Psychogenic polydipsia

Last reviewed: 24 Aug 2023

Last updated: 28 Sep 2022

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.

Management includes fluid restriction and behavioral and pharmacologic therapy. Serum sodium should be vigilantly and frequently monitored, with judicious use of hypertonic saline to treat symptomatic or severe hyponatremia.

Definition

Polydipsia is excessive or abnormal thirst, accompanied by intake of excessive quantities of water or fluid. Psychogenic polydipsia (PPD), also known as primary polydipsia, is characterized by excessive volitional water intake and is often seen in patients with psychiatric disorders and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. There may be no physical effects, but hyponatremia can occur.

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

medical history of psychiatric disorder or neurodevelopmental disorder
water-seeking and drinking

More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

agitation
polyuria
headache
nausea or vomiting
lethargy or confusion
seizures, delirium, or coma

Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

psychiatric disorders
neurodevelopmental disorders
smoking
alcohol abuse

More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

plasma osmolality
urine osmolality
urine sodium
serum sodium
24-hour urine volume
urinalysis
serum BUN
water restriction test

More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

vasopressin test
plasma antidiuretic hormone

More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

severe hyponatremia (<125 mEq/L) or with neurologic symptoms

hyponatremia (125-130 mEq/L) or with GI symptoms

ONGOING

chronic polydipsia

Contributors

Authors

Shilpa Srinivasan, MD, DFAPA, DFAAGP

Vice Chair, Medical Staff Affairs, Behavioral Health Midlands, Prisma Health

Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Program Director: Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship

Director: Psychiatry Acting Internship and M4 Clerkship

Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science

Prisma Health - University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia

Columbia

Disclosures

SS is a board member of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and serves on the Geriatric Psychiatry Exam Committee for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Meera Narasimhan, MD, DFAPA

Professor and Chair

Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science

Senior Medical Director

Prisma Health

Special Advisor to University of South Carolina President

Health Innovations and Economic Development

University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia

Columbia

Disclosures

MN is a member of an advisory board for Alkermes.

Acknowledgements

Dr Shilpa Srinivasan and Dr Meera Narasimhan would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Emily Williams and Dr Brian Dundas, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

EW declares that she has no competing interests. BD is an author of one of the references for this topic.

Peer reviewers

Branimir Margetić, MD

Neuropsychiatric Hospital "Dr Ivan Barbot"

Popovaca

Croatia

Disclosures

BM is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Aaron Pinkhasov, MD, DFAPA, FACLP

Chairman

Department Of Psychiatry

NYU Langone Hospital

Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine

NYU Long Island School of Medicine

Long Island

Disclosures

AP declares that he has no competing interests.

Richard C Millson, MD, DTM&H, FRCPC

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Queen's University

Kingston

Ontario

Canada

Disclosures

RCM declares that he has no competing interests. He is the author of some of the references cited in this topic.

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Psychogenic polydipsia

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

severe hyponatremia (<125 mEq/L) or with neurologic symptoms

hyponatremia (125-130 mEq/L) or with GI symptoms

chronic polydipsia

Contributors

Authors

Shilpa Srinivasan, MD, DFAPA, DFAAGP

Disclosures

Meera Narasimhan, MD, DFAPA

Disclosures

Acknowledgements

Disclosures

Peer reviewers

Branimir Margetić, MD

Disclosures

Aaron Pinkhasov, MD, DFAPA, FACLP

Disclosures

Richard C Millson, MD, DTM&H, FRCPC

Disclosures

Differentials

Patient leaflets

Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

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