Abstract

Hoarding disorder, also known as compulsive hoarding, is a mental disorder characterized by persistent difficulty in discarding possessions regardless of their actual value. Hoarding disorder is characterized by a lack of insight and chronic course and causes significant mental, physical, and economic problems. It also harms family members and their surroundings, leading to social issues (such as fire hazards and public health concerns) that result in social costs. Numerous studies have been conducted on the psychological factors associated with hoarding disorders and interventions for hoarding disorders overseas. However, in South Korea, there is a lack of research on hoarding disorders, especially psychological interventions. Therefore, this study provides an overview of the existing research to understand various models of hoarding disorder and examines the factors related to its symptoms. Additionally, this study explores psychological interventions known to be effective for hoarding disorders and introduces a new treatment approach called the Harm Reduction Approach to complement existing interventions.