By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

People living with chronic pain often face stigmas in their daily lives. In addition to being unfairly labeled as drug seekers, pain sufferers are often perceived as lazy malingerers who use their pain as an excuse to stay home, avoid social activities and not work.

Unfair or not, there is some truth to the notion that people in pain are less active physically – and for some that’s led to compulsive hoarding, according to a new study at the University of Florida.

Researchers surveyed over 20,000 people about their hoarding habits and identified over 2,600 cases of “hoarding disorder,” a condition characterized by difficulty in parting with possessions because of a compulsive need to save them. These extreme hoarders were more likely to have chronic pain and other potentially life-shortening medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart problems, high cholesterol and sleep apnea.

On average, compulsive hoarders were about 17 pounds heavier than people without the disorder. They were also more likely to be women, less likely to have a college degree, less likely to see a doctor, and more likely to suffer falls in their home. 

“Hoarding behaviors are associated with limited activity involvement, an increased risk of falls and difficulties with self-care — all of which likely contribute to substantial functional impairment and reduced physical well-being,” lead author Sara Nutley, a data analyst at University of Florida Health, reported in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. 

Hoarding disorder is more than just collecting or being unwilling to part with a few cherished mementos. The American Psychiatric Association says compulsive hoarders save everyday items that most people consider worthless and become emotional at the thought of getting rid of them. Hoarded items are often stored haphazardly, leading to clutter that causes health and safety issues and disrupts hoarders’ lives and living space.

Hoarding not only contributes to health issues, Nutley and her colleagues say medical problems like chronic pain can lead to even more hoarding.

“First, it is possible that profound functional impairment and low levels of health care utilization contribute to the progression of medical comorbidity among individuals with hoarding disorder,” they wrote. “Second, it is possible that individuals with existing medical conditions experience increased impairment in daily self-care activities that lead to the build-up of clutter.

“Medical conditions may worsen hoarding behavior and the underlying causes of hoarding behavior may be a risk factor for both hoarding disorder and medical morbidity.”

The Mayo Clinic says the treatment of hoarding disorder is difficult because many people don’t recognize the impact of hoarding on their lives. If hoarded items are removed, people become frustrated and angry, and start collecting again. The main treatment for hoarding disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy and medications to treat anxiety and depression.