Hoarding disorder is a debilitating condition that worsens with age, characterized by excessive clutter and difficulty discarding possessions. People who hoard often experience intense emotional attachments to objects and have trouble letting go. The UNSW psychology researchers conducted a study to explore the use of imagery rescripting as a treatment strategy for individuals with hoarding tendencies. Negative memories and feared outcomes often block the discarding process, leading to anxiety and avoidance of treatment.
Imagery rescripting is an experiential technique used in cognitive behavioural therapy to introduce positive or benign information to alter negative mental imagery. The study involved 176 participants with high hoarding traits who took part in an online intervention to practice discarding items they had difficulty parting with. Results showed that participants who engaged in imagery rescripting were more motivated and happier when discarding their items. This technique was also effective in reducing anxiety, sadness, and anger, while increasing feelings of happiness and relaxation.
The ability to visualize the outcomes of discarding impacted how well imagery rescripting worked. Participants with higher creative visualization abilities demonstrated greater readiness and motivation to discard their items. Further studies, including a therapist-led study comparing imagery rescripting with thought listing, have shown promising results. Imagery rescripting seems to reduce emotional reactivity and offers a more creative approach to facilitating discarding in individuals with hoarding problems.
Hoarding disorder affects approximately 715,000 Australians and can lead to unsanitary living conditions, social isolation, and health problems. The associated psychological distress and social impairment are equivalent to living with schizophrenia. The financial costs of returning hoarding households to liveable states are estimated at over $87,000. Stigma associated with hoarding can prevent individuals and their families from seeking support, exacerbating the condition and delaying treatment until it is well established.
Imagery rescripting offers a creative and emotional approach to addressing hoarding behaviors, reducing reactivity and increasing motivation for change. People who hoard may have greater creative tendencies and experiences that inform their attachment to objects. Early trauma, life stress, and emotional deprivation have been linked to hoarding disorder, with individuals often relying on objects for comfort and safety. The combination of psychological, neurobiological, and social factors contribute to the difficulty in discarding possessions.
Future research aims to explore how imagery rescripting can address foundational traumas that inform future-focused narratives while addressing intrusive distressing mental images that interfere with discarding in the present. This approach may offer a new way to tackle hoarding disorder by targeting both past experiences that trigger hoarding behaviors and present images that block the discarding process. The potential of imagery rescripting as a treatment strategy for hoarding disorder holds promise for improving outcomes and overall quality of life for individuals struggling with this debilitating condition.