Behavioral and medical treatment of chronic polydipsia in a patient with schizophrenia and diabetes insipidus.
OBJECTIVE
This case report describes a novel outpatient behavioral treatment intervention for chronic polydipsia. The program was used in an effort to reduce excessive fluid intake in a woman with chronic paranoid-type schizophrenia who also had a diagnosis of diabetes insipidus.


METHODS
The 12-session individual behavioral intervention incorporated self-monitoring, stimulus control, coping skills training, and reinforcement components.


RESULTS
The patient engaged fully in the treatment program, and she successfully restricted her fluid intake. Her diabetes insipidus could therefore be treated with desmopressin, a medication that requires fluid restriction, and she experienced a concomitant reduction in polyuria and urinary incontinence.


CONCLUSIONS
The outpatient behavioral intervention demonstrated promising outcomes in a chronically mentally ill patient whose polydipsia had underlying psychogenic and physiological components. This case highlights the efficacy of combining behavioral and medical interventions.
Costanzo
Erin S
ES
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Antes
Lisa M
LM
Christensen
Alan J
AJ
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012076:Renal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D012076:Renal Agents; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin