Urinary incontinence in schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics: urodynamic findings and therapeutic perspectives

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

• Schizophrenia
• atypical antipsychotics
• urinary incontinence
• detrusor overactivity