Compulsive Water Drinking

The psychiatric literature contains little about compulsive water drinkers, although most of them are believed by internists to have significant psychiatric disease. The medical literature is reviewed to identify cases of compulsive water drinking and to assign each into the appropriate psychiatric diagnostic category. The youngest case of compulsive water drinking to date is reported. His psychiatric diagnosis was unclear until he manifested clear-cut evidence for self-induced water intoxication, thus suggesting significant functional impairment. Clinical course confirmed a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Methods used in diagnosing an acute organic brain syndrome secondary to self-induced water intoxication are discussed.