Rhabdomyolysis due to polydipsia in a patient with psychotic disorder

Abstract

Polydipsia is a frequent clinical entity in psychiatric patients, especially in those with a psychotic disorder. Acute epidodes of polydipsia can produce important metabolic alterations and even coma and death. Psychogenic polydipsia is a underestimated diagnosis, due to multiple causal factors and an etiology that has not been clearly established. We present the case of a patient with psychiatric background who was seen due to a clinical situation of severe acute renal failure by high rhabdomyolysis that needed hemodialysis, due to acute polydipsia. We also review some of the epidemiological and clinical factors and etiopathogeny of the polydipsia. It is considered necessary to ke ep in mind the diagnosis of polydipsia in any psychiatri c patient showing acute symptoms of confusion.