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Towards a Definition of “Self-Neglect” in Psychiatric Patients: Descriptions of a Case Series

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Abstract

Self-neglect, although frequently studied in geriatric populations, has received only limited attention in psychiatric populations. To address this gap, we utilize a behavioral framework to present a set of case examples in order to illustrate the complex relationship between self-neglect behaviors and conditions and various psychiatric illness. Cases are discussed with respect to ascending severity of presentations of self-neglect in adult non-geriatric inpatient psychiatric populations. Self-neglect is conceptualized as a range of behaviors, as well as an overall condition that affects an individual’s functioning in several major domains. The concept of self-neglect in non-geriatric psychiatric patients warrants additional study, including development of a formal definition, as well as evaluation of its associated manifestations and implications for treatment and prognosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor Psychiatry Clinic, Jamail Specialty Care Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1977 Butler Blvd, 4th Floor, Suite E4.100, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Joanna Lamkin, Phuong T. Nguyen, John H. Coverdale & Mollie R. Gordon

Authors
  1. Joanna Lamkin
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  2. Phuong T. Nguyen
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  3. John H. Coverdale
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  4. Mollie R. Gordon
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Correspondence to Phuong T. Nguyen.

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Conflict of interest

Joanna Lamkin, Phuong Nguyen, John Coverdale, Mollie Gordon declares that they have no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was deemed not necessary by appropriate IRB committees for this study.

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Lamkin, J., Nguyen, P.T., Coverdale, J.H. et al. Towards a Definition of “Self-Neglect” in Psychiatric Patients: Descriptions of a Case Series. Psychiatr Q 88, 553–560 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-016-9467-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-016-9467-6

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