Knowledge Takes up Space, a Family Affair

Abstract

Introduction

Previous research suggests that hoarding aggregates in families and is associated with health, safety risks and family problems. Hoarding symptoms appear to be more common among first-degree relatives of people who hoard. A predominance of shared hoarding disorder has been observed among female relatives.

Objectives

We present an atypical case report describing hoarding symptoms among first-degree male relatives who present two different subtypes of hoarding disorder.

Materials and methods

We report the case of a 38 years old male patient, attended for the first time by the mental health services at the age of 22, and being diagnosed of severe OCD at that moment. In the home visit paid by the social services, an excessive object hoarding was observed, including the presence of over 40,000 books.

Moreover, they found a 38 years old man looking severely deteriorated; when they ask him about it, the patient's father admits to having been isolated in the house for almost 14 years. Hoarding history was gathered, through the acquisition of various objects by the patient's father, dating back to over 30 years ago.

Discussion

The harmonic coexistence for over a decade between two patients affected with a hoarding disorder with two different clinical setting subtypes was only made possible by the complementary nature of their symptoms.

Conclusion

The hoarding disorders amongst more than one person living under the same roof are uncommon, can present themselves in both genders and can exhibit different symptoms.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.