The “Mini-Mental State” Examination in the Syndrome of Self-Induced Water Intoxication and Schizophrenic Disorders (SIWIS): A Pilot Study

Abstract

A quantitative assessment of cognitive state (Folstein's “mini-mental state” scores) was correlated with serum sodium concentration in four patients with the syndrome of self-induced water intoxication and schizophrenic disorders (SIWIS). Diagnostic studies that demonstrated inappropriate antidiuresis in these patients are reported also. Neither absolute serum sodium concentrations nor their daily changes correlated significantly ( p > .05) with the cognitive state of any patient. The authors conclude that serial laboratory determinations of serum electrolytes remains the only satisfactory method of monitoring body tonicity in SIWIS patients.