Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: There is substantial evidence highlighting the importance of beliefs about possessions in understanding and treating Hoarding Disorder. Despite this, there has not yet been a comprehensive review of this topic. Therefore, the aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesise the evidence base concerning the association between hoarding beliefs and hoarding symptom severity. Meta-analytic techniques were used to pool effect sizes concerning the association between hoarding beliefs and symptom severity (r, d) and narrative synthesis was applied to data which could not be included in the meta-analysis. 30 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review, with 24 studies contributing data for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results indicated a small-medium significant association between beliefs about possessions and hoarding severity. This was generally consistent when considering specific belief types (i.e., emotional attachment, responsibility, memory, control) and specific hoarding symptoms (i.e., acquiring, difficulty discarding, clutter). Narrative synthesis confirmed that a range of beliefs about possessions were associated with hoarding symptoms amongst those with clinically significant hoarding symptoms. Overall, the results provide further support for the cognitive behavioural model and treatment of Hoarding Disorder.
Author: Smith, Alisha
Institution: Cardiff University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7038283121