Noah's syndrome is a disease characterized by excessive accumulation of animals. People who suffer from this syndrome can accumulate more than a hundred animals in their home, causing serious damage to themselves, the animals and the conditions of the house. In addition, people with this pathology are not aware that they suffer from it, which makes its approach difficult. If you want what is Noah's syndrome, keep reading this Psychology-Online article: Noe syndrome: what is it, causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is Noah syndrome? The noah syndrome refers to the pathological accumulation of animals at home. It is, therefore, a animal obsession disease. Noah's syndrome is an accumulation disorder, in which there is a pathological and obsessive accumulation, therefore that objects or, in this case, animals are collected in excess and the person feels unable to get rid of they. Although they are different, it bears some relation to the Diogenes syndrome.
This disorder has been conceptualized not only as a mental health problem, but also a public health problem. This consideration is due to the fact that it does not only affect the person who suffers it, but also
Noah syndrome in cats
The animals that are mainly accumulated, according to the studies, are cats, so this syndrome is related or can be known as Noah syndrome in cats or one disease and obsession with cats.
Noah syndrome in dogs
However, despite being the cat the most common animal in the accumulation of people with Noah's syndrome, dogs have accumulation levels similar to those of cats. In the case of dogs, it is called Noah syndrome in dogs. In addition, various farm animals and, to a lesser extent, exotic and wild animals may also be involved.
This syndrome has a varied etiology, so the causes of Noah syndrome they are diverse. Although this pathology has been identified in people with intense feelings of loneliness, extreme isolation and absence of social and / or family ties, the coexistence of this syndrome with other mental disorders is common, which could explain this accumulation behavior:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): In this disorder, repetitive rituals are common to counteract the anxiety suffered. The hoarding behavior could be one of the compulsions or rituals of the person presenting obsessive compulsive disorder.
- Psychotic disorders: in this type of disorder there is an alteration in the perception of reality, so that people may be unable to warn that the animals it accumulates are in dire conditions, as well as that they live in a situation of insalubrity.
- Affective disorders: People who have extreme difficulties to socialize and establish affective and social bonds can seek to alleviate this isolation with the accumulation of animals.
- Traumatic losses or breaks: in view of stressful life events And traumatic, some people may project their need to be cared for through the adoption and excessive accumulation of animals, whom they believe to be saving and caring for.
- Alcohol and / or other substance abuse disorders: This pathological behavior has also been identified in people with alcohol abuse and other substances with a great cognitive impairment, so they present impulsive behaviors not based on the rationality.
- Bipolar disorder: the people with Bipolar disorder They present phases of mania, which are characterized by the presence of impulsive, risky and irresponsible behaviors. In the manic phase it is possible that one of the reckless behaviors that they develop involves the accumulation of animals.
- Age-related diseases like dementia or Alzheimer disease: in this type of disease there is usually a deterioration of cognitive abilities, an alteration of the personality and the perception of reality. This symptomatology can promote the pathological accumulation of animals.
Currently, the noah syndrome it is not included in the diagnostic manual for mental disorders. However, investigations into different cases of excessive accumulation of animals have achieved define a series of symptoms that allow the identification of those people who suffer from this pathology. These are the most common symptoms of Noah's syndrome:
- Existence of a excessive and pathological accumulation of animals by one person.
- Inability to care for these animals adequately and cover her basic needs.
- Unsanitary conditions and unhealthy in the home of the person that pose a risk to the person himself and sometimes the neighborhood.
- Denial of the problem It is another of the symptoms of Noah's syndrome. The person is unable to perceive the state in which the animals are (malnutrition, disease or even death) and their own domicile.
- Person perceives herself as savior of animals, due to the alteration and distortion of perception that coexists with this syndrome.
- Presence of aggressive behaviors if the person is tried to confront the situation or enter her home.
- They usually accumulate a single species, but cases have also been reported in which more than one type of animal lived together.
- On most occasions the animals are picked up from the street.
- Cases of Noah syndrome or animal obsession disease are usually reported by the neighborhood or social services.
- Sometimes, the person with this pathology has minors or elderly people in their care, who also is unable to attend.
How to treat Noah's syndrome? Normally, when detecting a case of Noah syndrome or an obsession with animals legally intervenes with the removal of animals. However, in many cases psychological attention is not given to the person with this accumulation problem. There is currently no protocol for psychological intervention in the face of this pathology profile, however, some indications have been described for the treatment of Noah's syndrome:
- As mentioned above, Noah's syndrome usually coexists and is the consequence of another mental pathology. Therefore, a comprehensive case evaluation, to design an intervention adapted to the specific needs and problems of the person.
- At first, the psychoeducation or explanation of the syndrome that affects the person, promoting awareness about it, understanding it, its causes and its symptoms.
- You can apply the cognitive behavioral therapy, in which use is made of the exposure techniques with response prevention (being able to be exposed to animals without the need to accumulate them), training in Techniques of breathing and relaxation for the exhibition and cognitive restructuring, by which more rational and objective thoughts and beliefs about reality are generated.
- Another useful approach is one focused on motivation, whereby the home organization and restructuring and daily routines, promoting daily order and stability.
- Education in Healthy habits, self-care and hygiene to prevent relapses and generate a beneficial lifestyle for the person.
- Social skills training so that the person can begin to socialize with people and establish social ties that prevent the isolation of the person and the need to seek affection in the accumulation of animals. The techniques of promotion of self-esteem and self-concept They are also useful to promote the effectiveness of training in social skills, and promote safety in socialization environments.
- Other models emphasize the similarities between addictive behaviors and Noah's syndrome, so it would be necessary to work on the impulse control using the technique of tolerance to discomfort of the dialectical-behavioral therapy.
- In addition to all of the above, as Noah syndrome normally coexists with other mental disorders and is a consequence of these, it will be necessary to develop a specific psychological intervention aimed at the mental pathology that the person.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Noah syndrome: what is it, causes, symptoms and treatment
