UROPSYCHIATRY: The Relationship Between Overactive Bladder and Psychiatric Disorders

Systematic review exploring the relationship between sexual abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) may report a history of sexual abuse (SA), and survivors of SA may report LUTS; however, the nature of the relationship is poorly understood. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate studies that explore LUT dysfunction in survivors of SA.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of six databases, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, and PsycINFO, was performed. The last search date was June 2021 (PROSPERO CRD42019122080). Studies reporting the prevalence and symptoms of LUTS in patients who have experienced SA were included. The literature was appraised according to the PRISMA statement. The quality of the studies was assessed.

RESULTS

Out of 272 papers retrieved, 18 publications met the inclusion criteria: studies exploring LUTS in SA survivors (n=2), SA in patients attending clinics for their LUTs (n=8), and cross-sectional studies (n=8). SA prevalence ranged between 1.3% and 49.6%. A history of SA was associated with psychosocial stressors, depression, and anxiety. LUTS included urinary storage symptoms, voiding difficulties, voluntary holding of urine and urinary tract infections. Most studies were of moderate quality. Assessment of SA and LUTS lacked standardisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The review highlights the need for a holistic assessment of patients presenting with LUTS. Although most of the studies were rated as being of 'moderate' quality, the evidence suggests the need to provide a "safe space" in clinic for patients to share sensitive information about trauma. Any such disclosure should be followed up with further assessment.

Association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) in women: A study based on urodynamic findings and micturition problem

AIM

This study focused on women with chronic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who simultaneously suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to evaluate the association between micturition abnormality and OCD.

METHODS

A cohort case study was conducted on 128 women with chronic LUTS who visited the academic clinic from 2012 to 2018. The participants with a history of OCD were grouped together, whereas the other group consisted of those with no psychiatric issues. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and also the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and χ² tests.

RESULTS

The participants with OCD had a lower mean age (41.7 vs. 48.8 years) and longer symptom duration than the control group. Moreover, voiding phase problems were more prevalent among OCD patients (mean voiding score: 9.3 vs. 6.9). Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) was the most common type of urinary incontinence in OCD patients, and the most important urodynamic study finding was bladder outlet obstruction (45% and 17% in the OCD and control groups, respectively). Voiding disorders resulted in chronic renal failure in two patients (3.12%). It was shown that bladder outlet obstruction (odds ratio (OR) 4.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53-12.78, p = 0.006] was the strongest predictor of OCD and stress urinary incontinence (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07-0.53, p < 0.001) was the best protector against OCD.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that chronic LUTS was related to voiding dysfunction and urodynamic abnormality in OCD patients. These disorders may be categorized as somatoform disorder that requires appropriate treatments.

Predictive Factors in Sacral Neuromodulation: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an effective treatment in patients with overactive bladder syndrome or nonobstructive urinary retention when conservative treatment fails. Several factors that could impact outcome with SNM have been studied. This systematic review investigated these predictive factors and their relevance for clinical practice.

METHODS

Systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. This review is registered in the PROSPERO register (CRD42015016256).

RESULTS

Seventy-eight studies (of which 11 abstracts) were included. Females, younger patients, and a tined lead procedure tend to be predictive in successful SNM outcome. Factors that did not influence SNM outcome were prior back surgery, surgery for stress urinary incontinence, affective symptoms, and duration of complaints. Reduced detrusor contractility is associated with a lower success rate. The level of evidence of most studies (graded according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine) was 3b.

CONCLUSION

Even though this systematic review investigated predictive factors (gender, age, type of procedure, type of lead, and detrusor contractility), no general consensus on predictive factors could be made. Most studies are small, retrospective, and involve a heterogeneous population. Therefore, prospective research in larger specific patient groups remains necessary to find predictors of SNM outcome.