Cognitive performance of individuals with animal hoarding

Abstract

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to characterize the cognitive performance of individuals with animal hoarding. Methods This is a cross-sectional study, in which 33 individuals between the ages of 29 to 84 (M = 61.39; SD = 12.69) with animal hoarding have been assessed. The participants completed a neurocognitive battery including measures of general cognitive functioning, visual memory and organization, verbal fluency, and verbal reasoning. Results Data suggest that individuals with animal hoarding have high rates of cognitive deficits related to visual memory and verbal reasoning. Conclusions Based on the performance tests used, we can suggest the existence of cognitive difficulties related especially to the executive functions of individuals with animal hoarding in this sample.

Keywords

• Animal hoarding
• Cognitive profile
• Executive functions