House Clearance Help & Advice: Living with someond with CHS How Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome effects a family

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Living with someond with CHS How Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome effects a family

The causes for Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome are complex and, as with any psychological disorder, opinions differ as to the exact reason. Some psychologists would attempt to diagnose the cause by sifting through childhood experiences or by using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, however this article is going to focus upon the possible physiological caues for Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome and available treatments.

Recent studies have posited that individuals who exhibit symptoms of compulsive hoarding syndrome may have a tendency to absorb glucose into the brain differently than others and that this is most present in the rear and central regions.

A 2004 study at the Universiy of Iowa found that damage to the "right mesial prefrontal cortex" of the brain has a tendecy to precipitate Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome. However, these are both analyses of tendencies and not definitive causes for the syndrome. It neither means that someone suffering from damage to the right side of their skull will exhibit Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome nor does it mean that every Compulsive Hoarder will necessarily follow the pattern.

Since Compulsive Hoarding Syndrome usually falls under the umbrella of OCD, it is often treated with the same antidepressants, mainly Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, and Celexa. It has to be said that no doctor ever claims that these can cure OCD let alone CHS, they merely subdue the symptoms in some cases. Paxil has, in particular, been shown to allay the symptoms of CHS in conjunction with OCD and so will often be the preferred choice of action when a psychiatrist is involved in a case of CHS.

The downside of this is that the FDA now includes warnings with antidepressants as they have been linked with suicidal tendencies as well as Paxil having been associated with birth defects.

As always, there are downsides to using any form of pharmaceutical treatment and caution is always advised, even after having received professional consultation. Psychotherapy is often used to treat CHS with claims of effectiveness.

In the end, seeking professional advice on CHS is always important, no matter what the outcome. Doubts about certain forms of medication can be discussed with a psychiatrist who will be trained to make sure that the needs of the patient are always put first.

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