Is The Impact Of Hoarding On Sufferers, Families And Communities?
- Chapter 5. How Serious Is The Hoarding Problem?
- Chapter 6. Why Do People Hoard?
- Chapter 7. What Treatments Work Best For Hoarding And Acquiring?
- Chapter 8. How Can Family Members And Other Methods Help With Hoarding?
- Chapter 9. How Can Communities Help With Hoarding?
- Chapter 10. What Are The Next Steps To Understand And Treat Hoarding?
About the author
Gail Steketee is Professor Emerita at Boston University's School of Social Work where she served as Dean from 2005 through 2017. Her research has been featured in media outlets including the
New York Times, the
New Yorker, the
Chicago Tribune, the
Washington Post,
U.S. News and World Report, and CNN.
Christiana Bratiotis is an Associate Professor at The University of British Columbia School of Social Work in Vancouver, Canada. Her research has been highlighted by media outlets including the
New York Times, the
Boston Globe, the
Chicago Tribune and CBC Radio.
Summary
Hoarding disorder is the excessive saving of objects and difficulty parting with them to a point that clutter in the home interferes with one's ability to use rooms and furnishings for their intended purpose. Hoarding: What Everyone Needs to Know demystifies this complex problem, what it looks like and why it may develop, and how it can be treated.
