The burden of nocturnal enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis is a well‐known‘’low‐severity high‐prevalence“ condition in paediatrics, with extensive psychosocial suffering. This suffering is not always realized by paediatricians and other professionals. The aim of this study is to show that enuresis not only has an impact on the child, but also frustrates the entire family. The literature shows that nocturnal enuresis causes distress and low self‐esteem for the child. It also has major social and economic implications for the family, with an increasing intolerance as the child grows older. An analysis of nine studies on the impact of successful treatment on the psychological condition of enuretic children showed improved behaviour and personality scores. In five studies the improvement in mental health was significantly related to treatment success. Timely treatment will prevent psychosocial damage, favour a normal development of the child and bring practical relief to the family.

[1]  B. Starfield,et al.  Parental perceptions of enuresis. A collaborative study. , 1981, American journal of diseases of children.

[2]  W. J. Warzak.  Psychosocial Implications of Nocturnal Enuresis , 1993, Clinical pediatrics.

[3]  W. Mandell,et al.  A comparison of conditioning and psychotherapy in the treatment of functional enuresis. , 1966, Journal of clinical psychology.

[4]  K. Gandhi.  Diagnosis and management of nocturnal enuresis. , 1994, Current opinion in pediatrics.

[5]  H. Steinhausen,et al.  Enuresis in child psychiatric clinic patients. , 1989, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[6]  S. Sacks,et al.  Psychological changes associated with conditioning functional enuresis. , 1974, Journal of clinical psychology.

[7]  M. Cederblad,et al.  Epidemiology of Nocturnal Enuresis in a Part of Khartoum, Sudan , 1986, Acta paediatrica Scandinavica.

[8]  M. J. de Graaf.  40 years of being treated for nocturnal enuresis. , 1992, Lancet.

[9]  R. Butler,et al.  The child's construing of nocturnal enuresis: a method of inquiry and prediction of outcome. , 1990, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[10]  H. Jones.  Conditioning and Enuresis , 1965, Mental Health.

[11]  J. Nørgaard,et al.  Nocturnal enuresis--a burden on family economy? , 1994, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology. Supplementum.

[12]  K. Weir.  Night and Day Wetting among a Population of Three‐year‐olds , 1982, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

[13]  P. Friman,et al.  Nocturnal enuresis: a prevalent, persistent, yet curable parasomnia. , 1990, Pediatrician.

[14]  S. Wille,et al.  Social and behavioural perspectives in enuretics, former enuretics and non‐enuretic controls , 1995, Acta paediatrica.

[15]  W. Stanton,et al.  A 6 year follow‐up of childhood enuresis: Prevalence in adolescence and consequences for mental health , 1990, Journal of paediatrics and child health.

[16]  G. Young,et al.  Parental attitudes and the conditioning treatment of childhood enuresis. , 1975, Behaviour research and therapy.

[17]  C. Netley,et al.  Effects of different methods of treatment of primary enuresis on psychologic functioning in children. , 1984, Canadian Medical Association journal.

[18]  P. M. Bindelglas,et al.  Enuresis treatment with imipramine hydrochloride: a 10-year follow-up study. , 1978, The American journal of psychiatry.

[19]  S. Wille.  Primary nocturnal enuresis in children. Background and treatment. , 1994, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology. Supplementum.

[20]  P. Dowrick,et al.  Imipramine in enuresis--psychological and physiological effects. , 1975, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[21]  M. D. Graaf.  40 years of being treated for nocturnal enuresis , 1992, The Lancet.

[22]  J. Werry.  Emotional Factors and Enuresis Nocturna , 1965, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

[23]  D. Fergusson,et al.  Secondary enuresis in a birth cohort of New Zealand children. , 1990, Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology.

[24]  M. Moffatt,et al.  Improvements in self-concept after treatment of nocturnal enuresis: randomized controlled trial. , 1987, The Journal of pediatrics.

[25]  J. Stevenson,et al.  Prevalence of behaviour problems in 3-year-old children: an epidemiological study in a London borough. , 1975, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[26]  B. Starfield,et al.  Enuresis: a contrast of attitudes of parents and physicians. , 1981, Pediatrics.

[27]  D. Jehu,et al.  A controlled trial of the treatment of nocturnal enuresis in residential homes for children. , 1977, Behaviour research and therapy.

[28]  R. Gustafson.  Conditioning Treatment of Children's Bedwetting: A Follow-UP and Predictive Study , 1993, Psychological reports.

[29]  M. Moffatt.  Nocturnal enuresis: psychologic implications of treatment and nontreatment. , 1989, The Journal of pediatrics.

[30]  P. Thomsen,et al.  Personality traits in young adults with a history of conditioning‐treated childhood enuresis , 1990, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica.

[31]  G. Klackenberg.  NOCTURNAL ENURESIS IN A LONGITUDINAL PERSPECTIVE , 1981, Acta paediatrica Scandinavica.

[32]  W. Wagner,et al.  The psychological adjustment of enuretic children: a comparison of two types. , 1988, Journal of pediatric psychology.

[33]  S. Johnson,et al.  Behavioral and environmental characteristics of treated and untreated enuretic children and matched nonenuretic controls. , 1981, The Journal of pediatrics.

[34]  Z. Kuberski.  [Enuresis and encopresis]. , 1966, Wiadomosci lekarskie.

[35]  C. Brewin,et al.  Maternal attributions and tolerance for nocturnal enuresis. , 1986, Behaviour research and therapy.

[36]  Phil A. Silva,et al.  A longitudinal study of enuresis from five to nine years , 1984, Australian paediatric journal.

[37]  R. Butler,et al.  The Maternal Tolerance Scale and nocturnal enuresis. , 1993, Behaviour research and therapy.

[38]  S. Johnson,et al.  A controlled comparison of two treatments for nocturnal enuresis. , 1982, The Journal of pediatrics.

[39]  A. Broberg,et al.  [Low self esteem of children with enuresis. Mental and social health compared in different groups]. , 1995, Lakartidningen.

[40]  B. Baker.  Symptom treatment and symptom substitution in enuresis. , 1969, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[41]  R. Hirasing,et al.  Going Dutch in nocturnal enuresis , 1996, Acta paediatrica.

[42]  S. Lovibond.  Conditioning and enuresis , 1964 .

[43]  G. Mesibov,et al.  Parental Concerns About Their Children , 1977 .