It is estimated that around 2% – 6% of the population suffers from hoarding disorder.
HD appears to affect men and women at similar rates.
HD is believed to be a universal phenomenon with consistent clinical features in all races, ethnicities, and cultures around the world.
Hoarding symptoms appear to be almost three times more common in older adults (ages 55-94 years) compared to younger adults (ages 34–44 years), although hoarding symptoms can occur in young children as well.
Hoarding symptoms begin to appear early in life and continue throughout the entire lifespan, increasing in severity with each passing decade if untreated:
- Ages 11–15 — symptoms may first emerge
- By the mid-20’s — symptoms begin interfering with every day functioning
- By the mid-30’s — individual demonstrates clinically significant impairment and is likely to meet full criteria for a diagnosis of HD
Around 75% of individuals who have HD have a co-occurring mental health condition.
- The most common co-occurring disorders are major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder/social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder.
- Around 20% of people with HD also have OCD.