International OCD Foundation Hoarding Center
Causes of Hoarding video with Dr. Randy Frost
Another reliable source of information:
Journal articles about Compulsive Hoarding:
PubMed comprises more than 19 million citations for biomedical articles from MEDLINE and life science journals. Citations may include links to full-text articles from PubMed Central or publisher web sites.
How to get journal articles. Example: Hoarding: new diagnosis for DSM-V?
Some articles regarding hoarding available on the COH website as pdf’s:
- Refining the diagnostic boundaries of compulsive hoarding: A critical review, 2010
Alberto Pertusa, Randy O. Frost, Miguel A. Fullana, Jack Samuels, Gail Steketee, David Tolin, Sanjaya Saxena, James F. Leckman, David Mataix-Cols
- Recent Advances in Compulsive Hoarding, 2008
Sanjaya Saxena, M.D.
- Neurobiology and Treatment of Compulsive Hoarding, 2008
Sanjaya Saxena, M.D.
Measurement Scales:
- Measurement Scale by Frost, R.O., Steketee, G., & Grisham, J. (2004) (Saving Inventory)Last revised: 2007
A survey for measuring the degree of compulsive hoarding in an individual based on 23 questions. The survey has three subscales to measure clutter, difficulty in discarding and saving, and acquisition
Used by therapists.
- Measurement in 1-4 Degrees: Scale by National Study Group Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD)
Used by professional organizers.
Translation of these degrees, by Squalor Survivors:
First degree squalor
You are getting behind in tasks that you would normally manage, like laundry and dishes. You are not the tidy person you once were. Little piles are starting to emerge and your disorganization is starting to affect your life and inconvenience you. Things are just starting to get out of hand and become unmanageable. A sign of first degree squalor could be that you might be embarrassed for other people to see your mess…but you would still let them in the house.
Second degree squalor
Now things are really starting to get out of hand. Signs that you have reached second degree would include losing the use of normal household items like your bed, table, television or telephone, because the piles have expanded to cover the items up. You start to develop new methods of moving around your house, as normal movement is impeded by your piles of stuff. You might start making excuses to discourage people from entering your house.
Third degree squalor
At this stage, you have all the above, plus you have rotting food and animal faeces and/or urine in the house, and this is the rule not the exception. You cannot cope with the growing mess. Essential household repairs may not be done, because you are too afraid to let a tradesperson see your house. Just the thought of someone seeing your mess causes you great stress.
Fourth degree squalor
At fourth degree squalor, you have all of the above, plus you have human faeces and/or urine in your house that is not in the toilet.
Misc.: 107 Reasons Why People Hoard