Effective and Cheap Behavioral Modification Therapy to Manage Complicated Polydipsia and Seizures in a Chronic Mental Health Institute

Polydipsia is one of the most serious and complicated problems causing morbidity and mortality in chronic mental health institutes. The pathophysiology of polydipsia in chronic schizophrenia remains unclear; as a result, no effective methods exist to deal with this serious problem. This report describes a patient with schizophrenia with polydipsia and seizures who benefitted from a behavioral modification program at a chronic mental health institute.

A 56-year-old schizophrenic man did not have a history of physical illnesses or seizures and developed seizures following polydipsia. Despite drug adjustment, his polydipsia was uncontrolled and he suffered from generalized tonic convulsions. After introducing a "water restriction program," his polydipsia and seizures were controlled.

The "water restriction program" consisted of daily body weight monitoring and frequent checking of electrolyte data, both of which are inexpensive and simple. This program can be carried out by untrained nursing staff, who are the primary caregivers in chronic mental health institutes. Our case highlights an effective and inexpensive behavior modification program to deal with the difficult and complicated problems of polydipsia and seizures in chronic mental health institutes.