An overactive bladder, also known as urge incontinence (UI), is the inability to control the flow of urine and is associated with feeling the need or urge urinate. About 13 million Americans suffer from bladder control problems, and 11 million are women. Statistics show that one in four women, ages 30 to 59, have experienced at least one episode of urge incontinence. In addition, up to one half of nursing home residents are incontinent. Now research reports that biofeedback therapy helped older women with overactive bladders. Biofeedback uses instruments to help patients learn to control certain body functions.
The study, presented at the May 3-7, 2006 annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Chicago, investigated the effectiveness of biofeedback on treating urge incontinence in older women. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging followed 26 women, over age 60, with overactive bladders. The participants kept bladder diaries for three days. Surveys obtained from the participants asked questions about the psychological impact of bladder incontinence. For the next 12 weeks, the participants participated in biofeedback therapy to help gain control of their bladder and muscles used in urination. Following the biofeedback course, the participants kept bladder diaries for another three days and repeated the survey.
Prior to biofeedback therapy, the participants reported a significant psychological burden from incontinence. This burden appeared magnified in the participants with a history of depression. The diaries showed that all of the participants had a similar number of overactive bladder episodes.
After biofeedback therapy, all of the participants reported less overactive bladder episodes and an improvement in psychological symptoms. The participants with a history of depression experienced the greatest psychological improvement.
The researchers suggest that biofeedback therapy increased the UI patients' perception of increased control. "Biofeedback effectively reduces urge incontinence frequency and psychological burden, regardless of depression," the study authors write.
REFERENCES:
1. University of Pittsburgh Researchers Present Findings At Annual American Geriatric Society Meeting, May 3-7, University of Pittsburgh News Release, May 4, 2006: http://newsbureau.upmc.com/Medsurg5/AnnualAGS2006.htm
2. Hitti M. Biofeedback for Overactive Bladder?, WebMD, May 8, 2006:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/121/114482.htm
3. AUGS Public Relations Committee, Overactive Bladder - Urgency/urge incontinence, American Urogynecologic Society, January 2002:
http://www.augs.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=207
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on September 11, 2006 02:30 PM
