Diogenes syndrome

As Diogenes or littering syndrome, rarely as Syllogomanie (Greek συλλογομανία, pronunciation [ each ancient Greek German tradition ] süllogomanía of συλλογή, süllogé, " collection " and μανία, mania, " obsession ", " wildness ", " mania " ) is a complex mental disorder called, the first by a neglect of personal appearance (body care ), the living area, social withdrawal and rejection of welfare is characterized by others. Not all sufferers are ashamed of this state, and not always collects this garbage in the apartment to.

Naming

The term " littering syndrome " was introduced in 1984 by the Hamburg doctor and psychoanalyst Peter Dettmering.

In the German -speaking area is mainly in the lay press of a compulsive hoarding - from English mess, "disorder ", " trouble " spoken; messy to the nominalized adjective, plural messies.

The naming of littering syndrome after Diogenes of Sinope (c. 391/399-323 BC) is problematic in that the Cynic philosophers such symptoms can not be detected. He is only known for his frugality and his skeptical attitude towards social conventions and the achievements of civilization.

" Whether it is in the, Messietum 'and Vermüllungs syndrome is the same or only to two phenomena with some overlaps and points of contact, is controversial among experts. "

Symptoms

The diagnosis littering syndrome limited to those extreme cases in which accept the deficits in the ability to keep one's home in order, a degree that more or less the whole apartment of the person concerned is filled with garbage and worthless objects or " accrues "because nothing is thrown away. People who suffer from littering syndrome who have lost ability to recognize worthless objects and emotionally as such and to separate from them. Rather, they indiscriminately hoard just about anything once enters the apartment, usually with the intent to eventually clean up. This, however, they do not succeed.

Such cases make the intervention of the authorities, only possible when it comes to the objective assessment of a foreign or self-endangerment, for example, if a hospital admission clearly makes the person concerned that a sufficient self-sufficiency without accepting help has become impossible and a basis of trust with experienced and knowledgeable clinicians could be established and supporters. Only offload the affected really, which can thus be freed from a for they usually arduous situation.

A medically important consequence may be that the toenails grow so far and thereby warp towards sole that Go is no longer possible.

Laboratory medicine can be demonstrated most diverse deficiency: Iron deficiency up to iron deficiency anemia, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, protein and albumin deficiency, hypokalemia and dehydration.

Causes

The underlying Diogenes syndrome potentially underlying mental disorders are manifold. It may be a disorder of executive functions in the context of an addictive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, personality disorders or other mental disorders. Dementia, schizophrenia, and Prader- Willi syndrome should be mentioned here.

Therapy

Basically, the treatment depends on the underlying disease or disorder. In cases of forced and impulse noise lends itself inter alia, cognitive behavioral therapy. Those patients, which is a related dementia frontal lobe pathology underlying them less likely to benefit.

Others

The writer EL Doctorow ( born 1931 ) describes in his novel Homer & Langley, the true story of two brothers who died in a cluttered New York mansion in 1947.