Hoarding Disorder and Negative Memories: Transformative Role of Imagery Rescripting

What is Hoarding Disorder?

Hoarding disorder is a debilitating condition that typically worsens with age. Individuals develop intense emotional attachments to objects and struggle to discard possessions, leading to excessive clutter. People who hoard often experience intrusive and distressing mental images related to their belongings, blocking their ability to dispose of them.

The Impact of Negative Memories

Negative memories and feared outcomes, like items deteriorating in a landfill, can intensify anxiety levels. Standard evidence-based treatments fail to yield optimal outcomes, with only one in three individuals showing symptom improvement.

Imagery Rescripting: An Innovative Approach

Imagery rescripting is often employed in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It allows individuals to imagine positive or benign scenarios when considering discarding items. This technique has shown promise in reducing distress linked to negative memories.

• In a study of 176 participants, imagery rescripting led to greater happiness and motivation surrounding dispossession.
• This method significantly decreased anxiety, sadness, and anger when compared to other techniques like cognitive restructuring and positive mental imagery.
• A participant's ability to visualize strongly influenced the effectiveness of imagery rescripting.

Broader Implications and Next Steps

The secondary studies validate these findings, showcasing imagery rescripting's potential as a core treatment strategy, especially for individuals living with hoarding disorder. With broad implications for public health, further clinical trials are on the horizon.