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cover of episode The future of hoarding disorder

The future of hoarding disorder

2025/7/4
logo of podcast The Future of Everything

The Future of Everything

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Carolyn Rodriguez
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Russ Altman
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Russ Altman:我们希望通过治疗和认知行为疗法来帮助患有囤积症的人,同时了解大脑中与依恋和放手相关的区域。我们试图了解如何通过治疗和认知行为疗法来帮助患有囤积症的人,同时了解大脑中与依恋和放手相关的区域。作为一名精神科医生和研究人员,我希望了解如何识别囤积症,以及如何区分收藏家和只是忙碌而家里堆满东西的人,什么时候决定这个人需要治疗、关注、咨询? Carolyn Rodriguez:我对囤积症非常感兴趣,我们都有杂物,是什么让我们抓住物品不放,是什么让我们难以放手?我着迷于有些人可以很容易地放手,而另一些人却很难放手,有时甚至面临被驱逐的境地。我想更多地了解大脑机制,是什么吸引我们去囤积东西?要符合囤积症的标准,需要难以放手,强烈需要保存物品,因此,需要在家里有大量的杂物,以至于无法将房间用于其预定的用途,例如,不能在厨房做饭,不能在床上睡觉,所有这些症状加在一起,使得社交、工作变得困难,导致痛苦,影响你的功能和生活。

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This chapter explores the reasons behind our attachments to possessions, differentiating between normal collecting and hoarding disorder. It examines the role of emotions, memories, and identity in our relationship with objects.
  • Normal attachment to possessions is common, but it can become a problem when it disrupts daily life.
  • Reasons for attachment include usefulness, memories, aesthetics, and identity.
  • Hoarding disorder involves excessive attachment and difficulty discarding items, even when they are causing functional problems.

Shownotes Transcript

Psychiatrist Carolyn Rodriguez) studies hoarding disorder and says that all of us have attachments to our possessions. But for many, these attachments can disrupt daily life and even pose health risks. For those with loved ones who struggle with hoarding disorder, she says treatments exist, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Lately, she’s been studying how virtual reality can augment CBT through virtual discarding practice and ways brain stimulation may improve symptoms. But, Rodriguez says, never underestimate the value of empathy for those in need of help, as she tells host Russ Altman) on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Carolyn Rodriguez, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Stanford University.

(00:02:47) Motivation to Study Hoarding Disorder

Why Carolyn chose to focus her research on hoarding disorder.

(00:03:44) Collecting Versus Hoarding

Distinguishing between normal behavior and clinically significant hoarding.

(00:05:47) Prevalence of Hoarding Disorder

The universality and pervasiveness of hoarding disorder.

(00:07:11) The Brain Science Behind Hoarding

Early neuroscience findings on attachment and discarding behavior.

(00:08:47) Dopamine and Excessive Acquisition

The connection between hoarding and potential dopamine reward pathways.

(00:09:55) Risk Factors and Cognitive Challenges

Personality traits, genetics, and processing difficulties involved in hoarding.

(00:11:14) Gender Differences and Insight Issues

Gender prevalence in treatment-seeking and the concept of anosognosia.

(00:12:35) The “Why” Behind Hoarding

How motivations and emotional attachments influence behavior.

(00:13:50) Onset and Progression of Disorder

Typical onset age, aging effects, and early warning signs.

(00:15:05) Historical References to Hoarding

Accounts from ancient literature of hoarding-like behavior

(00:17:16) Attachment to Objects

The emotional, aesthetic, and identity-based reasons people retain objects.

(00:20:45) Current Treatment Options

The treatment landscape, including lack of medications and focus on CBT.

(00:22:30) Chronic Nature of Hoarding Disorder

Framing hoarding as a long-term condition with hopeful outcomes.

(00:23:08) Virtual Reality for Treatment

A study on using VR to safely practice letting go of personal items.

(00:25:58) Neuromodulation Research

Using non-invasive brain stimulation to reduce acquisition urges.

(00:27:00) Advice for Individuals and Families

The importance of empathy and self-care for individuals and caregivers.

(00:28:47) Conclusion

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