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Relationships among compulsive hoarding, trauma, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Hartl TL, Duffany SR, Allen GJ, Steketee G, Frost RO

Health Services Research and Development (152-MPD), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. tamhartl@msn.com

The current study investigated aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among hoarders. Compared to a sample of 36 controls, hoarders (n=26) reported a significantly greater number of different types of trauma, more frequent traumatic experiences, more symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and greater comfort derived from possessions. These findings are consistent with previous reports of extensive comorbidity associated with hoarding behaviors, and may reflect the potential usefulness of assessing PTSD and ADHD symptoms at the outset of hoarding treatments, as well as considering alternative pharmacological interventions.

Published 4 January 2005 in Behav Res Ther, 43(2): 269-76.
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