CBT with an Adolescent with Hoarding Disorder—a Single-Case Experimental Design

Hoarding disorder (HD) in young people is little understood yet research conducted in adult populations suggests that the onset of HD occurs in early adolescence. There are no empirically based guidelines for how to treat hoarding in young people. This is the first case study adopting a single-case experimental design and hoarding specific measures to treat an adolescent with hoarding disorder. After a baseline period, a 15-year-old female received 13 sessions of cognitive-behavioural therapy for hoarding disorder, focussing specifically on excessive acquisition. There were substantial changes in well-being, which reflected modest changes in hoarding symptoms. The work is discussed in relation to issues of assessment and the utility of the adult HD evidence base for understanding HD in children in addition to making suggestions for future research.