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Water intoxication in depression: a case report.

V P Mahla¹, V Trehan, D K Puri

¹Registrar, Deptt. of Psychiatry, Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak-1240 001.

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

|September 20, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A patient with psychotic depression developed a grand mal seizure after drinking excessive water, leading to dangerously low serum sodium levels. This case highlights psychogenic polydipsia and its potential links to psychiatric medications.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Endocrinology
Psychiatry

Background:

Psychotic depression is a severe mental health condition characterized by psychosis and depressive symptoms.
Psychogenic polydipsia involves excessive water intake, often seen in psychiatric patients.
Hyponatremia, or low serum sodium, can result from polydipsia and lead to neurological complications.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a case of psychotic depression with severe hyponatremia due to psychogenic polydipsia.
To review the pathophysiology of psychogenic polydipsia and related water-intoxication disorders.
To explore the potential association between psychogenic polydipsia, hyponatremia, and psychotropic medications.

Main Methods:

Case report of a patient diagnosed with psychotic depression.
Analysis of clinical presentation, including excessive water intake and grand mal seizure.
Measurement of serum sodium levels and review of relevant physiological mechanisms.

Main Results:

The patient presented with a grand mal seizure.
Serum sodium levels were found to be critically low (<121 meq/L).
The clinical picture was consistent with water intoxication secondary to psychogenic polydipsia.

Conclusions:

Psychogenic polydipsia can lead to life-threatening hyponatremia in patients with psychotic depression.
Clinicians should consider water intoxication in patients with psychotic depression exhibiting altered mental status or seizures.
The role of phenothiazines and antidepressants in exacerbating or causing polydipsia warrants further investigation.