Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2009 Dec;16(4):246-255.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Polydipsia and Water Intoxication in Psychiatric Inpatients

• Cho AH
• Cho YS
• Roh J

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aims of this study are to estimate the prevalence of polydipsia and water intoxication and to identify risk factors of polydipsia and water intoxication in psychiatric inpatient.
METHODS
1,108 Psychiatric inpatients at 2 mental hospitals in Yongin city were studied from September, 2008 to January, 2009. We diagnosed'polydipsia' using staff reports(fluid intake>3L/day) or by specific gravity of urine(SPGU<1.008) and diagnosed'at risk for water intoxication' using normalized diurnal weight gain (NDWG>4%). We attempted to identify clinical characteristics of patients by reviewing their medical records.
RESULTS
Two hundred forty seven patients(22.3%) were polydipsic. Sixty eight patients(6.1%) were at risk for water intoxication. The factors associated with polydipsia were lithium, smoking, younger age and increased smoking amounts. The factors associated with risk for water intoxication were valproic acid and polydipsia.
CONCLUSION
Polydipsia and water intoxication in psychiatric inpatients are not rare conditions. Therefore, clinicians' attention should be paid to these conditions.

Keyword

Polydipsia; Water intoxication; Prevalence; Psychiatric inpatient; Risk

MeSH Terms

Hospitals, Psychiatric
Humans
Inpatients
Lithium
Polydipsia
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Specific Gravity
Valproic Acid
Water Intoxication
Weight Gain
Lithium
Smoke
Valproic Acid