Hoarding is thought to be a form of OCD, but research indicates that it may indeed be distinct from OCD. In a previous blog, I reported on the possible genetic basis to hoarding.

Another study examined patterns of brain metabolism using PET scans, which measure the brain's use of glucose (sugar). Hoarders were compared to people with other forms of OCD, and the patterns of brain metabolism differed significantly between the two groups.

_{Source: Saxena MD, S, Brody MD, A, Maidment RN MFT, K, Smith BS, E, Zohrabi BS, N, Katz BS, E, Baker BS, S, and Baxter MD, L "Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Obsessive-Compulsive Hoarding." American Journal of Psychiatry, 161:1038-1048, June 2004.}