title: Prevalence and correlates of urinary incontinence in a large cohort of psychiatric inpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urinary incontinence is physically and psychologically disabling, and little information exists about this condition in psychiatric populations. This exploratory study examined the prevalence of urinary incontinence and factors associated with this condition among persons with mental illness in three age groups: under 45, 45-64, and 65 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from the Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health. Population-level data on adult inpatient psychiatric admissions (N=41,004) in Ontario, Canada, between October 2005 and June 2007 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 6.2%, with higher rates among women and with increasing age. Across age groups, common treatable factors were found, including diarrhea, poorer cognitive and physical functioning, and use of chair restraint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary incontinence was relatively common among psychiatric inpatients and associated with a number of treatable conditions. When it is assessed early during an admission and appropriate treatment measures are implemented, time in the hospital may decrease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine and Fletcher Allen Health Care, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401-1473, USA. terry.rabinowitz@vtmednet.org
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montague
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hirdes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*