Collecting and hoarding disorder may overlap but in general are distinct.
Features in common:
(1) acquisition of things
(2) attachment to things
(3) reluctance to discard things
|
Feature
|
Collecting
|
Hoarding Disorder
|
|
focus of items collected
|
usually narrow
|
everything, including garbage
|
|
planning
|
present
|
none
|
|
organization
|
some to extreme
|
none (cluttered)
|
|
items out of control
|
uncommon
|
common
|
|
psychiatric illness
|
none or mild
|
severe
|
|
impairment
|
none or minimal
|
severe
|
Collectors often are have a home partner and may have relationships with other collectors with similar interests.
