Psychogenic polydipsia
excessive thirst and compulsive water drinking.
Signs and symptoms of psychogenic polydipsia include
- Excessive thirst and xerostomia, leading to overconsumption of water
- Hyponatraemia, causing headache, muscular weakness, twitching, confusion, vomiting, irritability etc., although this is only seen in 20–30% of cases.
- Hypervolemia, leading to oedema, hypertension and weight gain in extreme episodes
- Tonic-clonic seizure
- Behavioural changes, including fluid-seeking behaviour; patients have been known to seek fluids from any available source, such as toilets and shower rooms.