Although compulsive hoarding is often considered a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (QCD), the nosology of hoarding has not been fully determined. Hoarding is a heterogeneous syndrome with different experiences and beliefs underlying hoarding behaviour. Recent theorising (Seaman, Qldfield, Gordon, Forrester & Salkovskis, 2010) suggest three belief dimensions underpin hoarding. One may be psychologically indistinguishable from QCD, due to its association with harm avoidance, while two other dimensions are different; hoarding as a result of fear of material deprivation, and attachment disturbances associated with heightened sentimentality in relation to possessions. The role of these hypothesised belief dimensions in hoarding was evaluated in this study, and the association between compulsive hoarding and QCD in relation to several clinically relevant variables, was examined. Employing a measure developed for this study(the Beliefs about Hoarding Questionnaire), it was hypothesised that the distinction between harm avoidance hoarding and hoarding motivated by material deprivation and emotional attachment would be reflected in a group of individuals with hoarding and QCD, and a group with hoarding but without QCD, respectively. Participants were 21 individuals with primary hoarding with QCD and 24 people with compulsive hoarding without QCD. For comparison purposes, the following participants were also recruited: 22 patients with QCD without hoarding, and 21 non-clinical controls. As hypothesised, individuals with hoarding and co-existing QCD reported greater harm avoidance beliefs in relation to possessions compared with a group of hoarders without QCD. Contrary to expectation, however, the hoarding group without QCD did not report significantly greater beliefs associated with material deprivation and attachment 3 disturbance relative to the hoarding with QeD group. Furthermore, the clinical presentation of participants across groups lends further support to the notion that hoarding should be considered a distinct clinical syndrome. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings, the limitations of the methodology, and suggestions for future research are discussed. 4
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:583271 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Gordon, Olivia |
| Publisher | University of London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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