Family-Based Behavioral Treatment of Pediatric Compulsive Hoarding: A Case Example. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ale, Chelsea M.; Arnold, Elysse B.; Whiteside, Stephen P. H.; Storch, Eric A.
• Other Names: McKay Dean guest-editor.; Storch Eric A. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Clinical case studies. Volume 13:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: compulsive hoarding -- CBT -- family-based treatment -- childhood; Psychotherapy -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Marital psychotherapy -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Family psychotherapy -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.89140722
• DOI: 10.1177/1534650113504487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1534-6501

Abstract

Although compulsive hoarding may pose health, social, and developmental impairment for children, there are few phenomenological and treatment studies to guide assessment and treatment. Current evidence-based questions the link between hoarding and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy protocols for OCD to adequately address the unique challenges of poor insight, poor emotion regulation, and increased family accommodation in children with compulsive hoarding. This case study seeks to illustrate a family-based behavioral approach to outpatient treatment of compulsive hoarding with a 9-year-old girl (pseudonym Lily). Treatment included psychoeducation, exposure to discarding items, exposure to acquiring cues, and parent behavior management techniques.