309 Psychological features, quality of life and sexual functioning in a group of adolescents and young adults living with a bladder exstrophy epispadias complex

Abstract

Bladder exstrophy epispadias complex (BEEC) is a rare congenital malformation affecting both male and female with an incidence of 1/35,000 livebirths. The malformation involves the bladder, the urethra, the external genitalia and the pelvis. The newborn presents a lower abdominal defect, through which an open bladder template herniates. The malformation requires a staged surgical treatment but even after successful repair patients can experience psychosexual difficulties throughout their lives. This project investigates the presence or absence of a depressive disorder with misery, emptiness, irritability, accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes which can significantly impact on the overall performance of the individual. The degree of alexithymia, a difficulty in verbalizing emotions, as well as the overall quality of life of people suffering from this condition is examined by means of several tests and specific interviews, implemented in the course of the study. To evaluate the presence of alexithymia, depressive traits, difficulties in sexual assertiveness and/or in sex-lives and overall quality of life in people with BEEC compared to a group of unaffected peers.