Water intoxication, psychosis, and inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

A review of the literature and the three presented cases indicate that multiple factors are often involved in the development of water intoxication in the psychotic. Although the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormones (SIADH) is one of these factors, it is usually associated with other causes of the SIADH. Evidence is lacking that the SIADH is an essential feature of a psychotic illness.