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The Medical and Psychological Investigation of Psychogenic Polydipsia: A Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. Kulkarni
Affiliation:
Prince Henry's Hospital
R. McLachlan
Affiliation:
Prince Henry's Hospital
D. Copolov*
Affiliation:
Monash University, Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Visiting Clinical Scientist, MRC Brain Metabolism Unit, Edinburgh
*
Reprint requests: Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia.

Summary

The case of a 17 year-old female with psychogenic polydipsia is reported; 13 out of 18 members of her maternal family were known to have had polydipsia and polyuria, but only two had undergone endocrine investigations—one had diabetes insipidus and one also had psychogenic polydipsia. There are probable contributions of non-genetic family factors including imitation and identification to the development of this patient's condition. Detailed family and developmental histories may be of particular assistance in the understanding of the psychogenesis of the disorder in some patients.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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