Possible Links between Hoarding and Eating Disorders

Common traits and symptoms and the association with obsessive compulsive disorder
By: Heather Hutchinson, Weise Communications
 
Nov. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Recently, hoarding has received a lot of attention. Television shows devoted to the tormented lives of hoarders have been immensely popular with 3.2 million watching A&E’s “Hoarders” and 1.5 million watching TLC’s “Hoarding: Buried Alive.” This popularity has created an increase in interest among mental health professionals and the media, including questions about the root of hoarding and, among the eating disorder community, the question of whether there is a correlation between eating disorders and hoarding. The common link seems to be in obsessive compulsive tendencies.

Hoarding behavior is closely associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); in fact, hoarding is now identified as a type of OCD. Hoarding is a compulsion that results from excessive concerns that certain objects cannot be discarded because they might be needed later. Hoarders are more indecisive than those affected with other forms of OCD and tend to experience more anxiety, depression and greater social dysfunction. According to the University of California - San Diego Compulsive Disorders Clinic, hoarding behavior is found in 25 to 40 percent of the population diagnosed with OCD.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is also strongly associated with anorexia nervosa.  Serotonin dysfunction has been implicated as one of the possible causes of OCD as well as anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Various investigators found that OCD was more common in anorexic patients than in the general population, and anorexia was more common in patients with OCD than in the general population.  However, the nature of this relationship is still being examined.

“The first time I realized the relationship between anorexia nervosa and hoarding came seven years into treating individuals with eating disorders,” said Dr. Tamara Pryor, clinical director of the Eating Disorder Center of Denver. “I see now that it is quite possible that many of the patients I treated for anorexia nervosa and obsessive compulsive disorder were likely hoarders.”

Social factors, along with a predisposition to obsessive compulsive illness, influence the development of anorexia, and social factors also contribute the development of OCD. Along with a food obsession, there is also a focus on control in both eating disorders and OCD.  Preoccupation with control is pervasive in the lives, personality and symptoms of persons with eating disorders. There are also common personality traits between OCD and anorexia including perfectionism, excessive orderliness and cleanliness, meticulous attention to detail, stubbornness and rigidity.  

With the close association to obsessive compulsive disorders, patients with eating disorders and hoarding tendencies may be closer than previously noted in any medical studies. Eating disorders have often been noted in individuals who hoard and vice versa. The two disorders have common tendencies, including:
•   Indecisiveness
•   Anxiety
•   Depression
•   Social factors/dysfunction
•   Genetic/hereditary links

“The patient who taught me this [association] initially asked me if I could come to her apartment to see the gifts she had received over the past 25 years. She greeted me with enthusiasm and then helped me navigate through a narrow pathway left open between the rooms of her apartment. These gifts were tucked away in their original boxes and she was waiting for the perfect time to use ‘one or two of them,’” said Dr. Pryor.  “Much like anorexia nervosa, hoarding is a very serious problem and needs attention. However, therapists need to first develop a trusting relationship. If you just tell them to stop collecting or try to take their stuff away, they will go out and get more.”

While these similarities exist between the behaviors and symptoms of hoarding and eating disorders, there may be a closer genetic link between the two—exactly what, however, is not clear. Whether this is a genetic predisposition or a behavioral expression, it is likely that some kind of emotional vulnerability must accompany this tendency in order for full-blown anorexia nervosa, obsessive compulsive disorder or hoarding to develop.

For more information on the relationship between hoarding and eating disorders, or how to get your eating disorder treated, contact the Eating Disorder Center of Denver at www.edcdenver.com, call 1-866-771-0861, follow us on Twitter @EDCDenver, friend us on Facebook or join our Facebook Group.

About Eating Disorder Center of Denver
Established in 2001, Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDC-D) is one of the nation's foremost centers for the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of eating disorders. EDC-D is committed to empowering individuals 18 years of age and older suffering with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and related disorders to help them achieve and sustain recovery. A multidisciplinary team of board-certified psychiatrists, physicians, clinicians, family therapists and registered dietitians work together to create a specialized, evidence-based treatment plan for each patient. For additional information about EDC-D, visit www.edcdenver.com or call 303-771-0861.

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Source:Heather Hutchinson, Weise Communications
Email:***@weiseideas.com Email Verified
Tags:Eating Disorders, Hoarding, Anorexia, Bulimia, Healthcare
Industry:Healthcare, Eating disorders
Location:Denver - Colorado - United States
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