Essay On Hoarding

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Scientific Writing Assignment #1: Introduction and Literature Review
Introduction
Hoarding Disorder has only been widely researched and studied within the past two decades since Frost and Hartl (1996) first conducted their study of hoarding behaviors in clinical setting and provided an operational definition of the behavior. In 2013, hoarding became recognized as its own diagnostic entity as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM 5) (APA, 2013) instead a subtype of OCD as listed in the previous version of DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). The prevalence of hoarding disorder is ranged between 2 % and 6% of the general population (Samuels, Bienvenu, & Grados, 2008; Tolin, Frost, Steketee, Gray, & Fitch, 2007; American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2013), which indicated 2 to 6 times greater than the prevalence of schizophrenia (1%) (APA, 2000). Symptoms of hoarding have been identified in 18% to 42% of adults and children as a subtype of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in the United States. (Feusner & Saxena; Frost, Steketee, & Tolin, 2011).
Those suffering from HD often avoid disclosure or wait to seek help due to the shame and embarrassment (Chabaud, 2011; Sholl, 2011). The recent popularity of the subject on reality television programs such as TLC’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive” and A&E’s “Hoarders” has facilitated public awareness of the significance of this devastating condition and its sequellae to the hoarder, the family and community at large (Chabaud, 2011; Lepselter, 2011; Sholl, 2011). However, these television shows often do little more in their portrayal than sensationalize the behaviors and the quantity and quality of the hoard it...

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... 2011). Likewise, dedicated HD studies on interventions should be conducted, rather than relying upon subjects who present with hoarding as a subtype of OCD, particularly now that the DSM V recognizes HD as its own distinct disorder. These two adjustments will aid the field immensely in the understanding of this condition.
Preliminary data indicate that compulsive hoarding has a unique neuropsychological profile, but few neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies have been conducted to this point (Tolin, 2011). More study in these areas is needed to understanding the development of the disorder, potential vulnerabilities, and may inform pharmacological treatments of hoarding. With respect to treatment methods, further investigation is needed for potentially useful medications that may be effective in addressing the symptoms characteristic of compulsive hoarding.

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