Scientific American recently published an article about compulsive hoarding, which is defined as the excessive accumulation of stuff and the refusal to discard it, resulting in problematic clutter. This May, the new edition of psychiatry's standard guidebook (the DSM-5) will recognize compulsive hoarding as an official disorder, separate from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research in the last 10 years has shown that hoarding and OCD are distinct, changed the way psychologists think about hoarding, refuted popular assumptions about people with excessive clutter and informed new, promising treatments. Today at 4 P.M. EST, Randy Frost of Smith College—a leading expert on hoarding—and Lee Shuer, who is currently decluttering his home in Massachusetts, join us for a live Web chat.

CHAT TRANSCRIPT

ferrisjabr
Welcome to everyone who has joined so far. I'm Ferris, one of the associate editors

ferrisjabr
We'll be starting the chat in 15 mins at 4pm EST

ferrisjabr
Welcome to Randy Frost of Smith College, a leading expert on hoarding

ferrisjabr
And Lee Shuer who leads Buried in Treasures workshops. They are both in the story I wrote

ferrisjabr
To kick things off, I'll ask Randy and Lee some specific questions and then we'll open it up to more questions

ferrisjabr
Randy, can you tell us a little about how researchers currently define compulsive hoarding and how thinking has changed in recent years

Randy Frost
Hoarding is defined by difficulty getting rid of a large quantity of possessions that clutter living areas of the home

Randy Frost
Many of us have many more possessions than we need, but they don't prevent us from using our living spaces

Randy Frost
It used to be the case that people thought hoarding was a form of obsessive compulsive disorder, but we now know it is something separate.

Randy Frost
That's why it is being included in the new edition of the diagnostic code for mental disorders.

standupcomedyfa
Hi, I have a ? for Lee. How do you feel about the Hoarders TV show?

Lee
The Hoarders show depicts some people's experience with clutter, but not all of us. When someone is in crisis, it is hard to watch them be pushed to change. We strive to support people in understanding their challenges, finding motivation for change, and sharing tools and support. There's no quick fix.

ferrisjabr
Lee & Randy, what do you think about family, friends or cleaning services that clear out all clutter at once?

Randy Frost
Cleanouts without the persons permission probably do more harm than good.

Lee
The clutter tends to pile back up. I understand why others would want to 'make it better,' but it doesn't make the person better. Just the space, and probably not for long.

Randy Frost
If someone's home is cleared out, the condition of the home changes, but the behavior does not.

standupcomedyfa
True, it must be a difficult condition to have. Have you gone to therapy?

Lee
I find the support of my peers, family, friends and colleagues to be therapeutic. The Buried in Treasures Workshop has been my biggest means of understanding my challenge.

Lee
As I've come to understand my attachments to possessions, I've been able to let things go. I'm not responsible for the cause of my problem but I am responsible for making things better.

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