Abstract
Background and Aim:Hoarding cases have not been researched in depth in developing countries, such as Brazil. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of people with hoarding behavior in Curitiba, Brazil.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted based on complaints about hoarding situations received by the City Hall. The data on sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analyses.Results:Out of the 113 hoarding cases reported, 69 (61.06%) were fully assessed. Most of the participants (43; 62.32%) were women, and it was observed that most of the animal hoarding cases were women (p=0.02). The average age was 62.47 years old, and most of them (44; 63.76%) had studied up to the middle school level. People associated with object hoarding belonged to the lower income category (p=0.031). In most cases, the homes had an unpleasant odor (45; 65.21%), and this was prevalent in cases involving women (p=0.004) and animals (p=0.001). The risk of fire (24 [34.78%]) and landslip (9 [13.04%]) was more frequent in the case of object hoarding (p=0.018 and 0.021, respectively).Conclusion:The description of characteristics of individuals with hoarding behavior may assist in understanding the magnitude of this public health problem in Brazil and shed light on the need to develop studies on the health conditions of people and animals that live in these situations.
Highlights
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), hoarding has been defined as a mental disease that is characterized by a reluctance to discard possessions, regardless of their economic value [1]
The same was observed in animal hoarding cases (Table-1) and is reflected in other studies conducted in New South Wales, Australia [12] (72.4%), and in two studies conducted in the USA (76% [8] and 83.1% [28])
The analysis indicated that education, income, vector proliferation, and risk of fire were not associated with animal hoarding cases
Summary
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), hoarding has been defined as a mental disease that is characterized by a reluctance to discard possessions, regardless of their economic value [1]. The accumulation of these possessions may eventually cause serious obstructions in living spaces and could have harmful consequences for the person, their pets, relatives, and the community [1]. The repercussions of this disorder are more extensive in long-term cases. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of people with hoarding behavior in Curitiba, Brazil
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
