A Cross-sectional Case-control Study of Depression in Incontinent Women.

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) presents in over 50% menopausal women affecting their quality of life leading to depression and hence needs addressal and treatment as very few of them seek medical help.

AIMS: Our aim was to determine the prevalence of depression, and the correlation of severity of UI with depression in incontinent women versus continent controls.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional case-control study of previously diagnosed 100 incontinent women (Stress/Urgency/Mixed) was done over a period of 3 months. The severity of UI was assessed on Patient Incontinence Severity Assessment (a form of Likert scale) and depression was assessed on a validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scale.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 19.0.

RESULTS

Most of our cases were 51-60 years, with Urge UI being the most predominant (88%). Hundred percent of our incontinent patients were depressed, with 48% and 45% being severely and moderately severely depressed, respectively. A highly significant correlation was found between the severity of incontinence, amount of leakage, leaking pattern, and depression.

CONCLUSION

All of our incontinent patients were depressed, with the severity of depression increasing with the severity of incontinence.