Characterizing the hoarding phenotype in individuals with OCD: associations with comorbidity, severity and gender

J Anxiety Disord. 2008;22(2):243-52. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.01.015. Epub 2007 Feb 12.

Abstract

Hoarding frequently occurs in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and some evidence suggests that it constitutes a distinct OCD subtype, with genetic contributions. This study investigated differences between OCD patients with and without hoarding symptoms. Of the 473 OCD patients studied, 24% were classified as hoarders according to combined interviewer and self-ratings, which were validated with the Savings Inventory-Revised in a subsample. Hoarders suffered from significantly more severe OCD symptoms, (especially compulsions) and had greater impairment and dysphoria. Hoarders also had more comorbid psychiatric disorders. Further study revealed that many of these differences were attributable to the female subjects: Compared to female non-hoarders, female hoarders were more likely to suffer from bipolar I, substance abuse, panic disorder, binge-eating disorder, and had greater OCD severity. Male hoarders had an increased prevalence of social phobia compared to non-hoarding males. These results suggest that there are gender-specific differences in the hoarding sub-phenotype of OCD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Comorbidity
  • Compulsive Behavior / epidemiology
  • Compulsive Behavior / genetics*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / genetics*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Phenotype
  • Phobic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Phobic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Sex Factors