Is collectionism a diagnostic clue for Diogenes syndrome?

Montero‐Odasso, Manuel; Schapira, Marcelo; Duque, Gustavo; Chercovsky, Mariana; Fernández-Otero, Lucas; Kaplan, R.; Cámera, Luis

doi:10.1002/gps.1347

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…(2007) distinction between self‐neglect and hoarding. Montero‐Odasso et al. (2005) suggests that collectionism is a helpful clue suggesting the presence of severe self‐neglect, albeit this claim is based on single case study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Developing self‐neglect theory: analysis of related and atypical cases of people identified as self‐neglecting

Lauder

Roxburgh

Harris

et al. 2009

Psychiatric Ment Health Nurs

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Self-neglect is a complex, relatively common and as yet not fully understood phenomenon. People who self-neglect often do not undertake those activities which are judged necessary to maintain a socially accepted standard of personal and household hygiene or to maintain their health status. This may be explained by a variety of factors of which psychopathology, culture, social class and poverty all play a role in the construction of this phenomenon. The self-neglect literature overwhelmingly presents professional views and focuses on the most severe cases. This paper explores some core issues in relation to self-neglect theory through in-depth interviews with atypical (related) cases. These cases allow the boundaries of what is and is not self-neglect to be tested. Analysis of these cases suggests that self-neglect remains a useful concept but contains a far wide range of presentations than previously reported.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Developing self‐neglect theory: analysis of related and atypical cases of people identified as self‐neglecting

Lauder

Roxburgh

Harris

et al. 2009

Psychiatric Ment Health Nurs

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“…6 Certainly Diogenes' principles of contentment without material possessions would also not be in keeping with the "collectionism," or syllogomania, manifested by those with the syndrome. 7 The psychiatric and medical profiles of sufferers of Diogenes syndrome have been reasonably well documented. Individuals tend to be elderly, with an age range in the Clark et al 1 study of 66 to 92 years (average, 79 years), although younger victims have been described.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Issues in Cases of Diogenes Syndrome

Byard¹,

Tsokos²

2007

American Journal of Forensic Medicine &Amp; Pathology

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Diogenes syndrome is a syndrome described in the clinical literature in elderly individuals characterized by social isolation and extreme squalor. A number of typical features are found in the forensic evaluation of these deaths as the cases usually initiate medicolegal investigations due to the circumstances and the lack of recorded medical histories. Examinations of the death scenes are often difficult as victim's houses are in a state of disrepair, with filth and clutter, and pet dogs may resent the intrusion of strangers. Bodies are often filthy, with parasitic infestations, and are often putrefied due to the social isolation of the deceased and the delay in the finding of the corpse. Bodies may be traumatized from postmortem animal depredation by rodents or pets (eg, cats, dogs), and injuries such as bruises and lacerations may be present from falls associated with terminal illnesses or alcoholism. Blood or putrefactive fluids may be spread throughout the house by pets. Treatable medical conditions are often present in advanced stages, and features of hypothermia may be found. Attending police may suspect robbery due to disarray of the house and homicide due to apparent "bleeding" around the body from purging of putrefactive fluids, injuries from falls, or postmortem animal activity and "blood stains" throughout the house from antemortem injuries and/or fluid spread by animals. Finally, the identification of the deceased may be compromised by decay and/or postmortem animal activity. Thus, in addition to having typical clinical manifestations, such individuals appear to form a distinct subset of forensic cases having characteristic death scene and autopsy features and presenting particular difficulties in postmortem evaluations.

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“…Hoarding symptoms have also been observed in older adults with dementia (e.g., Hwang et al , 1998). Diogenes syndrome has been used to describe a cluster of problems (domestic squalor, hoarding of trash, gross self-neglect, poor personal hygiene, isolation) sometimes associated with late-life hoarding (Clark et al , 1975; Greve et al , 2004; Montero-Odasso et al , 2005). However, this is not a medical term and does not apply to the many compulsive hoarders who do not show self-neglect, poor personal hygiene, or social isolation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age at onset and clinical features of late life compulsive hoarding

Ayers

Saxena

Golshan

et al. 2009

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

189

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Objectives Compulsive hoarding is a debilitating, chronic disorder, yet we know little about its onset, clinical features, or course throughout the life span. Hoarding symptoms often come to clinical attention when patients are in late life, and case reports of elderly hoarders abound. Yet no prior study has examined whether elderly compulsive hoarders have early or late onset of hoarding symptoms, whether their hoarding symptoms are idiopathic or secondary to other conditions, or whether their symptoms are similar to compulsive hoarding symptoms seen in younger and middle-aged populations. The objectives of this study were to determine the onset and illustrate the course and clinical features of late life compulsive hoarding, including psychiatric and medical comorbitities. Methods Participants were 18 older adults (≥60) with clinically significant compulsive hoarding. They were assessed using structured interviews, including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID I), Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), and UCLA Hoarding Severity Scale (UHSS). Self-report Measures Included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Savings Inventory-Revised (SI-R). Psychosocial and medical histories were also obtained. To determine age at onset, participants were asked to rate their hoarding symptoms and describe major life events that occurred during each decade of their lives. Results Results show that (1) onset of compulsive hoarding symptoms was initially reported as being in mid-life but actually found to be in childhood or adolescence. No subjects reported late onset compulsive hoarding. (2) Compulsive hoarding severity increased with each decade of life. (3) Comorbid mood and anxiety disorders were common, but only 16% of patients met criteria for OCD if hoarding symptoms were not counted toward the diagnosis. (4) The vast majority of patients had never received treatment for hoarding. (5) Older adults with compulsive hoarding were usually socially impaired and living alone. Conclusions Compulsive hoarding is a progressive and chronic condition that begins early in life. Left untreated, its severity increases with age. Compulsive hoarding should be considered a distinct clinical syndrome, separate from OCD. Unfortunately, compulsive hoarding is largely unrecognized and untreated in older adults.

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Is collectionism a diagnostic clue for Diogenes syndrome?

Abstract: The authors suggest that the presence of collectionism could be a helpful clue towards diagnosis of DS in similar cases.

Cited by 21 publications

References 9 publications

Developing self‐neglect theory: analysis of related and atypical cases of people identified as self‐neglecting

Developing self‐neglect theory: analysis of related and atypical cases of people identified as self‐neglecting

Forensic Issues in Cases of Diogenes Syndrome

Age at onset and clinical features of late life compulsive hoarding

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