Is collectionism a diagnostic clue for Diogenes syndrome?

Background Diogenes syndrome (DS) is characterized by extreme self‐neglect, domestic squalor, and social withdrawal. Despite having been described decades ago, it is still difficult to persue a correct diagnosis in primary care clinics. Methods This paper reports a case of an elderly man with extreme self neglect and an abnormal collecting pattern whose condition remained undetected for many years. His collectionism was manifested with a tendency to store items in an organized manner but without a clear purpose. Conclusion The authors suggest that the presence of collectionism could be a helpful clue towards diagnosis of DS in similar cases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.