Treatment of Diogenes syndrome with risperidone

Diogenes syndrome is characterized by shameless neglect of the body and per sonal environment, hoarding, and the rejection of any help. It occurs among patients with and without other psychiatric disorders. The initial treatme nt should be a behavioral program, but there is no information about the ph armacological treatment of this syndrome. We report the case of a 77-year-o ld woman with symptoms of Diogenes syndrome. After an unsuccessful behavior al program, treatment with risperidone initially improved the behavioral sy mptoms but impaired cognitive function, and was followed by marked global d eterioration, fulfilling criteria for dementia.