Psychological profile of female patients with dysfunctional voiding

Abstract

Objectives: The published data feature little information pertaining to the psychological status of patients with dysfunctional voiding. We conducted this study to evaluate the psychological profile of female patients afflicted with dysfunctional voiding.

Methods: A total of 32 women with dysfunctional voiding completed an American Urological Association symptom index review, and a structured interview relating to depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), and anxiety symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety). A group of 31 women who had no lower urinary tract symptoms served as controls. The anxiety and depression symptoms were compared between the dysfunctional voiding patients and asymptomatic controls.

Results: The mean patient age was 48.3 years. The mean total American Urological Association symptoms score was 20.3. The mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score was 16.9, with 3.1%, 6.3%, and 50.0% patients revealing mild, mild to moderate, and moderate to severe depression symptoms, respectively. The mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety score was 21.2, with 21.9% and 34.4% patients having mild to moderate and moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, respectively. For the controls, the mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score was 4.3 and the mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety score was 4.8. Patients with dysfunctional voiding had a significantly greater degree of depression and anxiety than was the case for the controls.

Conclusions: The results of this study have shown that women with dysfunctional voiding experience a greater degree of depression and anxiety compared with asymptomatic controls. Evaluation of the psychological profile is important for multidisciplinary management of the dysfunctional voiding in women.