Hoarding Test 1.0.1

Evaluate your risk of hoarding disorder with a validated screening test.

Compulsive hoarding, also known as hoarding disorder, is characterized by a pattern of excessive acquisition and an unwillingness to discard large volumes of items that overrun living areas in the home, resulting in significant distress and impairment.

It is essential to differentiate between hoarding and collecting behaviors. Collectors typically search for specific items of high subjective value with a common theme, organizing them meticulously. In contrast, hoarders tend to retain items without genuine significance and exhibit disorganization.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) outlines the diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder:

1. Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their perceived value by others.
2. This difficulty arises from strong urges to save items and/or distress related to discarding them.
3. The accumulation of possessions leads to clutter in living areas to the extent that their intended use becomes impractical.
4. Significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning results from these symptoms. This includes challenges in maintaining a safe environment for oneself and others.
5. The hoarding symptoms are not attributable to a general medical condition or another mental disorder.

Please note: This test is designed for screening purposes only and does not provide a diagnostic outcome. A qualified healthcare professional can offer an accurate diagnosis. If you have concerns about your mental health, we recommend seeking advice from a physician or mental health specialist.

For further reading on this subject, Frost, R. O., Steketee, G., & Grisham (2004) have explored the measurement of compulsive hoarding in their study "Saving Inventory-Revised" published in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(10), 1163-1182.