Do electrolyte-containing beverages improve water imbalance in hyponatremic schizophrenics ?

Background: To determine if ready access to a sodium-containing beverage ameliorates life-threatening water imbalance, we compared Gatorade to water in an ABA design. Method: Four male chronic schizophrenic inpatients with symptomatic hyponatremia drank water for 1 week, Gatorade plus water for 3 weeks, and then water again for 1 week. Afternoon plasma osmolality and morning serum sodium levels were used to estimate hydration status, and morning and afternoon urine creatinine concentrations were used to estimate fluid intake. Results: During the baseline phase, subjects were mildly polydipsic and mildly overhydrated in the morning and severely overhydrated in the afternoon