#539 Help for Hoarders

About this time of year, lots of people do a little spring cleaning. Not only does that mean washing windows and mopping floors, it usually includes cleaning out the clutter from closets, garages, and maybe even attics. But some folks can’t stand the idea of throwing things out. Do you know someone who saves rubber bands, plastic containers, aluminum foil or old newspapers? Mental health professionals now believe that hoarding is a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Find out how to overcome this problem. Guest: Dr. Randy Frost is the Israel Professor of Psychology at Smith College, and an internationally recognized expert on obsessive-compulsive disorder including compulsive hoarding. He conducted some of the first scientific studies on this topic. He is currently principal investigator on a grant from NIMH studying the basic phenomenology of compulsive hoarding and co-investigator on a second grant from NIMH to develop a treatment program for compulsive hoarding.