Which disorder is characterized by a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions due to a perceived need to save them?

• A. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• B. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• C. Hoarding Disorder
• D. Illness Anxiety Disorder

Answer: (C)

Hoarding involves a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a strong perceived need to save them. This leads to the accumulation of items and clutter that interferes with the use of living spaces and causes distress or impairment in daily functioning. People with this pattern often feel intense distress at the idea of giving things up, experience indecision and attachment to objects, and may believe they will need the items in the future or assign sentimental value that others don’t see.

That focus on saving and the resulting clutter is what makes this the best match. Generalized anxiety disorder centers on chronic worry across many areas of life, not a specific difficulty with discarding possessions. Illness anxiety disorder involves preoccupation with having or acquiring an illness. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves the presence of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that aim to reduce distress, which is different in focus from the persistent saving and discarding difficulty seen in hoarding.