ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to assess olfactory function in severely polydipsic/hyponatremic patients with schizophrenia who also had intermittent water intoxication. METHODS: The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and an olfactory acuity battery were administered to three groups of male subjects: 9 patients with schizophrenia and severe polydipsia/hyponatremia, 9 control nonpolydipsic/normonatremic patients with schizophrenia, and 9 normal controls. RESULTS: Male patients with severe polydipsia/hyponatremia and intermittent water intoxication had marked olfactory acuity and identification deficits when compared to the patient control group of similar age and age at illness onset, and to normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of deficient acuity (detection threshold) in the polydipsic/hyponatremic group but not the nonpolydipsic, normonatremic group suggests that for this subgroup, abnormalities of olfactory sensory function may occur in a pattern previously reported for other brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Subject(s)
Drinking Behavior , Olfaction Disorders/complications , Schizophrenic Psychology , 1-Butanol , Adult , Humans , Hyponatremia/etiology , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
We collected daily urine volumes (DUV) from 24 nonpolydipsic psychiatric patients and eight polydipsic schizophrenic patients. At 7 AM and 4 PM, we collected spot urine samples and measured urine creatinine concentration (UCr). Using morning weight and the UCr measurements, we compared actual DUV with estimated DUV using 3 methods to estimate DUV currently available in the literature. Each method of estimating DUV was superior among the polydipsic patients compared with the nonpolydipsic patients. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of trying to estimate DUV in psychiatric patients. One method was simple but less accurate. The two remaining methods gave similar results but one method was substantially easier to use than the other.
Subject(s)
Behavioral Symptoms/diagnosis , Drinking Behavior , Polyuria/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/complications , Water Intoxication/prevention & control , Antimanic Agents/adverse effects , Body Weight , Case-Control Studies , Circadian Rhythm , Creatinine/urine , Drinking/physiology , Drinking Behavior/classification , Humans , Lithium/adverse effects , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Monitoring, Physiologic/standards , Polyuria/etiology , Reproducibility of Results , UrineABSTRACT
The authors conducted a controlled, prospective 4-month study of 10 male inpatients with chronic schizophrenia and polydipsia. The five men who were treated with group psychotherapy drank significantly less fluid than the five men not given this therapy. The effect of group psychotherapy quickly dissipated in the follow-up period, indicating the need for ongoing treatment.
Subject(s)
Psychotherapy, Group , Schizophrenic Psychology , Water Intoxication/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Body Weight , Drinking , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Prospective Studies , Schizophrenia/therapy , Water Intoxication/psychologyABSTRACT
Twenty male chronic schizophrenics suffering from self-induced water intoxication were administered a 15 item questionnaire to assess their understanding of and attitudes toward drinking fluids. Eighty-five percent stated they drank excessive amounts of fluids in order to feel better. These findings have implications for the treatment of patients with this disorder.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Drinking , Schizophrenic Psychology , Water Intoxication/psychology , Data Collection , Humans , Male , Motivation , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Schizophrenia/therapy , Water Intoxication/etiologySubject(s)
Clozapine/adverse effects , Drug Eruptions/etiology , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adult , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Ascorbic Acid/adverse effects , Clozapine/therapeutic use , Drug Interactions , Humans , Male , Niacin/administration & dosage , Niacin/adverse effects , Tryptophan/administration & dosage , Tryptophan/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Eight men with chronic schizophrenia and self-induced water intoxication showed marked individual differences in their serum sodium levels. The severity of the intoxication symptoms reflected the amount and speed of change in sodium levels rather than the absolute sodium values.
Subject(s)
Schizophrenia/blood , Schizophrenic Psychology , Sodium/blood , Water Intoxication/blood , Adult , Circadian Rhythm , Drinking , Humans , Hyponatremia/diagnosis , Hyponatremia/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Schizophrenia/complications , Water Intoxication/complications , Water Intoxication/diagnosis , Weight GainSubject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Drinking , Schizophrenia/therapy , Schizophrenic Psychology , HumansABSTRACT
According to Feighner criteria, alcohol abuse was significantly more common among 17 schizophrenic male inpatients with self-induced water intoxication than among 17 matched schizophrenic control inpatients. The alcohol abuse had begun 8-22 years before the diagnosis of water intoxication.
