Estatus nosológico de la acumulación compulsiva: ¿subtipo de trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo o entidad clínica independiente? / Nosological status of compulsive hoarding: obsessive-compulsive disorder subtype or independent clinical entity

En el presente estudio teórico se revisan los principales hallazgos e investigaciones respecto al estatus nosológico de la acumulación compulsiva. En concreto, se exponen las evidencias empíricas disponibles para poder determinar su independencia o no del trastorno obsesivo compulsivo (TOC), patología mental donde tradicionalmente ha sido incluida como un subtipo o dimensión más de la misma. En relación a esta cuestión, los resultados recogidos en la literatura científica sostienen que las personas con acumulación compulsiva, a diferencias de "otros" sujetos con TOC, presentan características distintivas en diversos criterios externos, a saber: variables sociodemográficas, personalidad premórbida, grado de insight, factores genéticos y neuroanatómicos, correlatos neuropsicológicos, curso y nivel de disfuncionalidad y, por último, respuesta al tratamiento. Dichas conclusiones son discutidas valorando la propuesta de creación de una nueva entidad clínica denominada "trastorno por acumulación"

This theoretical study reviews the main research and findings on the nosological status of compulsive hoarding. Specifically, it describes available empirical evidence in order to determine their independence or inclusion within the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental disorder in which it has traditionally been included as one more subtype or dimension. Regarding this issue, the results found in the scientific literature show that persons with compulsive hoarding have distinct characteristics indifferent external criteria like sociodemographic variables, premorbid personality, degree of insight, neuroanatomical and genetic factors, neuropsychological profile, clinical course, levels of dysfunctionality and finally, treatment outcome. These conclusions are discussed and the proposal for the creation of a new clinical entity called "hoarding disorder" is evaluated

Nosological status of compulsive hoarding: obsessive-compulsive disorder subtype or independent clinical entity.

This theoretical study reviews the main research and findings on the nosological status of compulsive hoarding. Specifically, it describes available empirical evidence in order to determine their independence or inclusion within the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental disorder in which it has traditionally been included as one more subtype or dimension. Regarding this issue, the results found in the scientific literature show that persons with compulsive hoarding have distinct characteristics in different external criteria like sociodemographic variables, premorbid personality, degree of insight, neuroanatomical and genetic factors, neuropsychological profile, clinical course, levels of dysfunctionality and finally, treatment outcome. These conclusions are discussed and the proposal for the creation of a new clinical entity called "hoarding disorder" is evaluated.