Past Issues

Objective: We report a case of chronic schizophrenia with polydipsia, which remitted after antipsychotic treatment was shifted to quetiapine. Case report: This 30-year-old schizophrenic man had a 10-year history of psychotic symptoms which were regularly treated with conventional antipsychotics. He was admitted to the acute ward due to disorganized behaviors and water intoxication. His condition had not improved despite nonpharmacological treatments including water restriction and drinking behavior education. After four weeks of non-responsiveness to fl uphethixol (9-15mg/d) treatment, the medication was changed to quetiapine 400 mg/d. His polydipsia was almost completely remitted two weeks later. The patient did not have any relapse of polydipsia or psychotic symptoms during six months of follow-up. Discussion: Quetiapine is characterized by a fast dissociation mechanism and may not induce D2 receptor hypersensitivity or polydipsia. This suggests its suitability as a possible candidate for the treatment of schizophrenic patients with polydipsia.