Intensive behavioral therapy for primary enuresis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of intensive behavioral therapy on Saudi children with primary enuresis.

METHODS: Twenty-six children, aged 6-14-years, presented with complains of bed wetting during a 12-months period from January 2001 through to January 2002, ArAr Central Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were studied in an interventional, non-randomized trial without control. After complete verbal autopsy, physical examination and laboratory investigation, they were offered intensive behavioral therapy. They were evaluated for response, regularity, esteem and recurrence of enuresis.

RESULTS: Mean age of the study group was 9.6-years (SD = +/- 2.6) and boys were affected almost twice of girls (P<0.05). Family history, social history and school performance did not show any significant (P>0.05) association with enuresis. Sixty point five percent were regular and out of those 27.9% never missed any visits. 91.7% were completely dry out of regular patients. There was 75% success rate in those, who visited 4-8 times while 25% in those, who visited 1-3 times. Ninety-six percent of the parents and 80.7% of the children were fully satisfied with this therapy. Socio-economic status seems to play a significant (P<0.05) role in regularity of follow up and response to behavioral therapy.

CONCLUSION: This result shows an excellent response to intensive behavioral therapy in primary enuresis if the follow up is regular.