Multisubstance Intoxication Among Schizophrenic Inpatients: Reply to Hyde

The authors describe intoxicationrelated behavior patterns observed among 89 chronic schizophrenic inpatients over a 5-year period. These include caffeine intoxication, water intoxication, antihistamine intoxication, nicotine withdrawal, voluntary hyperventilation, and ingestion of deodorants and aerosols. Affected patients tended to abuse multiple substances in the hospital, to have generalized polydipsia, and to have histories of drug or alcohol abuse before hospitalization. Periodic intoxication in this population may be an important contributor to the refractoriness of their psychotic symptoms.