Hoarding Disorder is classified under which broader category of disorders?

• A. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
• B. Neurocognitive Disorders
• C. Personality Disorders
• D. Feeding and Eating Disorders

Answer: (A)

Hoarding Disorder belongs to the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders group, a category for conditions that involve repetitive thoughts or behaviors and the distress they cause. In hoarding, people have a persistent difficulty discarding possessions, excessive collecting, and clutter that impairs functioning. These patterns resemble compulsive-like behaviors and the intrusive cognitions seen in the OCD spectrum, which is why this disorder is placed in the OCD-related family rather than with other categories. It’s not a neurocognitive issue, which involves memory or thinking declines from brain disease; it isn’t a personality disorder, which reflects enduring patterns of behavior across many contexts; and it isn’t a feeding or eating disorder, which centers on food intake and body concerns. Placing hoarding here also aligns with typical treatment approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention, that target the ritualistic gathering and the distress tied to discarding items.