Requests for Help With Hoarding: Who Needs What From Whom?

Hoarding disorder is common among adults and may cause health and safety concerns for those living in and near hoarded homes, necessitating community services and mental health interventions by trained providers. Types of assistance sought by individuals contacting an urban university-based setting well known for research and treatment of hoarding are reported here. The sample included 664 individuals who requested hoarding-relevant information via telephone or e-mail. About one third self-identified as having a hoarding problem, and the remainder were mainly family members and mental health clinicians. A majority of requests were for general information, followed by referrals for some sort of help with hoarding (mainly individual therapy, plus support groups, organizers, cleaning, and coaching). Results are discussed in light of large-scale studies of people who hoard and their family members, as well as requests for a variety of interventions and other service needs.