The present study examines sorting techniques and deficits among individuals with hoarding disorder (n = 34) compared to age- and gender... Show moreThe present study examines sorting techniques and deficits among individuals with hoarding disorder (n = 34) compared to age- and gender-matched adults (n = 35) in the general population. Performance was compared on the Booklet Category Test (BCT), selected other neuropsychological measures, and an ecologically valid sorting task designed for the study to model the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Sorting subtest but with common household objects as stimuli. Contrary to predictions, individuals with hoarding disorder did not perform significantly worse than controls on the BCT or the sorting task designed for the present study. Also contrary to predictions, the hoarding group performed significantly better when initiating their own sorts of the objects than when tasked with naming categories grouped by the researcher. These findings are discussed as well as exploratory analyses suggesting participants with hoarding put forth more mental effort sorting the household objects (shoes and mail). They provided significantly more individual responses on the task with significantly more description errors. IQ and performance on other selected neuropsychological measures were not significantly different between groups. These findings provide preliminary evidence there may be specific types of real-life sorting difficulties associated with hoarding disorder that are subtle and beyond what existing neuropsychological tests can measure. Given that current CBT treatments for hoarding presuppose a certain level of competency in sorting (e.g., recognizing and naming different categories of household items to complete a personal organizing plan), it is important to clarify potential sorting and categorization deficits in this group as one possible avenue to help improve treatment response among individuals struggling with hoarding disorder. Show less
