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Hoarding Behavior in Dementia

A Preliminary Report

Received March 24, 1997; revised August 10, 1997, December 24, 1997; accepted January 15, 1998. From the Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital–Taipei, Republic of China. Address correspondence to Dr. Tsai, Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital–Taipei, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road Sec. 2, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Hoarding behavior has been reported in several mental disorders and is occasionally reported by the caregivers of dementia patients. Such behavior may have adverse effects on the patients and increase the burden of the caregivers. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of hoarding behavior in patients with dementia and identify the characteristics and psychiatric symptoms associated with it. The sample was 133 dementia patients admitted to a geropsychiatric ward. Of the 133 dementia patients, 30 (22.6%) showed hoarding. Hoarding was found in various types of dementia. Patients with hoarding had a higher prevalence of repetitive behaviors, hyperphagia, and pilfering. Results suggested that hoarding behavior is a common symptom in dementia patients and a complex phenomenon. Better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis may highlight specific pharmacological or behavioral methods for treatment of the behavior.

Key Words: hoarding behavior • dementia • inpatients

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