Cognitive and psychosocial functioning of patients with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Mental retardation (MR) is generally considered one of the main complications of congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). However, psychometric studies of NDI patients are scarce and outdated. In the present study, 17 male NDI patients underwent psychological evaluation. Total intelligence quotient of 14 patients was within (n = 13) or above (n = 1) the normal range, 1 patient had an intelligence score between -1 and -2 standard deviations (S.D.) and 2 young patients had a general cognitive index more than 2 S.D. below the norm. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder criteria were met by 8 out of 17 patients and scores on short-term memory were low in 7 out of 10. No relation between test performances and age at diagnosis or hypernatremia could be found, with the exception of a negative correlation between age at start of therapy and verbal IQ in one age group. Although several explanations for an association between MR and NDI can be postulated, it seems that the current prevalence of MR among patients with this disease is considerably lower than suggested in literature.