You have accessJournal of UrologyUrodynamics/Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Female Pelvic Medicine: Non-neurogenic Voiding Dysfunction III (PD66)1 Sep 2021PD66-03 THE ANXIOUS BLADDER: EFFECTS ON TOILETING BEHAVIORS IN WOMEN WITH ANXIETY AND OVERACTIVE BLADDER Elizabeth Rourke, Elisabeth Sebesta, and Stuart Reynolds Elizabeth RourkeElizabeth Rourke More articles by this author , Elisabeth SebestaElisabeth Sebesta More articles by this author , and Stuart ReynoldsStuart Reynolds More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002110.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prior research has demonstrated associations between anxiety and overactive bladder (OAB). However, how anxiety impacts coping and behaviors in OAB remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether anxiety is associated with more frequent adoption of compensatory bladder behaviors in women with OAB. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a sample of 1,597 non-institutionalized, adult U.S. women with OAB (defined as urgency and/or urgency incontinence at least sometimes, based on ICIQ-FLUTS) recruited through online advertisement with ResearchMatch. Women completed validated questionnaires assessing demographic and clinical history, toileting behaviors (TB-WEB), urinary symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS), and specific compensatory behaviors of fluid restriction, impact on daily tasks, avoidance of places/situations, toilet seeking and need to change clothes. Our primary comparison was between women who did and did not report a diagnosis of anxiety. We used chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression to compare the two groups, adjusting for age and OAB severity (ICIQ-FLUTS OAB score). RESULTS: 798 (50%) women in the sample reported a diagnosis of anxiety and these were younger (43+/-15 vs 48+/-15 years) and had greater OAB symptom severity (ICIQ-FLUTS-OAB 6.1+/-2.3 vs. 5.8+/-2.2). Associations of compensatory bladder behaviors and toileting behaviors are presented in the figure. Positive associations were seen between anxiety and avoiding places without a restroom, mapping the locations of restrooms, interference with performing daily tasks, avoiding public restrooms, and worrying about cleanliness of restrooms. CONCLUSIONS: There is an established relationship between anxiety and OAB. Our study demonstrates that OAB symptom severity in conjunction with anxiety may have a negative impact on bladder behaviors such that women are more likely to modify these behaviors when faced with OAB and anxiety. These compensatory coping behaviors, while not universal, are important in considering the impact that psychosocial factors can have on urinary symptoms. These relationships could be further assessed in future studies to include severe of anxiety on OAB symptoms. Source of Funding: The Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Grant © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e1159-e1159 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Elizabeth Rourke More articles by this author Elisabeth Sebesta More articles by this author Stuart Reynolds More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...