囤积类型和处理方案

囤积is more than just having a lot of possessions. It's a specific type of behavior that can have a severe impact on a person's life. Although hoarding often occurs withobsessive-compulsive disorder，两者并不总是联系在一起的。

概述

Pathological or compulsive hoarding is a specific type of behavior marked by acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that would appear to have little or no value to others; severe cluttering of the person's home so that it is no longer a viable living space; and significant distress or impairment of a person's work or social life.

Types

Many people describe themselves as a "pack rat," that is, someone who enjoys collecting items and does not like to throw things away. Although manyself-confessed pack ratslead normal lives, acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items that seem to have little or no value to others could be a sign of compulsive hoarding, a behavior often associated with OCD.

一个nimal Hoarding

Many people enjoy the company of pets. For example, according to the Humane Society of the United States, 35% of Americans own at least one dog, with another 33% owning at least one cat. While most pet owners provide excellent care to one or two animals at most, for some people, the desire to keep animals as pets crosses the line into a compulsive behavior called animal hoarding.

强迫性购物症

一个lthough it's not officially described in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)，有人建议强迫性购物障碍，也称为强迫性购买障碍，是一种冲动控制障碍。强迫性购物障碍的特点包括全神贯注于购买不需要的物品；花费大量时间研究梦寐以求的物品和/或购买不需要的物品；难以抵制购买不需要的物品；由于不受控制的购物而导致经济困难；最后是工作中的问题，因为不受控制的购物在学校或家里。

治疗

囤积, either alone or in the presence of OCD, usually does not respond well to medical or psychological treatments. A number of studies have examined the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in thetreatment of hoarding. Most investigations have found that only a third of patients who hoard show an adequate response to these medications. Results have been similar for other drugs affecting serotonin, such as the tricyclic antidepressant Anafranil (clomipramine).

然而，专门为囤积而设计的认知治疗方案显示出相当大的前景。

Coping

一个lthough the clutter and squalor caused by hoarding often does not bother the hoarder themselves, it can be very frustrating and distressing for family members. Among the most distressing aspects of hoarding for family members is the lack of insight the hoarder often has into the consequences of their hoarding, even when threatened with legal action, eviction, or losing custody of their children.