Diogenes symptom complexR46.0
Synonym(s)
Senile squalor syndrome
HistoryThis section has been translated automatically.
Clark, 1975
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Complex of symptoms, mostly in extremely neglected elderly people living alone, without underlying psychotic underlying disease of endogenous or organ brain origin.
Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.
Socially reclusive elderly people, mostly living alone, who extremely neglect nutrition, personal hygiene and housekeeping and are admitted to hospitals or geriatric special institutions, often as an emergency, in a desolate condition due to intercurrent infections or after falls. Premorbid often professionally and socially well integrated to successful. Little insight into one's own situation and the resulting self-endangerment. Unstable personality structure; fearful to aggressive, suspicious to paranoid. Frequently secondary damage such as hypovitaminosis, hypoproteinemia, exsicctic, ichthyotic skin changes, pyoderma or chronic mycotic diseases, nummular eczema.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Esposito D et al (2003) Diogenes syndrome in a pair of siblings. Can J Psychiatry 48: 571-572
- Gannon M, O'Boyle J (1992) Diogenes syndrome (editorial). Ir Med J 85: 124
- Clark ANG, Mankikar GD, Gray I (1975) Diogenes Syndrome - a clinical study of gross neglect in old age. Lancet I: 366-368
- Klosterkötter J, Peter's UH (1985) The Diogenes Syndrome. Progression Neurol Psychiatry 53: 427-434
- Seals PB (1991) Self-neglect in the elderly - the homeless and the Diogenes syndrome. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatric 22: 167-171