Diogenes syndrome

Diogenes syndrome is a behavioral disorder characterized by extreme self-neglect. It usually affects the elderly who live alone. Its symptoms include body odor and other signs of severe hygienic neglect. Physical diseases relating to bodily neglect usually accompany the syndrome. Diogenes syndrome usually manifests itself in association with compulsive hoarding, the pathological collection and storage of objects, mainly other people's refuse (items possibly thought to be useful by the sufferer) (PMID 10389361).

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Diogenes syndrome is named after the alleged behavior (not necessarily the ideals) of Diogenes of Sinope. Diogenes was never known to have hoarded items; he lived as an ascetic with only a robe and (for a time) a bowl.

Frontal lobe impairment may play a part in the causation (Orrell et al, 1989).

Diogenes syndrome is associated with, and sometimes used synonymously with, senile breakdown, social breakdown and senile squalor syndrome.^[1]

See also

• Self-neglect
• Compulsive hoarding

References