Psychogenic polydipsia - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Psychogenic polydipsia is commonly encountered in patients with psychiatric disorders, particularly in those with schizophrenia.
Patients present with water-seeking and excessive drinking, sometimes accompanied by hyponatremia and water intoxication.
Neuropsychiatric manifestations of hyponatremia include headache, nausea, cramping, hyporeflexia, dysarthric speech, lethargy, confusion, seizures, and delirium. Coma and sudden death can ensue.
Complications of psychogenic polydipsia include incontinence and enuresis, bladder dilation and hydronephrosis, renal and congestive heart failure, and osteoporosis and associated pathologic fractures.
Diagnosis is one of exclusion. Other medical causes of polydipsia, polyuria, and/or hyponatremia need to be ruled out.

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Citations

Key Articles

Ahmadi L, Goldman MB. Primary polydipsia: update. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Sep;34(5):101469.[Abstract][Full Text]
Sterns RH. Disorders of plasma sodium - causes, consequences, and correction. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jan 1;372(1):55-65.[Abstract]

Referenced Articles

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