Heavier-than-expected, unplanned use of drugs or alcohol has become a recurrent pattern. Withdrawal symptoms accompany attempts to curtail substance use. Increased consumption of drugs or alcohol is required to achieve the same effects. If substance use accompanies Diogenes syndrome, chemical dependency can be diagnosed if two or more of the following symptoms are present: On the other hand, if medical testing and examinations do uncover conditions known to cause such side effects, Diogenes syndrome of the secondary type may be identified and targeted within the context of a comprehensive, multifaceted treatment program. If laboratory tests, interviews with patients and their families, and extensive physical examinations rule out any obvious physical causes for such symptoms, mental health professionals and/or physicians may conclude that Diogenes syndrome (primary type) is the problem and recommend appropriate treatment. #Diogenes syndrome causes skin#
Physical signs of illness and neglect, such as rapid weight loss, rashes, hair loss, body odor, tooth decay, dehydration, overgrown hair and nails, infections, and cracked, dry, or bleeding skin. Severe social anxiety and avoidance of social interactions. Eccentric habits and interests (as a new development). Distrust of friends, family, authority figures, and the medical profession. Lack of awareness of the surrounding environment, world events, or the needs of other people. Malnutrition, disinterest in eating or preparing meals. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors and tendencies. Lack of interest in cleaning or maintaining the home. Lack of personal grooming, self-care, and cleanliness. The symptoms of Diogenes syndrome may include: But total indifference to health, appearance, and the quality of the living environment are far from normal, and strong indicators that Diogenes syndrome may have developed. There is an expectation that people will lose some capacity to care for themselves as they age. Approximately 2.5 million elderly Americans will deal with substance use disorders in any given year, and addiction to alcohol and/or drugs has been identified in many individuals diagnosed with Diogenes syndrome. In one sample, 30 percent of those who demonstrated its symptoms were under the age of 65, but data on the incidence of Diogenes syndrome in non-elderly population groups are scarce.Īmong the elderly population, substance abuse is a significant problem, and in many cases declining mental health is a precipitating factor in the misuse and overuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medications. However, Diogenes syndrome has not been extensively studied and many mental health professionals believe it occurs more frequently than realized. 05 percent incident rate for people age 60 and over (that is one out of every 2,000 adults). It is believed to be rare, with current estimates of a. Studies have found that each type represents about half of all diagnosed cases of Diogenes syndrome.ĭiogenes syndrome is identified by other labels, including severe social breakdown syndrome and self-neglect syndrome. Secondary Diogenes Syndrome: The symptoms of the syndrome are determined to be a side effect or symptom of another medical condition. Primary Diogenes Syndrome: The development of the condition is not related to the onset, or worsening, of any other psychological, emotional, or behavioral health disorders. 
There are two varieties of this disorder: Consequently, it is vital that people who exhibit the symptoms of Diogenes syndrome and addiction receive comprehensive medical and therapeutic attention.
There is no doubt that alcohol and drug abuse can make the symptoms of Diogenes syndrome worse, and in some cases it appears to be implicated in the actual onset of the syndrome. Men and women with this condition may turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of dealing with the stress, turmoil, and unhappiness their condition causes, which is a common pattern in those who experience extreme mental disturbances. Their self-neglect is so severe that it often puts them at grave risk for health complications, and without intervention their self-care skills may atrophy to the point of non-existence.Īmong the many effects of Diogenes Syndrome is an increased risk for substance abuse and dependency. They often resort to hoarding behavior, cluttering their environments with useless or inessential items. Men and women with Diogenes syndrome frequently live in squalor and deprivation, as they lose the capacity and motivation to keep themselves or their homes clean and presentable. It is generally associated with aging, but Diogenes syndrome has been diagnosed in people under the age of 65 as well. The condition is marked by extreme self-neglect and a loss of interest in cleanliness, order, and hygiene in general.
People who develop Diogenes syndrome experience a gradually expanding disconnect with the surrounding world, and with their own emotional and biological needs.
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