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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Aug:176:58-67.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.05.055. Epub 2024 May 30.

Randomized waitlist-controlled trial of buried in treasures facilitated support groups and in-home uncluttering (BIT+) for hoarding disorder

Michael G Wheaton  1 , Andrea D Varias  2 , Thasveen Sandhu  3 , Paula A Muñoz Rodríguez  3 , Pavithra Mukunda  3 , Maria Filippou-Frye  3 , Andrea Millen  3 , Anthony Lombardi  3 , Peter van Roessel  3 , Hannah Raila  3 , Kelley Anderson  3 , Omer Linkovski  3 , Amanda Mahnke  3 , Catherine Sanchez  3 , Elizabeth McCarthy  3 , Brianna Wright  3 , Chiseche Mibenge  3 , Yvette Rico  3 , Sarah Righi  3 , Camilla Halsey  3 , Lilleana Torio  3 , Sepehr Asgari  3 , Tori Qiu  3 , Geronimo Garcia  3 , Booil Jo  3 , Becca Belofsky  4 , Lee J Shuer  4 , Randy O Frost  5 , Carolyn I Rodriguez  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized waitlist-controlled trial of buried in treasures facilitated support groups and in-home uncluttering (BIT+) for hoarding disorder

Michael G Wheaton et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: The Buried in Treasures (BIT) workshop is a promising treatment for hoarding disorder (HD), though many participants struggle with home uncluttering. This randomized waitlist-controlled trial investigated the efficacy of a version of BIT, augmented with in-home uncluttering practice (BIT+).

Method: Adults (N = 41) with hoarding disorder were recruited from the community and randomly assigned to BIT+ or waitlist. BIT+ consisted of 16 sessions of the BIT workshop and 10 uncluttering home visits over 18 weeks. Outcome measures included the Saving Inventory-Revised (self-report) and the Clutter Image Rating Scale (self and independent evaluator rated). Between group repeated measures analyses using general linear modeling examined the effect of BIT+ vs waitlist control on hoarding symptoms after 18 weeks. Within group analyses examined pre-post effects for all BIT+ participants combined after 18 weeks.

Results: After 18 weeks, BIT+ participants benefited significantly more than waitlist controls on hoarding severity with large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.5, p < .001). BIT+ was also associated with improvement reductions in hoarding symptoms, clutter, and functional impairment.

Conclusions: The BIT+ intervention offers promise as a treatment option for hoarding. Adding in-home uncluttering practice may incrementally improve discarding practices. Future controlled trials are warranted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02843308.

Keywords: BIT; Buried in treasures; CBT; Clutter; Hoarding disorder; Uncluttering.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest In the last 3 years, Dr. Rodriguez has served as a consultant for Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Osmind, and Biogen; and receives research grant support from Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, a stipend from American Psychiatric Association Publishing for her role as Deputy Editor at The American Journal of Psychiatry, a stipend for her role as Deputy Editor at Neuropsychopharmacology, and book royalties from American Psychiatric Association Publishing. The other authors report no additional financial or other relationships relevant to the subject of this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
CONSORT diagram.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Study Procedures Timeline Flowchart of BIT+ (group therapy sessions and in-home uncluttering sessions) study procedures by week.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Estimated mean trajectories based on longitudinal mixed effects modeling, corresponding to data in Table 2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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