Self-Help Group for Hoarding Disorder

Overseen By Savannah King

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Miami

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Psychotic, Bipolar, Substance abuse

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 13 weeks

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial investigates if a facilitated self-help group can help people with hoarding disorder reduce their symptoms. Participants will support each other under the guidance of a facilitator, aiming to improve their ability to manage hoarding behaviors. The Buried in Treasures (BIT) program is a structured, skills-based group led by facilitators.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is participating in a self-help group generally safe for people with hoarding disorder?

Research on self-help groups, particularly for eating disorders, suggests they are generally safe and can lead to improvements in mental health and social functioning. However, the studies reviewed did not specifically address safety concerns for hoarding disorder, so it's important to consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the Self-Help Group treatment for Hoarding Disorder differ from other treatments?

The Self-Help Group treatment for Hoarding Disorder is unique because it involves individuals coming together to support each other, which can provide emotional and social rehabilitation. This approach is different from traditional therapies as it emphasizes peer support and shared experiences, which can be particularly beneficial for those who may not respond well to conventional treatments. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Self-Help Group for Hoarding Disorder?

Research shows that a biblio-based support group, which is similar to a self-help group, led to significant reductions in clutter and hoarding behaviors. This suggests that self-help groups may be a promising and cost-effective option for managing hoarding disorder. ^{9 10 11 12 13}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kiara R Timpano, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with clinically significant hoarding symptoms. It's not suitable for those under 18 or people dealing with psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I experience significant difficulty discarding items, leading to clutter.

Exclusion Criteria

History of psychotic disorders

History of bipolar disorder

History of substance abuse or dependence

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Pre-Treatment

Participants prepare for the self-help group intervention

1 week

Treatment

Participants take part in a facilitated self-help group for hoarding disorder

13 weeks

Weekly group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in hoarding symptoms after treatment

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Self-Help Group

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of a facilitated self-help group in treating hoarding disorder. The goal is to see if this approach can reduce the symptoms over time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Self-help group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The facilitated self-help group, which represents an empirically supported intervention for hoarding (Frost et al., 2011).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Miami

Lead Sponsor

Trials

976

Recruited

423,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a pilot study involving 16 participants with hoarding disorder, group cognitive-behavioral therapy (G-CBT) demonstrated very large to large effect sizes in reducing hoarding severity immediately after treatment and maintained improvements at a 6-month follow-up.

The inclusion of targeted reasoning and self-identity components in G-CBT further enhanced its efficacy, indicating that these elements may be beneficial in treating hoarding disorder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group cognitive-behavioural treatment with long-term follow-up and targeting self-identity for hoarding disorder: An open trial. O'Connor, K., Bodryzlova, Y., Audet, JS., et al.[2019]

A systematic review of 115 psychotherapy study protocols revealed that while 77 protocols explicitly addressed harm, there was a lack of standardization in how harm was conceptualized and assessed, particularly regarding adverse events.

The review highlighted that although serious adverse events were defined consistently, the definitions and considerations for adverse events varied widely, suggesting a need for more standardized approaches in clinical research to effectively monitor and report harm.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Defining and assessing adverse events and harmful effects in psychotherapy study protocols: A systematic review. Klatte, R., Strauss, B., Flückiger, C., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group cognitive and behavioral therapy and bibliotherapy for hoarding: a pilot trial. [2018]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group cognitive-behavioural treatment with long-term follow-up and targeting self-identity for hoarding disorder: An open trial. [2019]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Empowering families to help a loved one with Hoarding Disorder: pilot study of Family-As-Motivators training. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of a biblio-based support group for hoarding disorder. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acceptability of Treatments and Services for Individuals with Hoarding Behaviors. [2020]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Defining and assessing adverse events and harmful effects in psychotherapy study protocols: A systematic review. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of a 'guided self-help group' on bulimic women: a prospective 15 month study of attenders and non-attenders. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-efficacy as a robust predictor of outcome in guided self-help treatment for broadly defined bulimia nervosa. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The function of self-help groups in recovery from anorexia nervosa and bulimia. [2015]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Who benefits most from guided self-help for binge eating? An investigation into the clinical features of completers and non-completers. [2018]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review of staff and client experiences of a motivational group intervention: meeting the needs of contemplators. [2017]

12. Czech Republic pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Organization of self-help groups for patients with psychogenic eating disorders]. [2006]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of a group meal in the brief group therapy of bulimia nervosa. [2019]