The short- and long-term effects of simple behavioral interventions for nocturnal enuresis in young children: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the short- and long-term effects of 3 simple behavioral interventions to overcome nocturnal enuresis in young children.


METHODS
We performed a randomized controlled trial in children aged four to five years with mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis (n = 570). The children were placed in one of four groups: (1) lifting to urinate and ask for a password; (2) the same as group 1, without a password; (3) using a reward system; or (4) a control group. Each participant was asked to carry out the appointed intervention for 6 months or until 14 consecutive dry nights occurred, which was the continence criterion. A follow-up was performed approximately 3 years after the study.


RESULTS
After 6 months, lifting the child to the toilet without the use of a password was the only intervention that resulted in significantly more dry children (37%) than the control group (21%). Three years later, both lifting groups had the highest (78%) and the control group the lowest (69%) percentage of dry children.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention lifting to urinate without the use of a password leads to more dry children compared with no active treatment in children aged 4 to 5 years with nocturnal enuresis.
van Dommelen
Paula
P
TNO Quality of Life, Department of Statistics, Leiden, The Netherlands. Paula.vanDommelen@tno.nl
Kamphuis
Mascha
M
van Leerdam
Frank J M
FJ
de Wilde
Jeroen A
JA
Rijpstra
Ab
A
Campagne
Antonet E
AE
Verkerk
Paul H
PH
D002675:Child, Preschool; D041381:Diapers, Infant / Q000009:adverse effects; D053207:Diurnal Enuresis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D053206:Nocturnal Enuresis / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D012201:Reward; D013997:Time Factors; D014554:Urination; D014851:Wakefulness