The University of Bath is launching two research studies to understand more about hoarding, a problem which they estimate could affect over 7,000 people living in B&NES during their lifetime.
Researchers in the Department of Psychology are keen to hear from local people with hoarding difficulties who would be willing to take part in a study to improve understanding of the condition and point the way to new psychological approaches to help people who hoard.
Clinical Psychologist in Training Alice Kilvert is running a study that focuses on how people with and without hoarding problems ‘categorise’ or sort their possessions.
She said: “Studies have suggested that people who hoard sort their possessions differently compared with the general population. I want to find out if this is the case, by asking people with and without hoarding difficulties to carry out some hands-on sorting tasks here at the University.
“If anyone is interested in taking part and is worried about travelling to the university, please get in touch with me. We can discuss several options, including me visiting you at home.”
The second study, run by Clinical Psychologist in Training Nick Stewart, looks at the kinds of images or pictures that commonly pop into people’s minds, both during everyday life and also in situations relating to discarding objects. This study involves a telephone interview and online questionnaire.
He said: “Research has shown that people with particular mental health problems can experience particular types of images, and I was surprised to learn that no researcher has yet investigated the images experienced by people with hoarding problems in relation to their possessions. It’s exciting to be looking into such an important topic.”
Local people who do not hoard are also encouraged to help with both studies so that researchers can compare the experiences of people with and without hoarding difficulties.
Dr James Gregory, Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist with a specialist clinical and research interest in hoarding difficulties, will supervise the research projects. He added: “Our understanding of hoarding is in its infancy in comparison with other mental health problems but we know that hoarding disorder is associated with a profound difficulty in letting go of valued possessions.
“We recognise that people with hoarding disorder can often be frustrated that others don’t understand what possessions mean to them and why they are so difficult to let go of. These two studies are part of a wider effort at the University of Bath to to better understand the special relationship that people have with their possessions.
“Ultimately we hope to use this knowledge to create improved psychological support that enhances the wellbeing of people who hoard”.
Travel costs to the University can be reimbursed and participants in both projects will be given £5 as a gesture of thanks and a small donation made to a hoarding charity on their behalf if they wish.
To find out more about the Categorisation in Hoarding study, contact Alice Kilvert at [email protected]?.
- Participants will be asked to:
- Complete a telephone interview (to ensure the study is suited to you);
- Complete a set of questionnaires online/paper
- Complete a testing session where you’ll be asked to sort objects into different categories.
- The study will take approximately 2 hours in total.
To find out more about the Hoarding and Imagery study, visit https://hoarding.wixsite.com/research, or contact Nick Stewart at [email protected].
- Participants will be asked to:
- Complete a telephone interview (to ensure the study is suited to you);
- Complete a telephone interview about the kinds of images that pop into your mind, both during everyday life and also in situations relating to discarding objects.
- Complete a set of questionnaires online/paper
- The study will take approximately 75 minutes in total.
1 Comment
Hoarding Beliefs
Wednesday 13th September, 2017 at 18:40Hi. If people are interested in taking part in either of the studies:
Then please email Alice on: [email protected]
or Nick on: [email protected]