The ARU Possessions and Hoarding Collective is a group of academics and professionals who aim to improve understanding of how people interact with their possessions.
Many individuals report complex relationships with their possessions, including acquiring too many and trouble with organising them, leading to clutter and difficulties discarding them. At times, such behaviours can become excessive, resulting in problems in everyday life and even hoarding disorder, which is a mental health condition.
As part of our activities, we research hoarding and how can it affect individuals and their wider surroundings and family members. We are also interested in how service provision is currently delivered, and how it can be improved.
The ARU Possessions and Hoarding Collective (PoHoC) is part of the UK Hoarding Research Network.
Morein-Zamir, S. and Ahluwalia, S. (2023) 'Hoarding Disorder: evidence and best practice in primary care', British Journal of General Practice, 73(729), pp. 182-183. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp23X732513
Morein-Zamir, S., Kasese, M., Chamberlain, S. R. and Trachtenberg, E. (2022) 'Elevated levels of hoarding in ADHD: a special link with inattention', Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145, pp. 167-174. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.024
Cambridge Wellness Festival, September 2023
New guidelines help GPs diagnose hoarding as a mental health condition - are you at risk?, The Sun, May 2023
ARU Hoarding Conference Cambridge Campus, May 2023
Cambridge Festival, April 2023
Are YOU a secret hoarder? Psychologist reveals the three tell-tale signs to watch out for, Daily Mail, March 2023.
Hoarding: people with ADHD are more likely to have problems – new research, The Conversation, February 2022.
What is the link between hoarding and ADHD?, The British Academy Virtual Summer Showcase: My research in three minutes, June 2020.
We are looking to hear from people with experience of hoarding or who have been affected by it. If you would like to get involved by helping us improve our plans and projects or by participating in our research and activities, please get in touch, [email protected].