Object attachment and emotions in hoarding disorder Keong Yap a,b, ⁎, Jessica R. Grisham a a University of New South Wales, School of Psychology, Sydney, NSW 2034, Australia b Australian Catholic University, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Strathfield, NSW 2035, Australia abstract article info Keywords: Hoarding disorder Compulsive hoarding Object attachment Emotional attachment to objects Discrete emotions Background and aims: Object attachment is a core feature of hoarding disorder (HD), but it also occurs in people without HD. It is therefore critical to clarify differences between normal and abnormal object attachment. Al- though previous studies show that HD is associated with high emotional reactivity, no study to date has exam- ined the nature and intensity of discrete emotions in people with and without HD in relation to object attachment. Method: Individuals with HD (n = 93) and matched controls (n = 93) were recruited via MTurk. They identified and described a possession of low monetary value that they were emotionally attached to and found difficult to discard. Participants rated their object attachment and the intensity of emotions when imagining being with the object (Scenario A) and irretrievably losing the same object (Scenario B). Results: Unexpectedly, there were no significant between-group differences on object attachment; however, the HD group experienced more incongruent emotions about their possessions; they reported significantly higher disgust, anxiety and anger than controls when they imagined being with their chosen object (Scenario A) and were more relaxed compared to controls when the object was lost (Scenario B). There were no significant differ- ences between groups on congruent emotions (i.e., positive emotions in Scenario A or negative emotions in Sce- nario B). Conclusion: People with and without HD experience similar emotional attachment for sentimental items but peo- ple with HD experience more mixed emotions, consistent with an insecure object attachment. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 1. Introduction Hoarding disorder (HD) is characterized by a strong need to save possessions and distress when discarding items, resulting in clutter and congested living spaces [1]. According to the cognitive- behavioural model, a central feature of HD is the emotional attachment that people with HD have for their possessions [2,3]. Objects take on a special significance, are imbued with human-like qualities, and bring feelings of comfort and safety. However, although an emotional attach- ment to objects is prominent in HD, it also occurs in people without HD [4]. Research in consumer psychology shows that most people have per- sonal possessions that are treasured and experience strong emotional bonds with these objects. These possessions serve as extensions of self and identity or are cues to memories of important life events or signifi- cant others [5,6]. Furthermore, collectors can be differentiated from people with HD even though collectors are also emotionally attached to their collections [7]. Given that emotional attachment to objects (or object attachment) can exist without hoarding behaviours, differences between normal and abnormal object attachment require further inves- tigation. Understanding these differences could guide clinicians and re- searchers to focus on critical aspects of object attachment in HD. In their review of object attachment in HD, Kellett and Holden [8] suggested that one aspect that requires further investigation is the nature and in- tensity of both positive and negative emotions experienced by HD suf- ferers in relation to their possessions. 1.1. Emotions for objects in HD Consistent with the cognitive-behavioural model of HD, several studies have demonstrated the positive association between HD and ob- ject attachment [8]. Compared to both clinical and non-clinical controls, individuals with HD have significantly higher levels of object attach- ment [3,9]. However, these studies use the emotional attachment sub- scale in the Saving Cognitions Inventory [10], which assesses the intensity of general feelings about possessions (e.g., “I could not tolerate it if I were to get rid of this”) but does not provide information about dis- crete emotions that arise from object attachment. The nature of object attachment in HD is probably most evident in the emotional reactions that occur when relating to possessions, and es- pecially when facing the prospect of losing or having to discard them Comprehensive Psychiatry 100 (2020) 152179 ⁎ Corresponding author at: School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, NSW 2035, Australia. E-mail address: Keong.yap@acu.edu.au (K. Yap). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152179 0010-440X/© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Comprehensive Psychiatry journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/comppsych