Many people might claim that, at least at one point in their lives, they could be classified as a “pack rat” or a “closet clutterer”. However, compulsive hoarding is an anxiety disorder that involves much more than keeping extra papers and magazines around, or collecting CDs under your desk.

相信在人生的某个阶段，很多人都有爱收藏东西把家里弄成一团乱的经历。我们这篇文章中提到的囤积强迫症其实是一种焦虑性障碍，可远不止把多余的报纸杂志囤在家里、收集CD堆在桌子底下这么简单。

Severe compulsive hoarding can interfere with a person’s activities–such as cooking, cleaning, showering, and sleeping–because piles of newspapers or clothes are found in the sink, in the shower, on the bed, and in every corner of a home.

严重的囤积强迫症会干扰到人们做饭、清洁和洗澡等正常生活行为，因为你会发现家里的水槽、洗澡间、床上甚至各个角落都堆满了报纸和衣物。

The American Psychiatric Association is recognizing hoarding as a true mental disorder in its diagnostic manual being published in May, 2012. Here, then, are eight things you should know about hoarding.

美国精神病学会在2012年5月发布的诊断手册中将囤积强迫症正式确认为精神障碍。下面是关于囤积强迫症你需要了解的8件事：

1. Compulsive hoarding affects approximately 700,000 to 1.4 million people in the US.

光在美国，囤积强迫症就影响了大约70万-140万的人群。

2. Compulsive hoarding is often considered a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) because between 18 and 42 percent of people with OCD experience some compulsion to hoard. However, compulsive hoarding can affect people who don’t have OCD.

强迫性囤积症通常被认为是强迫性精神障碍的一种，因为18%-42%有强迫性精神障碍的人都有囤积的强迫性征兆。不过强迫性囤积症同样也会影响没有强迫性精神障碍的人。

3. The compulsion to hoard often starts during childhood or the teen years, but doesn’t usually become severe until adulthood.

囤积强迫症一般会从童年或青少年时期开始，但一般都要到成年以后才会变得比较严重。

4. Hoarding can be more about fear of throwing something away than about collection or saving. Thinking about discarding an item triggers anxiety in the hoarder, so she hangs on to the item to prevent angst.

囤积强迫症的核心症状其实不是收集和节省，而是害怕把东西丢掉。对于爱囤积东西的人们来说，对丢弃物品的顾虑会触发焦虑心理，所以她为了防止焦虑，她可能会一直保留该物品不丢弃。

5. Many hoarders are perfectionists. They fear making the wrong decision about what to keep and what to throw out, so they keep everything.

很多爱囤积东西的人都是完美主义者。在到底什么该保留什么该丢掉的问题上，他们害怕做错误的决定，所以他们会把什么保留下来。

6. Compulsive hoarders rarely recognize their problem. Generally, only after the hoarding becomes a problem with other family members is the problem discussed.

患有囤积强迫症的人们基本不会意识到自己有这方面的毛病。通常只有当家里囤积的东西太多，影响到其他家庭成员的正常生活时，人们才会正视和讨论这个问题。

7. Compulsive hoarding can be difficult to control. It is usually treated in the same way OCD is. However, compulsive hoarding doesn’t usually respond as well as other kinds of OCD.

囤积强迫症很难控制，一般的治疗方案与强迫性精神障碍的相同，但治疗效果不如其他强迫性精神障碍的好。

8. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be more effective for compulsive hoarding than medications, especially when it involves a therapist going into the home of the hoarder and helps her to develop habits and a consistent behavioral program to try to de-clutter her home, car, and life.

对于强迫性囤积症来说，认知行为疗法比药物治疗要更有效。通常需要治疗师去到患者也就是爱囤积物品的人家中，帮助她培养习惯，进行一个长期坚持的行为项目，来整理家里车里的物品，让生活更有条理化。