title: Urinary incontinence in schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics: urodynamic findings and therapeutic perspectives.
abstract: Objective The present study was a urodynamic evaluation of schizophrenic patients with urinary incontinence occurring during treatment with atypical antipsychotics Methods A total of 12 schizophrenic patients (mean age = 30.7 years, SD = 6.5) presenting urinary incontinence during treatment with atypical antipsychotics at stable doses underwent urodynamic evaluations. Clinical assessment included the administration of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Results Four patients out of 12 presented urodynamic patterns consistent with an overactive bladder, while five patients presented reduced bladder compliance; only three patients showed normal urodynamic patterns Conclusion Detrusor overactivity is a condition associated with urinary incontinence in schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Urodynamic evaluations can improve our knowledge of the mechanisms that subtend atypical antipsychotic-induced incontinence, an invalidating side-effect with strong repercussion on compliance and rehabilitation in schizophrenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Diletta La
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isgrò
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria Anna
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Muscatello
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magno
authors.forename: Darwin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meduri
keywords: Schizophrenia; atypical antipsychotics; detrusor overactivity; urinary incontinence