Nerve stimulation therapy for bladder leakage problems not only helps patients urinate better, it also improves their quality of life and reduces depression, new research suggests.

The therapy, known as sacral nerve stimulation, involves the implantation of a small device that sends electronic signals to the nerves connected to the bladder. These signals help stabilize the bladder and prevent leakage, or incontinence.

The study results demonstrate the serious impact that unresolved urination problems have on patients’ physical, social and psychological quality of life, lead author Dr. Anurag K. Das, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and colleagues note. However, the findings also indicate that quality of life can be dramatically improved by treating the condition with sacral nerve stimulation.

As reported in the medical journal Urology, the researchers used standard questionnaires to gauge the impact bladder problems had on the quality of life of 89 patients, some of whom were treated with sacral nerve stimulation during a 6-month period.

When the study began, depression was observed in 73 percent of subjects, including a significant proportion with moderate to severe depression. Moreover, almost every aspect of quality of life in this group was lower than expected in the general population.

In the nerve stimulation group, depression and quality of life scores improved significantly from the start of the study to 3 months, with the benefits maintained at 6-month follow-up. In contrast, patients not treated with nerve stimulation experienced a slight worsening in these scores that continued through both follow-up points.

Whether these findings are applicable to the general population of patients with bladder problems is unclear, the authors note. These patients may not be representative of the general population with urine incontinence, “many of whom do not seek treatment because of the embarrassing nature of the problem and the strong cultural norms associated with bodily functions such as voiding.”

SOURCE: Urology, July 2004.