Hoarding disorder is the excessive saving of objects and difficulty parting with them to a point that interferes with one's ability to properly use rooms and furnishings in the home. Hoarding can become dangerous, sometimes resulting in structural problems and fires, or in hazardous sanitary conditions. Studies indicate that around one in every 25 people suffers from hoarding. This means that almost all of us know someone who hoards.

Hoarding: What Everyone Needs to Know® demystifies this complex problem, what it looks like and why it may develop, and how it can be treated. With their combined expertise in psychological treatments for hoarding and community interventions, Drs. Steketee and Bratiotis explain how to understand hoarding as a mental illness, describing the disorder in layman's terms and explaining the various facets and manifestations of the behavior. Chapters focus on one or more common questions regarding diagnosis, features, how to assess severity, and treatment. The book will dispel myths and help readers identify hoarding that touches their own lives. As such it will be of great value not only to those who suspect a loved one may be hoarding, but also to first responders, such as firefighters, public health officials, and housing and social service personnel, who will find here an essential resource for use in the field.

Gail Steketee's profile page

Christiana Bratiotis' profile page

Gail Steketee is Professor Emerita at Boston University's School of Social Work where she served as Dean from 2005 through 2017. Her research has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, U.S. News and World Report, and CNN.

Christiana Bratiotis is an Associate Professor at The University of British Columbia School of Social Work in Vancouver, Canada. Her research has been highlighted by media outlets including the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune and CBC Radio.

"Steketee and Bratiotis have succeeded in producing a concise yet comprehensive overview of hoarding disorder. Summarizing over 25 years of research, this book is straightforward, easy to read, and an excellent answer to what you need to know about hoarding. It will be immensely valuable to those whose lives are touched by this problem."

--Randy Frost, PhD, Harold Edward and Elsa Siipola Israel Professor of Psychology, Smith College

"Hoarding: What Everyone Needs to Know is an outstanding, easily accessible guide for anyone who seeks to better understand or assist someone with hoarding disorder. This book provides a thorough understanding of the disorder as well as practical guides for navigating housing, health, and other challenges faced by those with hoarding. The authors provide a road map for individuals with hoarding, their families, and communities seeking to better address this challenging issue."

--Jesse Edsell-Vetter, Director of Resident Services, HRI

"Authors Gail Steketee and Christiana Bratiotis, internationally-recognized experts on the topic of hoarding, deftly summarize the existing scientific and clinical information in this surprisingly easy-to-read volume. This book is a 'must-read' for anyone who wants a better understanding of this complex condition."

--David Tolin, PhD, Director, Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living, Author, Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding