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Polydipsia in Chronic Psychiatric Patients

Body Weight and Plasma Sodium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Nicholas J. Delva  and
John L. Crammer
Nicholas J. Delva*
Affiliation:
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
John L. Crammer
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Eight chronic psychiatric in-patients with polydipsia, and polyuria, up to 22 litres per 24 hours, were studied by frequent timed body weight and urine volume measurements, and episodic plasma electrolyte estimations. During the day they all showed irregular water retention, with hyponatremia in proportion to the weight gain. During the night they always lost water and weight, returning to their individual lowest weights and to normal plasma sodium. Measurement of weight in chronic psychiatric patients can be used to identify patients with significant polydipsia, to monitor those with the disorder and permit targeted fluid restriction, and to assess the efficacy of treatment procedures such as medication.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 2 , February 1988 , pp. 242 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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