Environmental dependency syndrome explained

Environmental dependency syndrome,^[1] also called Zelig syndrome or Zelig-like syndrome from the name of the protagonist of Woody Allen's Zelig,^[2] is a syndrome where the affected individual relies on environmental cues in order to accomplish goals or tasks. It is a disorder in personal autonomy that is influenced by individual psychological traits and can be helped through the intervention of other people. For example, adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have relied on special coaches to provide cues at appropriate times, helping them to make decisions about how to prioritize and order tasks.

Further reading

• Lhermitte . François . April 1986 . Human autonomy and the frontal lobes. Part II: Patient behavior in complex and social situations: The "environmental dependency syndrome" . . . 19 . 4 . 335–343 . 10.1002/ana.410190405 . 3707085 . 46441945 . 115674543.
• Conchiglia . Giovannina . Della Rocca . Gennaro . Grossi . Dario . On a peculiar environmental dependency syndrome in a case with frontal-temporal damage: Zelig-like syndrome . . . February 2007 . 13 . 1 . 1–5 . 10.1080/13554790601160558 . 17454683 . 38921674 . 6894822464.

Notes and References

1. Book: The human frontal lobes. Functions and disorders . . 2007 . 978-1-593-85329-7 . Miller, Bruce L. . 2nd, illustrated, revised . New York City . Cummings, Jeffrey L. . Jeffrey Cummings.
2. Karlinsky . Harry . Zelig: Woody Allen's classic film continues to impact the world of psychiatry [Zelig syndrome or Zelig-like syndrome] | journal=Canadian Psychiatric Association | date=October 2007 | volume=3 | issue=5 | url=http://publications.cpa-apc.org/browse/documents/265 | orig-date=1983 | accessdate=3 January 2017 | url-status=bot: unknown | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130815142012/http://publications.cpa-apc.org/browse/documents/265 | archivedate=15 August 2013 .