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.
In Tim O' Brian's, The Things They Carried, he talks about the Vietnam War and it's effects country. O' Brian uses the psychological approach to tell the sorrows of war . The things that they carried had all represented a part of each soldier. In the days of the Vietnam war, they did not expect a woman to fight in a war. The story is better understood because the reader knows the background of the story and the characters personality. The thought was just unacceptable and definitely not normal. The two methods of interpreting a story fused together brings about a great understanding of the characters and the event which is about to take place. The deceitful interpretations presented, the things they carried, and a transformation of a dainty girl that turns into a survivor are examples of each method presented.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder has been classified as a type of anxiety disorder under DSM-5, in which there is a presence of obsessions, compulsions or both. Obsessions are defined as “intrusive and mostly nonsensical thoughts, images, or urges that the individual tries to resist or eliminate,” while compulsion are the thought or actions that accompany these obsessions to try to suppress and provide relief. (TEXTBOOK) The obsessions are categorized into four major types, and each is linked with a certain pattern of compulsive behaviors.
Hoarding is an addiction that is both socially debilitating and alarmingly enigmatic. While compulsive hoarding is classified as it’s own respective disorder, it is also a rather extreme form of addiction. Often kept under wraps and undiagnosed, attention is seldom brought to the secret lives of hoarders.
It is an obsession and a disease. This is why animal hoarding needs to be taken more seriously. 250,000 animals fall captive to animal hoarding each year (ASPCA.org). It is not only the life of the animal we are looking at, it is the life of a person as well. If animal hoarding continues to go unnoticed many more animals’ lives will be put in danger. The person may be to blame, but in many cases, it is all they know, it is how they cope, it is how they fill a void that has been left empty for many years. This is so much more than people think. It goes deeper than most people think. There is a mental aspect to this that no one wants to look and see. People need the help, and in order for them to get that, the animal hoarding needs to be identified. A very popular case of animal hoarding is the case that involved Vikki Kittles. The case happened in the year of 1985. It may be an older case, but it gives many examples as to why animal hoarding needs to be taken seriously, and why more people should be educated on the subject. In the year of 1985 Vikki Kittles’ neighbor had called the police complaining of an awful stench coming from her Vikki’s house. When the cops arrived, they had found 35 dogs, three cats, and two horses living in the house with Vikki and her 75-year-old mother (aldf.org). She claimed that these horses were in the house because she believed that the “enemy” was trying to poison them.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychiatric disorder, formulated of unwanted and repeated thoughts leading to extreme and obsessive behavior to avoid those thoughts. People who have OCD will never be satisfied regarding their cleanliness, always thinking they are not clean enough. Antidepressants are used as a common medication for this disorder.
OCD has symptoms such as compulsive hoarding, extreme anxiety, depression, and food aversions. It currently has no sure cause but it has said to be a product of genetics or abnormalities in the brain and serotonin levels as controlling serotonin tends to help in treatment of OCD. Obsessive Compulsive disorder is seen in 2.3% of Americans. It’s more prominent in adults than in children.
Animal hoarding is an issue in every division of society around the world (Donaghey 2011). Whether rich or poor, there may still be an animal hoarder living right next door (Donaghey 2011). In some situations there may be obvious signs that a person is a hoarder; however, others live seemingly regular lives to the public eye and the problem is growing. Animal hoarding is a growing problem because of the lack of understanding of the issue and lack of action.
Obsessive compulsive disorder can be associated with other mental disorders that cause stress and anxiety, but it can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychological disorder with symptoms of obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, and counting. OCD is linked to other disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and experiential avoidance disorder (EA). OCD and ADHD have similar effects in children, being that they both lead to procrastination when trying to complete simple tasks. People with OCD and EA both have consistent negative thoughts, but the same treatments can be used for both.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is placed on the lowest level of spectrum of the effects of personality disorders and mental illnesses. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD, is a...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves a chemical imbalance in the brain. This chemical imbalance is thought to be the main reason for obsessions and compulsions, although there may be other factors as well. Nearly one in every fifty people suffers from symptoms of OCD ("Escape"), and approximately 5 million Americans are affected by it (George 82+). To be diagnosed with OCD, an individual must suffer from obsessions and compulsions that actually interfere with their daily lives (Lanning 58+).
Imagine how much trash and waste people discard in their lifetimes. Now imagine a person living in that waste they have accumulated in their lifetime stored in their own homes because of their inability to discard the useless items. This is what day-to-day life is like for a compulsive hoarder. Compulsive hoarding is a chronic behavioral syndrome that is defined by a person's extreme retention of useless items and crippling inability to discard such items. Compulsive hoarding has been traditionally recognized amongst psychiatrists and researchers in human behavior as a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder due to similar symptoms hoarders have with those that suffer from OCD. However, there is substantial evidence that proves contrary. Hoarders often have several other behavioral or physical symptoms that are not typical of a person with OCD, hoarders also have genetic and physical anomalies different from OCD, and finally, most compulsive hoarders do not respond to treatments intended for OCD patients. Because of these differences, compulsive hoarding should be seen as a separate syndrome apart from OCD, so that the disorder may be categorized and studied accurately in order to pursue more effective treatments.
Levenkron, S. (1991). Treating & Understanding Crippling Habits. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. New York, NY: Warner Books.
...ssive-Compulsive Disorder is a treatable, but severe, danger to teenagers because of the extreme compulsions and obsessions. This disorder is provoked by multiple factors related to both the environment and genetics. OCD consists of common signs and symptoms present in sufferers with extreme recurring obsessions and compulsions. There are four different types of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder including checking, contamination, hoarding, and ruminations. OCD is a disorder with symptoms that can be lessened by therapy, interventions, and medications. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is treatable, but other disorders can also occur and exist because of the presence of OCD. Although the symptoms and presence of OCD can be reduced, the anxiety and emotions that are related to OCD will stay will the sufferer for their life through other disorders or regular, everyday events.
Compulsive behaviors are often thought to involve free will. It also is contrasted to be the same as compelled behavior, where the person is under the influence that they are behaving some way under their own accord. If someone resists an impulse it become increasingly difficult to be successful over time. By resisting these impulses, they experience excruciating levels of psychological pain; making it feel literally impossible to resist urges. Compulsive people have not lost the amount of self-control they have, rather that they are over whelmed by the psychological influence of the addictive behavior. These behaviors are not necessarily caused by the irresistible desires, rather habitual repetitive patterns (Henden, Melberg, & Rogeberg, 2013).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a disease that a lot of people suffer with in society especially young adults. While it is not a disease that is deadly, it does affect the victim in every day aspects of their life and can ultimately control their lives. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as, “… a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over”. The thoughts that individuals have when suffering through Obsessive Compulsive Disorder cannot be restrained and really can disturb the individual. Thoughts or actions that people may have can range from worrying about daily occurrences, such as washing their hands, to having thoughts of harming people that are close to them. People tend to have these reoccurring compulsions because they believe by doing them or thinking them, they will either prevent something bad from happening or because it eliminates stress that they have. This disease can last a lifetime and can be very detrimental and disabling to how one lives their lives. Individuals can start to see signs of OCD in either late adolescence or even early adulthood and everyone is susceptible. When it comes to classifying this incurable disease, there is much debate on whether or not it a type of anxiety (Abramowitz, Taylor, & McKay, 2009). It is important to be able to understand this mental disorder since so many people are diagnosed with it. While there are treatments for OCD, there are no cures yet. Treatments could range anywhere from taking prescribed medication to just going to therapy and counseling fo...