Insights on Schizophrenia-Linked Hoarding
Hoarding behavior has been observed in individuals with schizophrenia for more than a century. Despite this longstanding recognition, there has been a paucity of research exploring the motivations and underlying psychopathology associated with hoarding in this population. In their study, "The Hoarding Phenomenon in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders," Schou, Urfer-Parnas, and Parnas (2020) sought to address this gap by investigating the meaning of hoarding for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. They also explored the associated psychopathological factors.
The prevalence of hoarding behavior among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders is not well-established due to limited research. Historically, hoarding has been noted as a symptom in advanced schizophrenia, with patients collecting both useful and useless items, leading to cluttered living spaces.
A study by Stein et al. (1997) found that out of 100 hospitalized patients with
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