Abnormal diurnal weight gain among chronically psychotic patients compared to a control population

The link between fluid intake and weight gain in psychosis

Diurnal weight gain was found to be abnormal among 44 of 77 institutionalized chronically psychotic patients. All patients were weighed and urine samples obtained weekly for 3 weeks at 7 A.M. and 4 P.M. Diurnal weight gain was normalized as a percentage by subtracting the 7 A.M. weight from the 4 P.M. weight, multiplying the difference by 100, and then dividing the result by the 7 A.M. weight. Normalized diurnal weight gain (NDWG) was 2.504 +/- 1.266% for the 44 study patients with abnormal findings, .631 +/- .405% for the 16 acutely psychotic controls, and .511 +/- .351% for 29 normals. Urine excretion was related (r = .476, p = .001) to NDWG in the subgroup of study patients with abnormal NDWG, consistent with the observation that their fluid intake exceeded fluid excretion in the afternoon.

Seasonal stability of water balance among schizophrenic patients subject to water intoxication

1. Diurnal weight gain, afternoon hyponatremia, and polyuria were assessed for one year among eight male schizophrenics subject to water intoxication. 2. The authors normalized the diurnal weight gain (NDWG) as a percentage by subtracting the 7 a.m. weight from the 4 p.m. Weight, multiplying the difference by 100, and then dividing the result by the 7 a.m. weight. 3. NDWG ranged between 2.69 +/- .99 and 3.34 +/- 1.32 percent (F [3, 5] = .885, p = .509) during the four seasons of the year. 4. The seasonal decrease in afternoon serum sodium compared to its morning counterpart ranged between 4.23 +/- 1.96 and 6.14 +/- 2.82 mmol/l (F [3, 5] = 2.212, p = .205). 5. Seasonal polyuria ranged between 8.2 +/- 3.5 and 8.8 +/- 3.2 liters (F [3, 5] = .228, p = .873). 6. Among schizophrenics subject to water intoxication, the seasonal stability in our three parameters of water imbalance suggest they may be used to follow patients with altered water homeostasis over time. This finding has both clinical and research implications.

Survey of diurnal weight gain and urine volume in chronic schizophrenia

We found diurnal weight gain to be abnormal among 39 chronic schizophrenic patients. The patients were weighed and urine samples obtained weekly for three weeks at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. We normalized the dirunal weight gain (NDWG) as a percentage by subtracting the 7 a.m. weight from the 4 p.m. weight, multiplying the difference by 100, and then dividing the result by the 7 a.m. weight. NDWG was 2.075 +/- 1.331% for the 38 study patients, .631 +/- .405% for 16 acutely psychotic controls and .511 +/- .351% for 29 normals. Seventy-seven percent of the study patients had abnormal NDWG values and 62% were polyuric. NDWG related to urine volume (n = 39, r = .356, p = .026) with the variability in urine excretion explaining 13% of the variability in NDWG. We discuss factors that may have contributed to our findings.

Lithium, polyuria and abnormal diurnal weight gain in psychosis

We evaluated diurnal weight gain and polyuria among 31 institutionalized chronically psychotic patients receiving lithium and 42 controls not receiving this drug. The patients were weighed weekly for three weeks at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. We normalized the diurnal weight gain (NDWG) as a percentage by subtracting the 7 a.m. weight from the 4 p.m. weight, multiplying the difference by 100, and then dividing the result by the 7 a.m. weight. Polyuria was assessed using mean urine creatinine concentration (MUCR). NDWG was abnormal among study patients (1.9 +/- 1.2%) and controls (1.6 +/- 1.5%) independent of lithium treatment. The variation in MUCR explained about 20% of the variation in NDWG in both groups.

Similarity of patterns of urine excretion among nonpolyuric and polyuric patients with thought disorders

From a study population of 29 institutionalized chronically psychotic patients, 70% of whom had schizophrenic or schizoaffective disorders, nonpolyuric and polyuric patients had similar diurnal patterns of urine excretion. Patients excreted a larger portion of daily urine volume after noon (55%) than before noon (45%).