Hi, does anybody in this forum has some experience with SPACE and the treatment of potomania? I see the parents of a 5-year old little girl who is obsessed by drinking water. All medical disorders were excluded and the conclusion of the medical staff was: potomania. There is a lot of family accomodation installed to avoid the girl of drinking and to avoid all the crises when parents refuse water to the girl. Thanks for your support! Greet
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I may get in over my head here but I have a few thoughts. First since drinking water is a behavior the description of the child as obsessed with drinking is off. The child may be compulsively drinking which is also known as compulsive polydipsia. Potomania is usually associated with alcohol consumption, typically beer. Both also involve problems with low sodium. I think helping parents set up a plan where they restrict access to water, and at the same time don't accommodate the behaviors displayed when the child wants water would make sense. I have been working with OCD patients for many years and only seen one patient with compulsive water consumption.