Master Central Diabetes Insipidus with Picmonic for Medicine

Diabetes insipidus is a problem with vasopressin/ADH levels. For central diabetes insipidus, there is a deficiency in ADH because the posterior pituitary has a problem producing and releasing ADH.

This disorder has an increase in serum osmolality. While there is no change in urine osmolality when water is restricted, urine osmolality is more than 50% increased when desmopressin (an analog of anti-diuretic hormone) is given.

Psychiatric disorders are associated with the development of central diabetes insipidus. Examples can include head injury, infection, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Secondary causes of this disorder also include brain injuries, which can result from surgery, tumors, hypoxia, and infiltrative lesions.

Desmopressin is a synthetic ADH analog that can be administered as a treatment.