Understanding stigma in hoarding disorder: A systematic review

The degree to which hoarding disorder (HD) is stigmatised by the public, and that this is internalised by people with HD, is a relatively neglected research area. This review aimed to synthesise current understanding of stigma of HD and its impact on help-seeking. A systematic search was conducted to identify publications which investigated public or internalised stigma, or related concepts like shame and blame, in relation to HD. The electronic databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched. Fifteen papers met inclusion criteria and were appraised for quality using the QualSyst tool. There is very little literature exploring stigma in HD and quality of research is variable. Nevertheless, the literature suggests that a significant proportion of people who hoard and their families experience stigma, and HD is stigmatised by the public and associated with more rejecting attitudes and frustration amongst professionals. Finally, research exploring the impact of stigma on help-seeking in HD tentatively suggested a negative impact of stigma. Further research is needed to replicate and extend findings and address methodological limitations to provide an understanding of stigma on which approaches to enhance wellbeing and treatment uptake in HD can be developed. Systematic review (PROSPERO) registration number: CRD42022375820.