Hoarding Disorder is primarily characterized by what behavior?

Hoarding Disorder is primarily characterized by an individual's persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. This behavior leads to an excessive accumulation of items, which can clutter living areas and significantly impair the individual's ability to use those spaces for their intended purposes.

This inability to part with possessions originates from a strong emotional attachment to items or fear of losing important information or memories associated with them. As a result, individuals with Hoarding Disorder often experience great distress when faced with the prospect of discarding their belongings, resulting in functional impairment in various aspects of their lives, including social, occupational, and home life.

Other behaviors tied to different mental health conditions distinguish the other options. Recurrent skin-picking relates to Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior, while preoccupation with physical appearance aligns with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Performing compulsive rituals is a hallmark of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Therefore, the defining behavior of Hoarding Disorder is indeed the inability to part with possessions.