Cognitive and Functional Rehabilitation for Veterans with Hoarding Disorder

Functional and Cognitive Rehabilitation of Hoarding Disorder

NA · VA Office of Research and Development · NCT04697849

This study is testing a new therapy called CREST to see if it can help veterans with Hoarding Disorder improve their daily lives and reduce their hoarding symptoms.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment130 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development (fed)
Locations1 site (San Diego, California)
Trial IDNCT04697849 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized Cognitive Rehabilitation and Exposure/Sorting Therapy (CREST) for Veterans diagnosed with Hoarding Disorder (HD). The study will involve 130 adult Veterans who will be randomized to receive either 24 sessions of personalized CREST or case management. The intervention will be delivered through telemedicine and home visits, making it accessible and tailored to individual needs based on cognitive testing and participant preferences. The trial will assess various outcomes, including quality of life and HD severity, throughout the treatment and follow-up periods.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are Veterans aged 18 and older who have a DSM-5 diagnosis of Hoarding Disorder and are stable on medications.

Not a fit: Patients with current psychosis, mania, or neurodegenerative diseases, as well as those participating in other exposure-based psychotherapies, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the quality of life and functional outcomes for Veterans suffering from Hoarding Disorder.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar cognitive rehabilitation approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Veterans age 18 and older
* voluntary informed consent for participation
* DSM-5 diagnosis of HD as measured by the Structured Interview for Hoarding Disorder
* HD as a primary diagnosis, and 5) stable on medications for at least 6 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* current psychosis or mania as measured by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview
* current or history of any neurodegenerative disease
* concurrent participation in any form of exposure-based psychotherapy

  * suicide ideation will be monitored by the clinicians during sessions and VA standard suicide measure will be completed at all assessment points

Where this trial is running

San Diego, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Hoarding Disorder, hoarding, OCD, cognitive rehabilitation, exposure therapy

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.