Formation of attachment to possessions in compulsive hoarding

J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Apr;23(3):357-61. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.12.006. Epub 2008 Dec 30.

Abstract

Hypersentimentality to possessions has been proposed to play an important role in the development and maintenance of compulsive hoarding. The current study prospectively examined the formation of attachment to a newly acquired object in an OCD sample (n=62) to determine whether specific hoarding symptoms moderated the development of attachment to an object over time. Participants rated their level of attachment to a keychain immediately upon receipt (time 1) and one week later (time 2). We hypothesized that individuals with a tendency to hoard and strong beliefs about the value of possessions would exhibit greater attachment to the object over time. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that a person's initial attachment to the object was the best predictor of attachment one week later. Although emotional attachment increased similarly for all participants independent of their hoarding symptoms, specific hoarding-related beliefs and behaviors uniquely predicted initial attachment to the keychain.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Object Attachment*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Social Facilitation*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult