The items can be of little or no monetary value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members. It can cause people stress and shame in their social, family, and work lives. It can also create unhealthy and unsafe living conditions. Typical hoarded items include newspapers, magazines, paper products, household goods, and clothing.
Hoarding is a disorder that may be present on its own or as a symptom of another disorder. Mental health problems associated with hoarding include:
*Severe depression
*Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia
*Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
The difference between a "hoard" and a "collection" is how these items are organized. A collection is usually well ordered, and the items are easily accessible. A hoard is usually very disorganized, takes up a lot of room and the items are largely inaccessible. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter.
People hoard because they believe that an item will be useful or valuable in the future. Or they feel it has sentimental value, is unique and irreplaceable, or too big a bargain to throw away. They may also consider an item a reminder that will jog their memory.
Hoarding disorder
