mosquito-borne diseases affect up to 700 million people each year. learn more

adhd

are people with adhd more likely to be hoarders?

it's possible that many people who are currently being treated for hoarding disorder might also have undiagnosed adhd, the study found.

by dave yasvinski

mar 1 2022

2 minute read

join the conversation

are people with adhd more likely to be hoarders?

“hoarding disorder is much more than simply collecting too many possessions,” said sharon morein, associate professor in psychology at anglia ruskin university in the u.k.

almost one in five people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder also exhibit clinical levels of hoarding, according to a new study that suggests a hidden population may be struggling with the anxieties that accompany excessive accumulation.

the study, published in the journal of psychiatric research , challenges the prevailing notion that hoarding mainly affects older females who self-identify with the disorder and seek help later in life. it is estimated that between 1.5 and 6 per cent of the canadian population suffers from the persistent desire to accumulate possessions, regardless of actual value, and the intense stress and anxiety that comes with thoughts of getting rid of them.

hoarding disorder doesn’t just affect people later in life

“hoarding disorder is much more than simply collecting too many possessions,” said sharon morein , lead author of the study and an associate professor in psychology at anglia ruskin university in the u.k. “people with diagnosed hoarding disorder have filled their living areas with so many items and clutter that it impacts their day-to-day functioning leading to a poorer quality of life, anxiety and depression. overall, we found that people who had been diagnosed with adhd had a higher likelihood of also having hoarding symptoms.

“this is important because it demonstrates that hoarding doesn’t just affect people later in life, who are typically the focus of much of the research so far into hoarding disorder.

adhd is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders experienced by young people, according to the centre for addiction and mental health . the condition, which affects attention span, concentration and impulse control, is believed to have a prevalence rate between one and 11 per cent among young people. it is four times more common in boys than girls.

to explore the relationship between the two disorders, researchers recruited 88 participants from an adult adhd clinic in the u.k. and asked them a series of questions, including those related to adhd symptoms, impulsivity, levels of clutter, perfection, depression and anxiety. they found that 19 per cent of this group displayed significant hoarding symptoms, were generally in their 30s and were split almost evenly by gender. among the remaining 81 per cent of the subject pool, researchers detected greater hoarding susceptivity but not to a level that interfered with their lives.

they presented the same questions to a closely matched control group of 90 subjects from the general population and discovered that only two per cent exhibited clinically significant hoarding behaviour. they followed up with an online sample of 220 uk adults and found only three per cent demonstrated symptoms of hoarding.

“our findings also indicate that hoarding disorder should be routinely assessed in individuals with adhd, as they do not typically disclose associated difficulties, despite these potentially impairing their everyday lives,” morein said. “likewise, it is possible that many people who are currently being treated for hoarding disorder might also have undiagnosed adhd.

“greater awareness amongst clinicians and people with adhd about the link between adhd and hoarding could also lead to more effective long-term management, as hoarding often gradually worsens with time.”

dave yasvinski is a writer with  healthing.ca

don’t miss a thing: sign-up for healthing’s newsletter

thank you for your support. if you liked this story, please send it to a friend. every share counts.

dave yasvinski

are people with adhd more likely to be hoarders?

it's possible that many people who are currently being treated for hoarding disorder might also have undiagnosed adhd, the study found.

hoarding disorder doesn’t just affect people later in life

adhd in females: outdated criteria leading to missed diagnoses

seth rogen says weed helped him deal with undiagnosed adhd

advertisement

are people with adhd more likely to be hoarders?

it's possible that many people who are currently being treated for hoarding disorder might also have undiagnosed adhd, the study found.

hoarding disorder doesn’t just affect people later in life

related stories

adhd in females: outdated criteria leading to missed diagnoses

seth rogen says weed helped him deal with undiagnosed adhd

are you restless or is it adult adhd?

advertisement

advertisement

share story