Anxiety sensitivity: a potential vulnerability factor for compulsive hoarding.

Compulsive hoarding is defined as the accumulation of and failure to discard a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or limited in value. Severe hoarding can result in illnesses due to unsanitary conditions, social isolation, work disability, and even death. Despite the severity of impairment associated with this clinical syndrome, research examining potential vulnerability factors is limited.

Intolerance of uncertainty as a vulnerability factor for hoarding behaviors.

Background: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has been identified as a key vulnerability factor among numerous anxiety related conditions. It has been suggested that individuals engage in uncertainty-motivated behaviors such as avoidance, as a way to cope with ambiguous and potentially distressing situations. Patterns of behavioral avoidance have also been observed in a substantial number of hoarding patients and are thought to directly contribute to the avoidance of discarding.

Childhood Abuse and Current Health Problems among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Child abuse has negative consequences on health functioning and the self-concept. Prior studies have garnered support for these relationships in younger adults; yet few studies have looked at the effects of abuse on health in older adults and the psychosocial variables, specifically self-efficacy, that may influence the abuse-health relationship. METHODS: Data obtained from the Physical Health and Disability Study were used to explore the impact of child abuse on current medical problems among older adults who were screened on physical disability status (N=1396, Mean age = 67, SD = 10.