Compulsive water drinking: a case report

In this article, it is aimed to present a 39-year-old woman with obsessive-compulsive disorder with excessive water drinking due to compulsions. This clinical condition; called as “compulsive water drinking”, “psychogenic polydipsia” and “water intoxication”. Psychogenic polydipsia which is characterized by excessive sensation of thirst and compulsive water drinking has been reported in 6-20% of patients in psychiatry clinics and most commonly seen (80%) in patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia. It can also be seen in patients with diagnosis of mental retardation, bipolar disorder, alcohol dependence, eating disorders and organic mental disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy, drug therapies such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, atypical antipsychotics and propranolol are the main treatment modalities.