Polydipsia, hyponatremia, and seizures in psychotic patients

Case histories are presented for four psychotic patients who ingested large quantities of water and subsequently developed grand mal seizures and serum sodium levels of less than 121 meq/liter. The physiology of psychogenic polydipsia and related disorders is reviewed. The relation of this disorder to temporal lobe seizures and to the use of phenothiazines is considered.