Compulsive polydipsia presenting as diabetes insipidus: a behavioral approach.

Although compulsive polydipsia or self-induced water intoxication is known to occur with a relatively high frequency in psychiatric patients, much of the literature has focused on medication treatment and interactions; little has been written describing alternative methods of intervention. This paper describes an inpatient treatment using both EMG biofeedback and response prevention. The relationship between compulsive appetitive behaviors and more classic presentations is discussed. Because the patient was treated on the endocrine service, the importance of adequately training non-psychiatric staff is emphasized. It is suggested that this may be a model for the behavioral management of psychiatric problems on medical/surgical wards.