How to Test for Hoarding

When a home becomes cluttered and congested with mountains of objects, the term "hoarding" may come to mind. There's a heightened awareness of the hoarding compulsion thanks to the many television reality shows about it. Hoarding is considered out of control when it affects being able to walk around, sleep or cook in the living environment.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn about hoarding behavior. Although hoarding manifests itself in a variety of ways, it often includes collecting too many "things," whether they're paid for (shopping, garage sales) or not (things left out on the sidewalk to be thrown away), according to the International OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) Foundation website. A hoarder has difficulty throwing or giving things away, and often has problems organizing possessions, with objects sometimes creating so much clutter that rooms become uninhabitable. A hoarder usually doesn't recognize that he has a problem.

• 2

  Examine the surroundings in a home, yard, garage and automobile to test for hoarding. Hoarding tests focus on the level of clutter and the level of disruption in daily life resulting from clutter.

• 3

  Consider the amount of disruption that the clutter causes. If the number of possessions causes the person few or no difficulties or if she isn't continually acquiring unneeded possessions, she may be exhibiting either no or mild hoarding behavior. However, if her family members experience disruption, determine its level -- moderate, severe or extreme.

• 4

  Rate the disruption according to a hoarding rating scale (see Resources). Mild hoarding may include hoarding behavior that occurs less than once per week. Moderate hoarding occurs up to twice a week, severe hoarding occurs several times weekly and extreme hoarding usually happens daily.

• 5

  Use a hoarding behavior test (see Resources) to determine more specifically if hoarding is a problem. If you find indications of this behavior, explore treatment options. Possible treatments include individual behavioral therapy, group therapy and support groups.