Presentation and Correlates of Hoarding Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Anxiety or Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

J Autism Dev Disord. 2018 Dec;48(12):4167-4178. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3645-3.

Abstract

We investigated the presentation and correlates of hoarding behaviors in 204 children aged 7-13 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. Approximately 34% of the sample presented at least moderate levels, and with 7% presenting severe to extreme levels of hoarding. Child gender predicted hoarding severity. In addition, child ASD-related social difficulties together with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptom severity positively predicted hoarding controlling for child gender and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Finally, child anxiety/OCD symptoms positively predicted hoarding, controlling for all other factors. These results suggest hoarding behaviors may constitute a common feature of pediatric ASD with comorbid anxiety/OCD, particularly in girls and children with greater social difficulties and comorbid psychiatric symptom severity.

Keywords: ASD; Anxiety; Autism; Hoarding; OCD; Pediatric; Prevalence.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety / complications*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Anxiety Disorders / complications*
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications*
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hoarding / complications*
  • Hoarding / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / complications*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology
  • Severity of Illness Index