Polydipsia and water intoxication in 353 psychiatric inpatients: an epidemiological and psychopathological study

Introduction - According to several authors, water intoxication can lead to irreversible brain damage and could be the cause of nearly a fifth of the deaths of schizophrenic patients below the age of 53 years. The aim of our study was first to determine the prevalence of polydipsia and water intoxic ation in a population of psychiatric inpatients of a well-defined French ge ographic area (the Somme), and secondly to determine the clinical and socio -demographic factors associated with this disorder. Method - A cross-sectional survey was done on the 450 psychiatric beds whos e catchment area had a total population of 559,429 inhabitants. Using staff reports and patients' charts, the drinking habits of 353 psychiatric inpat ients hospitalised during the survey in the 450 psychiatric beds of this ar ea were examined. Results - Thirty-eight patients (10.76%; 95% confidence interval: 7.53-13.9 9%) among the 353 inpatients were polydipsic. About one-third of these pati ents were at risk of water intoxication. Polydipsia appeared to be signific antly associated with male gender, smoking, celibacy and chronicity. The po lydipsic patients presented also a high prevalence of schizophrenia, mental retardation, pervasive developmental disorders and high frequency of somat ic disorders. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.