Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2025

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

A Mouse Model of Subchronic and Mild Social Defeat Stress for Understanding Stress-induced Behavioral and Physiological Deficits

Published on: November 24, 2015

Polydipsia and autistic traits in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Hiroshi Komatsu^1,2,3, Takashi Ono³, Yuji Onouchi³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan.

Frontiers in Psychiatry

|July 24, 2023

Abstract

Introduction:

Polydipsia, prevalent in 6%-20% of patients with schizophrenia, results in seclusion and prolonged hospitalization. It is also observed in autistic individuals, with previous studies reporting that autism accounted for 20% of all hospitalized patients with polydipsia. The current study investigated the association between polydipsia and autistic traits in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) based on the hypothesis that higher autistic traits would be observed in schizophrenic patients with polydipsia.

Methods:

In the first study (study A), the autism-spectrum quotient [(AQ); Japanese version] scores of long-stay inpatients with and without polydipsia were compared. Furthermore, the association between polydipsia and autistic traits was also examined in short-stay inpatients and outpatients with SSDs (study B).

Results:

Study A showed that patients with polydipsia scored significantly higher on the three AQ subscales (attention switching; communication; and imagination) compared to those without. Study B also showed that patients with polydipsia had significantly higher AQ scores overall and for several subscales compared to those without polydipsia. Binary logistic regression analysis of the combined sample showed that male gender and higher autistic traits were significant predictors of polydipsia.

Discussion:

The study highlights the importance of focusing on such traits to understand the pathogenesis of polydipsia in SSD patients.

Keywords:

autism-spectrum quotient autistic traits male gender polydipsia schizophrenia spectrum disorder

More Related Videos

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra

Published on: September 8, 2021

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...

Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Posttraumatic Stress Dynamics and 15-Year Persistence in Great East Japan Earthquake Survivors.

JAMA network open·2026

Possible Contribution of Multiple Sclerosis Pathology to Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A Case Study.

Neuropsychopharmacology reports·2026

Associations of neurodevelopmental traits and adverse childhood experiences with problem gambling: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2026

Hippocampal Structural Changes and Antipsychotic Medication in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal MRI Studies Highlighting Current Evidence Gaps.

Current neuropharmacology·2026

Region-specific dysregulation of proline metabolic enzymes underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in the postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia.

Journal of psychiatric research·2026

Autistic symptoms in early psychosis are associated with mean diffusivity-dominant alterations in white matter tracts implicated in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.

Asian journal of psychiatry·2026

See all related articles