Hoarding DisorderNCT04712474
In-home Decluttering Augmentation of Group CBT for HD
A study testing In-home decluttering practice in people with Hoarding Disorder, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
The primary aim of trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of in-home decluttering augmentation of group CBT for reducing hoarding severity in adults with HD. The trial takes place in Sweden. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Hoarding Disorder
- What is being tested?
- In-home decluttering practice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 29 Jan 2021to 31 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older.
- Hoarding disorder as primary psychiatric condition.
- Willing and able to understand and complete consent and study procedures.
- Living in the Stockholm county (Sweden) and within a 1-hour commute by public transport from the social services office.
Who cannot join
- Concurrent CBT or having received CBT for HD during the last two years, for a minimum of 8 sessions including active strategies for reducing acquisition and practice of discarding with a qualified therapist or 8 previous in-home decluttering sessions with a qualified social worker.
- Unable or unwilling to allow study staff into home for home assessment.
- Animal hoarding or squalid (i.e. extremely unhygienic) home conditions that are deemed to put the personnel at risk during the in-home decluttering.
- A diagnosis of organic brain disorder, intellectual disability, psychosis, bipolar disorder without stable medication or with symptoms within the last 6 months, anorexia nervosa or alcohol/substance dependence or abuse.
- Major medical or neurological conditions that increase the risk of participation or that would prevent completing assigned behavioral practice tasks.
- Immediate risk to self or others, requiring urgent medical attention, such as high suicidality risk.
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- Participant not able to read and communicate in Swedish.
- Currently at high risk for eviction (for instance having received a "rättelseanmaning" by the housing company or Swedish court).
- Potential participant lives in the same household as an already included participant.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Sweden1 site
M46: Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Psykiatri Sydväst Stockholm, Huddinge, Sweden, 141 86
Stockholm, 141 86
About this study
Official title: In-home Decluttering Augmentation of Group Cognitive-behavior Therapy for Hoarding Disorder: The Joining Forces Randomized Controlled Trial
The primary aim of trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of in-home decluttering augmentation of group CBT for reducing hoarding severity in adults with HD. The trial takes place in Sweden.
Read the detailed description
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the current evidence-based treatment for HD but the majority of sufferers remain symptomatic after CBT with impairing levels of clutter in their homes. Home visits, with a focus on in-home decluttering, have in previous research been shown to be a promising intervention when combined with CBT. However, augmenting CBT with subsequent home visits has not yet been tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In response to this, in this trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of a coordinated intervention, consisting of CBT and in-home decluttering for HD, in an RCT. In this trial, 90 participants with HD will initially receive 12 sessions of CBT through a psychiatric outpatient service. After CBT, participants will be randomized to receive either 10 home visits in 10 weeks, or to a wait list condition. Our hypothesis is that augmenting CBT with home visits will lead to a reduction in hoarding symptoms and clutter and improved daily functioning compared to wait list. We will also investigate the cost-economical aspects of the intervention. Results from this trial have the potential to reveal whether in-home decluttering should be added to CBT in order to reduce symptoms of hoarding and improve function in indviduals with HD.
- Conditions
- Hoarding Disorder
- Being tested
- In-home decluttering practice
- Keywords
- hoarding, clutter
- Medical subject headings
- Hoarding Disorder, Hoarding, Speech Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
In-home decluttering practiceBehavioural
The in-home decluttering intervention comprises 10, 1.5-hour home-visits over the course of 10 weeks.
These home visits are personalized, goal-oriented and focused on decluttering. They include 1) a brief check-in, 2) guided unclutter time 3) a reflective period during which participants share their thoughts and objectives for the coming week, and 4) homework assignments.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| In-home decluttering | Experimental | Study participants receive weekly sessions of in-home decluttering for 10 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: In-home decluttering practice |
| Delayed treatment | No intervention | Study participants receive weekly session of in-home decluttering after a 10 week delay. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R)
The SI-R is a 23-item questionnaire with 3 sub-scales: 1) difficulty discarding, 2) excessive clutter, and 3) excessive acquisition.
Measured: Change from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 10),
Clutter Image Rating Scale (CIR)
Three sets of photographs, each comprising 9 photos of a room with varying levels of clutter. A selection is made as to which photograph best resembles the room of the participant.
Measured: Change from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 10).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jan 2021
- Study start29 Jan 2021
- Primary completion27 Feb 2025
- Study completion31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Hoarding DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Karolinska InstitutetThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karolinska Institutet
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Region Stockholm, City of Stockholm, Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Volen Ivanov, Karolinska Institutet
- Investigators
- Volen Ivanov, PhD, Principal investigator, Karolinska Institutet
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04712474
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-05798
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 13 Jan 2021
- Last updated
- 19 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Jagholm S, Lindstedt S, Andersson E, Mataix-Cols D, Fernandez de la Cruz L, Ruck C, Ivanov VZ. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of in-home decluttering augmentation of group cognitive-behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder: the Joining Forces Trial. Trials. 2023 Jul 29;24(1):483. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07509-4.
PubMed 37507772
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- In-home Decluttering Augmentation of Group Cognitive-behavior Therapy for Hoarding Disorder: The Joining Forces Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04712474
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-05798
- Conditions
- Hoarding Disorder
- Keywords
- hoarding, clutter
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Karolinska InstitutetUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Region Stockholm, City of Stockholm, Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research
- Study start
- 29 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 27 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary aim of trial is to determine the clinical efficacy of in-home decluttering augmentation of group CBT for reducing hoarding severity in adults with HD. The trial takes place in Sweden.
Detailed description
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the current evidence-based treatment for HD but the majority of sufferers remain symptomatic after CBT with impairing levels of clutter in their homes. Home visits, with a focus on in-home decluttering, have in previous research been shown to be a promising intervention when combined with CBT. However, augmenting CBT with subsequent home visits has not yet been tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In response to this, in this trial, we aim to investigate the efficacy of a coordinated intervention, consisting of CBT and in-home decluttering for HD, in an RCT. In this trial, 90 participants with HD will initially receive 12 sessions of CBT through a psychiatric outpatient service. After CBT, participants will be randomized to receive either 10 home visits in 10 weeks, or to a wait list condition. Our hypothesis is that augmenting CBT with home visits will lead to a reduction in hoarding symptoms and clutter and improved daily functioning compared to wait list. We will also investigate the cost-economical aspects of the intervention. Results from this trial have the potential to reveal whether in-home decluttering should be added to CBT in order to reduce symptoms of hoarding and improve function in indviduals with HD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| In-home decluttering | Experimental | Behavioral: In-home decluttering practiceStudy participants receive weekly sessions of in-home decluttering for 10 weeks. |
| Delayed treatment | No intervention | –Study participants receive weekly session of in-home decluttering after a 10 week delay. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 years or older.
- Hoarding disorder as primary psychiatric condition.
- Willing and able to understand and complete consent and study procedures.
- Living in the Stockholm county (Sweden) and within a 1-hour commute by public transport from the social services office.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Concurrent CBT or having received CBT for HD during the last two years, for a minimum of 8 sessions including active strategies for reducing acquisition and practice of discarding with a qualified therapist or 8 previous in-home decluttering sessions with a qualified social worker.
- Unable or unwilling to allow study staff into home for home assessment.
- Animal hoarding or squalid (i.e. extremely unhygienic) home conditions that are deemed to put the personnel at risk during the in-home decluttering.
- A diagnosis of organic brain disorder, intellectual disability, psychosis, bipolar disorder without stable medication or with symptoms within the last 6 months, anorexia nervosa or alcohol/substance dependence or abuse.
- Major medical or neurological conditions that increase the risk of participation or that would prevent completing assigned behavioral practice tasks.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| In-home decluttering practiceThe in-home decluttering intervention comprises 10, 1.5-hour home-visits over the course of 10 weeks. These home visits are personalized, goal-oriented and focused on decluttering. They include 1) a brief check-in, 2) guided unclutter time 3) a reflective period during which participants share their thoughts and objectives for the coming week, and 4) homework assignments. | Behavioural | In-home decluttering |
Primary outcome
Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R)
Time frame: Change from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 10),
The SI-R is a 23-item questionnaire with 3 sub-scales: 1) difficulty discarding, 2) excessive clutter, and 3) excessive acquisition.
Clutter Image Rating Scale (CIR)
Time frame: Change from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 10).
Three sets of photographs, each comprising 9 photos of a room with varying levels of clutter. A selection is made as to which photograph best resembles the room of the participant.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Sep 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37507772Jagholm S, Lindstedt S, Andersson E, Mataix-Cols D, Fernandez de la Cruz L, Ruck C, Ivanov VZ. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of in-home decluttering augmentation of group cognitive-behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder: the Joining Forces Trial. Trials. 2023 Jul 29;24(1):483. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07509-4.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Volen Ivanov, PhD principal investigator
Karolinska Institutet
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing In-home decluttering practice in people with Hoarding Disorder, run by Karolinska Institutet at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Saving Inventory-Revised (SI-R) (time frame: Change from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 10),). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04712474, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Sep 2025.