A case series to pilot cognitive behaviour therapy for women with urinary incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
Psychological factors have been identified with respect to female urinary incontinence. However, there is limited research regarding psychological interventions. The effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a treatment for women with urinary incontinence was investigated.


METHODS
The study adopted an AB case series design with a follow-up phase.


METHODS
Ten women with urinary incontinence each attended individual sessions. The Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) were administered pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-months post-treatment. Participants kept weekly records of bladder functioning. An unstandardized client satisfaction questionnaire was administered at 3-months post-treatment.


RESULTS
Anxiety and depression, as measured by the HADS did not show any significant changes. Improvements in incontinence-related quality of life reached statistical significance at the post-treatment administration and were maintained at the 3-months post-treatment follow-up. Significant changes in bladder functioning were not apparent until the 3-month post-treatment follow-up. The satisfaction questionnaires suggest that the participants found the intervention of value.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study tentatively suggest that incontinence-related quality of life might be improved by involvement in a CBT intervention. Some modest improvements occurred in bladder functioning. Further research is required to confirm these findings.
Garley
Ailyn
A
Lancashire Care NHS Trust, UK. ailyn.garley@lancashirecare.nhs.uk
Unwin
Jennifer
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*