Is there any cure for compulsive hoarding?

Although hoarding disorder cannot be completely cured but medication or cognitive behavioral therapy can be effectively used to minimize the suffering.

Despite of the fact that there is no such cure for compulsive hoarding; a person can be helped to minimize the suffering.  People having this disorder have to struggle with this problem throughout their lives without much realization. The level of intensity of this disorder also increases with time. Nevertheless, the symptoms of hoarding can be controlled by following either of the two treatments. One is through medicines which involves rising the action level of serotonin. These medicines include celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox etc.   Researches have shown positive effects of these medicines on some compulsive hoarders but these did not work for many. Unlike for many other obsessive compulsive disorders, the medication did not prove to be effective for compulsive hoarding.

The second possible treatment for compulsive hoarding disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy not only serves the purpose of counseling but also help the therapist in identifying the motive behind hoarding. The therapist is required to make some visits to hoarder’s place, Where through therapy techniques, he will help the patient to clear and arrange the mess as well as perk up his decision making skills. This way the patient learns to fight with the inner convictions that attempt to maintain the hoarding along with an increase in the ability to make life worthwhile. The aim of the therapist is to enable the patient to decide the things on his own. He decides what should be placed where and what things should be disposed off. Once the patient starts recovering, the therapist emphases on maintaining the routine to avoid sudden relapse.

When the brain activity of hoarders was compared with normal people, the researchers found that significant variation of activity exists between the normal and hoarder. The metabolism level in the brain region was low among hoarders. Lack of information processing issues in hoarding patients is the objective of prospective cures.