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Know About Diogenes Syndrome


Diogenes syndrome or Senile Squalor Syndrome is considered to be a part of a mental health disorder commonly referred to as compulsive hoarding. It is a rare mental condition commonly found in elderly people who are either in a state of neglect or under a state, where they are not able to maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness. This disorder is also found among the young people suffering from any kind of mental health issues or with the ones under that strange habit of hoarding and later displaying the collection.

Considered as a variant of self neglect, this is one such disorder that affects mostly those who are either inattentive to their personal hygiene or even worst the ones who are unable to seek any medical advice and attention. People suffering from Diogenes Syndrome are often found collecting magazines, books, tin cans, rubber bands and even mails and the collection could be from the past 15-20 years or even more.

Behavioral Patterns of Those Suffering From Diogenes Syndrome

Like any other mental health issue, Diogenes Syndrome too sends out clear signals in the form of behavioral patterns. Although these signals are discounted as harmless ones but if not rectified they could make one's old age risk-prone. Some common behavior patterns include:

  • Failure to discard newspapers, magazines, books, bottles, jars and even cans
  • Failure to maintain personal hygiene
  • Failure to clean the home and keep in clutter-free
  • Lying unattended and neglected in ones excrement
  • Ignoring medical health issues and not taking medicines on a regular basis

These are the patterns that give away a clear indication that one is suffering from Diogenes Syndrome and needs quick and complete medical attention.

Symptoms of Diogenes Syndrome

There has been comprehensive research around signs and symptoms of Diogenes Syndrome and the ones that have been found in most of the sufferers are:

  • Lack of self-conscious about personal cleanliness, hygiene, and self-care
  • Self-neglect
  • Hoarding rubbish
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Aloofness
  • Untidiness
  • Emotional liability
  • Distortion of reality

When we talk of treating this ailment the very first step covers tests for each of these signs and symptoms as with this severity of this mental health issue can be determined.

Researched Causes of Diogenes Syndrome

When researched, it has been found that in half of the cases Diogenes Syndrome occurs due to medical effects of any other disorder, be that related to health or mental well being. Apart from this, some common causes of this mental health issue are aggressiveness, mental liability and sense of detachment.

Treating Diogenes Syndrome

This is one such condition that has not really gone under the diagnosis scanner in most of the patients. It has been found that the people suffering from Diogenes Syndrome usually do not trust anyone around and this sense of suspicion aggravates the condition even more. Records say that for an average 45% to 48% of people suffering from this mental health issue the mortality rate is around 5 years, which clearly states that not many are treated with proper medical attention.
For anyone afflicted with this syndrome, it becomes duty of family and friends to:

  • Work in a methodical way
  • join up for a cleanliness drive
  • assign cleaning and rubbish discarding tasks to the patient
  • Set a date for donating all those items that others would use and stick to it no matter whatsoever

It is to be known that people with Diogenes Syndrome usually feel ashamed when someone discovers their collection, thus this is the time when one needs to act smartly.


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