Results highlighted executive dysfunction but understanding of living with the consequences of squalor was spared as was emotion based decision-making. TD completed neuropsychological and psychological assessments alongside an experimental task investigating processing of disgust and his living situation. This led us to question whether the basis of his difficulties were neuropsychological or psychological in nature, which became the objective of this study, with a focus on shame and disgust.

Problems interpreting expressions of disgust were interesting as TD was living in squalor, neglecting himself, and lacked concern for his circumstances. This paper describes TD who was unable to identify emotional expressions of disgust and was borderline-impaired for facial recognition associated with perceptual difficulties. Although DS is not included in DSM 5 or ICD-11 as a stand-alone entity, we consider that the use of an eponym related to the ancient and well known philosopher can be very useful in teaching medical terminology, but also it could contribute to medicine students’ cultural background.ĭiogenes Syndrome (DS) is characterised by extreme self-neglect, domestic squalor, hoarding, social withdrawal, and lack of concern and shame for the individual’s residential situation. We conclude that the name of the syndrome correlates well with Diogenes’ life and philosophy as the name of the syndrome is a reference to the self-isolation and rejection of the outside world practiced by the cynical philosopher. To find if this syndrome should be maintain or not in the geriatric and psychiatric practices.

We reviewed selected key issues about the authors who introduced this entity into psychiatric practice, but alsoĪbout its definition, risk factors, clinical manifestation, management aspects, as well as the similarities between Diogenes’ life and philosophy and clinical manifestation of DS. In this article we will focus on a much disputed eponym: “Diogenes syndrome” (DS).

Diogenes vasquez