Antecedents of self-induced water intoxication. A preliminary report.

Although more and more case reports of self-induced water intoxication are published each year, we do not know yet what induces certain psychiatric patients to drink water in excess, and why only some of them develop water intoxication. This report, based on 13 patients who had 21 episodes of self-induced water intoxication, is an attempt to explore the characteristics of the patient population at risk for this malady. The role of psychosis, psychotropic drugs, electroconvulsive therapy, and the possible predilection of Caucasians, should be tested in a larger patient population before any firm conclusions can be drawn.