Increased bladder sensation without detrusor overactivity revisited: Use of a five-grade sensory measure

Voiding and storage symptoms in depression/anxiety

We here described the frequency and nature of voiding and storage bladder symptoms in depression/anxiety, for which we propose the name "bladder somatic symptom disorder (SSD)" because such symptoms most probably have brain mechanisms. SSD was formerly called as various terms including "somatoform disorder", "medically unexplained physical symptoms", "functional somatic syndrome" and "hysterical neurosis/hysteria". Bladder SSD has the following specific features that are distinguishable from "true" neurologic/organic bladder dysfunction: 1) situation-dependence (close association with life event in some), 2) urodynamically increased bladder sensation/hypersensitivity and 3) absence of neurologic/organic diseases, in addition to 4) other stress symptoms (insomnia, etc.), are key clues to the possibility of bladder SSD. Urodynamics in these patients showed, to a lesser extent, underactive bladder without post-void residual. These findings might reflect the biological changes of the depressive brain; e.g., decreases in serotonin and GABA, and possible increases in CRH. Treatment of bladder SSD can follow that of general depression/anxiety, with the potential addition of anticholinergic or selective beta3 bladder drugs.

Female detrusor underactivity: Two uterine leiomyoma cases

INTRODUCTION

Female urinary retention is rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

Case 1, a 35-year-old nulliparous woman, and case 2, a 47-year-old nulliparous woman, had transient urinary retention. A urodynamics revealed increased bladder sensation in case 1 and detrusor underactivity with a large post-void residual in cases 1 and 2. Both women had a uterine leiomyoma of >10 cm in diameter. Soon after extraction of the tumor, retention episodes disappeared completely in case 1.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, uterine leiomyoma should be listed as a cause of female detrusor underactivity.