Automatic Assessment of Room Clutter for Improved Hoarding Disorder Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention

SPRING 2017 RESEARCH INCUBATION AWARDEES 

Pl: Janusz Konrad, Electrical & Computer Engineering, ENG
Co-Pls: Jordana Muroff, Clinical Practice, SSW

This project aims to develop an objective, automatic, real-time method for rating room clutter from images according to the CIR scale. Currently, Hoarding Disorder symptoms are examined using a self-report and clinical review. The Clutter Image Rating (CIR) scale is rated by clients, practitioners and family members by selecting one out of nine photos of a bedroom, living room and kitchen. These can become subjective and bias. The researcher’s new method, which will run on a smartphone, will address the issues and catalyze cost-effective, directed mental healthcare for Hoarding Disorder Patients.

This work is funded by a Digital Health Initiative Research Award made in June, 2017.