<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,201042,00.html?
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#000000 colSpan=2><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" bgColor=#000000><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12w>'Hoarding may be sign of mental illness' </TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12w><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12w>May 06, 2009</TD><TD width=30>
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rightline vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12 vAlign=top align=left>HOARDING behaviour could be a potential sign of mental illness, psychiatrists told The New Paper.
Dr Adrian Wang, a private practitioner at the Gleneagles Medical Centre, said such behaviour can be classified into three categories: mild, moderate and severe.
Mild hoarding behaviour may reflect an individual's personality traits such as being messy or over-sentimental. The person is not suffering from any mental condition and is merely displaying a personal characteristic.
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>At the moderate level, hoarding behaviour is classified as compulsive hoarding, a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Compulsive hoarders keep or collect useless items and fear discarding the items in the belief that they may be useful in the future.
Dr Ang Yong Guan, who runs a private practice, said: 'They can't decide what to throw and what not to throw, so the easiest way is to keep all.'
In the most severe form, hoarding behaviour can be associated with schizophrenia. Up to a quarter of schizophrenics display hoarding behavior, Dr Ang said.
But Dr Tommy Tan, a psychiatrist in private practice at the Novena Medical Centre, noted that not all hoarders are mentally ill.
If a hoarder was acting oddly in other ways, then perhaps he needs medical attention.
'For example, if they start hoarding bizarre things like faeces, or if they start looking unkempt, then something's wrong,' he noted.
Dr Wang said: 'If your neighbour is a hoarder, talk to their family. Approach the problem in a helping manner. Don't be confrontational or accusatory.'
Dr Ang agreed. He suggested that the hoarder be encouraged to take up other hobbies and to spend more time with family and friends.
Jovita Chua, newsroom intern
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I like to hoard the Peasants' blood and coffin money. What does that make me? *chey*</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#000000 colSpan=2><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" bgColor=#000000><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12w>'Hoarding may be sign of mental illness' </TD></TR><TR><TD class=font12w><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=font12w>May 06, 2009</TD><TD width=30>
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Dr Adrian Wang, a private practitioner at the Gleneagles Medical Centre, said such behaviour can be classified into three categories: mild, moderate and severe.
Mild hoarding behaviour may reflect an individual's personality traits such as being messy or over-sentimental. The person is not suffering from any mental condition and is merely displaying a personal characteristic.
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>At the moderate level, hoarding behaviour is classified as compulsive hoarding, a sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Compulsive hoarders keep or collect useless items and fear discarding the items in the belief that they may be useful in the future.
Dr Ang Yong Guan, who runs a private practice, said: 'They can't decide what to throw and what not to throw, so the easiest way is to keep all.'
In the most severe form, hoarding behaviour can be associated with schizophrenia. Up to a quarter of schizophrenics display hoarding behavior, Dr Ang said.
But Dr Tommy Tan, a psychiatrist in private practice at the Novena Medical Centre, noted that not all hoarders are mentally ill.
If a hoarder was acting oddly in other ways, then perhaps he needs medical attention.
'For example, if they start hoarding bizarre things like faeces, or if they start looking unkempt, then something's wrong,' he noted.
Dr Wang said: 'If your neighbour is a hoarder, talk to their family. Approach the problem in a helping manner. Don't be confrontational or accusatory.'
Dr Ang agreed. He suggested that the hoarder be encouraged to take up other hobbies and to spend more time with family and friends.
Jovita Chua, newsroom intern
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I like to hoard the Peasants' blood and coffin money. What does that make me? *chey*
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