Behavioral treatment of adipsia in a child with hypothalamic injury.

Damage to the hypothalamic region is known to affect a wide range of homeostatic and adaptive functions, including water and food regulation, temperature control, hormone secretion and behavior. Deficient thirst is a serious consequence of hypothalamic injury, since water losses are not replaced by drinking. The effectiveness of behavioral procedures in increasing drinking is described for a child with diminished thirst secondary to hypothalamic injury.