Ethnocultural Aspects of Hoarding Disorder

Hoarding Disorder (HD) is characterized by difficulty discarding and parting with possessions, resulting in the accumulation of belongings that congest and clutter active living areas and compromises their use. While HD is thought to be a universal phenomenon, the phenomenological, epidemiological, and clinical research studies published to date have mainly been conducted in Western, industrialized countries, precluding conclusions about the prevalence and phenomenological differences that may exist across cultures in the expression of HD. A systematic review of treatment studies in HD revealed that all have been carried out in the US and have included a large majority (about 90%) of White/Caucasian individuals, making it difficult to ascertain whether existing treatments are equally effective for minority groups. There is a need to consider HD from a transcultural perspective in order to understand the expression of this disorder across different cultures and ethnic groups. We highlight areas of priority for future studies to ensure that the conception of hoarding and its study is inclusive, sensitive, and informative.