Motivational Interviewing to Enhance Behavioral Change in Older Adults With Hoarding Disorder

NCT05237466 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 21-5611R15MH127565-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will compare two behavioral interventions for hoarding disorder in older adults.

Conditions

Hoarding Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Frequency of Sorting/Discarding Behavior

  As a behavioral indicator of motivation to engage in sorting/discarding behavior, participants will be asked to report at their weekly treatment sessions the frequency of sorting/discarding items in the previous week. Data were analyzed as percentage of days sorted between sessions (assessed at sessions 2-16). Mixed effects models were used to analyze data such that participants with at least one timepoint were included in the analyses.

  Four months

• University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Questionnaire

  The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Questionnaire (URICA) is a 32-item Likert scale that assesses readiness for change. Scores for readiness for change are calculated by subtracting pre contemplation items from the other summed items. Scores range from -2 to 14, with higher scores indicating greater readiness for change.

  Four months

• Apathy Evaluation Scale

  The Apathy Evaluation Scale is an 18-item measure of an individual's deficits in goal-directed thoughts and behavior. Scores range from 18-72, with higher scores reflecting more apathy.

  Four months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Treatment Acceptability/ Adherence Scale

  Immediately after session 1

• Saving Inventory-Revised

  Four months

Other Outcomes (2)

• Clutter Image Rating

  Four months

• Behavioral Approach Task for Sorting/Discarding

  Four months

Study Arms (2)

RECLAIM: Reducing Clutter and Increasing Meaning

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a combination of motivational interviewing and sorting practice to reduce hoarding symptoms.

Behavioral: RECLAIM: Reducing Clutter and Increasing Meaning

Sorting Practice

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive sorting practice only to reduce hoarding symptoms.

Behavioral: Sorting Practice

Interventions

RECLAIM: Reducing Clutter and Increasing Meaning BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive 16 weekly 1-hour treatment sessions in their home delivered by Masters-level clinicians with the assistance of undergraduate researchers. Each treatment session will involve a combination of motivational interviewing (MI) and sorting practice. The rationale behind the sorting practice is to develop the skill of sorting and the formation of a daily sorting routine. The MI portion of the initial session will involve an evaluation of client strengths and individual biopsychosocial goals. The initial and subsequent sessions will include a variety of MI techniques, including decisional balancing, developing discrepancy, personalized feedback, and reinforcement of responsibility of sense of self-efficacy.

RECLAIM: Reducing Clutter and Increasing Meaning

Sorting Practice BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive 16 weekly 1-hour treatment sessions in their home delivered by Masters-level clinicians with the assistance of undergraduate researchers. Clinicians will encourage participants to sort objects during each session while refraining from use of any specific cognitive or motivational therapeutic techniques. Participants will be asked to record the frequency and duration of any sorting/ discarding they did during the previous week.

Sorting Practice

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 60+
• Live within a 60-minute driving radius of Starkville, MS
• Have a primary psychiatric diagnosis of hoarding disorder

You may not qualify if:

• Major cognitive impairment
• Active psychosis, drug use, or acute suicidal ideation
• Concurrent psychotherapy focused on hoarding
• Changed psychotropic medications within the past three months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mississippi State University: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Mississippi State University

Starkville, Mississippi, 39762, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hoarding Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Mary E. Dozier
• Organization: Mississippi State University

maryedozier@psychology.msstate.edu

6623250523

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2022
• First Posted: February 14, 2022
• Study Start: June 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 10, 2025
• Study Completion: December 10, 2025
• Last Updated: July 16, 2026
• Results First Posted: July 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

US (1)