The causes of hoarding disorder are complex and involve many factors. These include psychological, genetic, brain-based, and environmental influences. Unlike simple mess or poor organisation, hoarding disorder is a serious and lasting condition. The causes of hoarding disorder differ for each person, but experts have found several key risk factors.
Mental Health Factors
One major cause is a history of mental health issues. People with anxiety, depression, OCD, or ADHD are at higher risk. While hoarding was once seen as a type of OCD, most people with hoarding disorder do not have OCD symptoms. Still, traits like perfectionism, avoidance, and indecision often overlap with these conditions.
Brain Function and Cognitive Issues
Brain differences also play a role in the causes of hoarding disorder. Scans show unusual activity in brain areas that control decision-making and emotions. These areas include the anterior cingulate cortex and insula. Such changes may explain why people find it hard to decide what to keep or throw away. They often see ordinary items as very valuable or personal.
Cognitive problems add to the issue. Many people with hoarding disorder have poor memory, focus, or organising skills. They fear that throwing something away means losing important information. This creates a “better safe than sorry” attitude and drives them to keep everything.
Early Life Experiences and Trauma
Childhood experiences matter too. Many who hoard report growing up in unstable or stressful homes. Neglect, loss, or lack of security often appear in their past. Some grew up with few resources, so they learned to save everything. Others started hoarding after painful losses, like death, divorce, or moving. Holding on to things can feel like holding on to identity or safety.
Genetic and Personality Factors
Genetics also influence the causes of hoarding disorder. Research shows the condition often runs in families. Close relatives are more likely to hoard. While there is no single gene for hoarding, inherited risk combined with stress can trigger it.
Certain personality traits increase risk. Common traits include perfectionism, strong emotional ties to objects, and trouble making decisions. A fear of making mistakes leads some people to keep everything instead of risking a wrong choice.
Cultural, Social, and Economic Influences
Cultural and financial factors also matter. People raised to avoid waste or value thrift may feel wrong throwing things away. In lower-income homes, fear of not being able to replace items makes people save too much.
Isolation makes things worse. Many people with hoarding disorder withdraw from others out of shame. As they spend less time with people, they rely on objects for comfort, creating a harmful cycle.
Digital Hoarding and Modern Triggers
Technology adds a new twist. Digital hoarding, such as saving endless emails or files, is common. It reflects the same thinking and emotional patterns as physical hoarding.
Major life events can trigger or worsen hoarding. Loss of a loved one, disasters, or eviction often push people to cling to things. These objects may feel like protection when life feels uncertain.
Reinforcement Cycle
Saving items brings short-term relief. This relief makes people feel their choice was right. Over time, this reward cycle strengthens the behaviour, making the disorder harder to stop.
Summary
The causes of hoarding disorder come from many sources: biology, thoughts, life events, and social pressures. No single cause applies to everyone. Each person’s path is unique. Understanding these factors is key to planning treatment and support.
