Self Neglect

A behavioral condition in which individuals neglect to attend to their basic needs such as personal hygiene, appropriate clothing, feeding, or tending appropriately to any medical conditions they are experiencing. Self-neglect can occur as a result of brain injury, dementia or mental illness, or health conditions that have an effect on the person's physical abilities, energy levels, attention, organizational skills or motivation. A decrease in motivation can also be a side effect of psychiatric medications, putting those who require them at a higher risk of self-neglect than might be caused by mental illness alone.