It's interesting that this thread came up, there's an article in my local paper today about "hoarding" as it's called. It really is a mental problem. The collecting of stuff to the point where you can't function is usually caused by feelings of anxiousness or depression. They usually know what's wrong but feel powerless to do anything about it. My mom was a hoarder of sorts, she was always afraid they were going to run out of money and starve so she had tons of canned goods. But usually she would go through and send a load home with me ever so often. Worked for me, it was all good stuff and I had 3 kids to feed!
My pop is the food hoarder. He'll go out and buy groceries and won't have anywhere to put em when he gets em home.
Must come from growing up during the depression era.