title: Treatment of an abnormal avoidance of fluid consumption.
abstract: Adipsia is an uncommon, life-threatening condition which refers to an absence of thirst or an abnormal avoidance of fluid consumption. A behavioral intervention was successfully used in the treatment of severe adipsia in a multi-handicapped adolescent whose water intake was almost entirely limited to the water content of the foods he consumed. Using edible reinforcement and a set of commercial measuring utensils (from 1/4 teaspoon to 1 cup), milk consumption was established through a behavior shaping regimen. Follow-up results over 1 year indicated that the behavioral progress was maintained, problems with dehydration were eliminated, and stimulus generalization to several other fluids occurred.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D004326:Drinking; D005795:Generalization, Stimulus; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male