The relationship between schizotypal traits and hoarding symptoms: An examination of symptom specificity and the role of perceived cognitive failures

Background: Hoarding disorder presents significant individual and interpersonal consequences. Because hoarding has only recently been added to the DSM, relatively little is known about associated comorbidity patterns. Several researchers have postulated a relationship between hoarding and schizotypy. To date, however, no investigations have considered which specific types of schizotypal traits relate to hoarding symptoms. Methods: We examined the association between hoarding and schizotypal symptoms using multivariate analyses in two samples—a sample of 120 young adults and a community sample of 291 individuals recruited from Mechanical Turk's online crowdsourcing system. Results: Individuals who fell within the clinical range on the Saving Inventory Revised endorsed significantly greater levels of schizotypal symptoms compared to those with normative saving behaviors. Odd speech, magical thinking, and social anxiety were the most consistent schizotypal correlates of hoarding symptoms. Perceived cognitive dysfunction mediated the effects between odd speech and social anxiety and hoarding symptoms, suggesting that shared abnormalities in cognitive functioning may help explain the relationship between hoarding and schizotypy. Limitations: This study examined the spectrum of schizotypy and hoarding symptoms via self-report in two nonclinical populations. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of assessing schizotypal traits in patients with hoarding, and suggest future avenues of research to better understand the underlying causes explaining the overlap, as well as potential treatment implications.