Urinary incontinence, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study associations between urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study enrolled women 20 to 52 years of age registered at 2 midwestern US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers or outlying clinics within 5 years preceding study interview. Participants completed a computer-assisted telephone interview assessing urogynecologic, medical, and mental health. Multivariable analyses studied independent associations between stress and urgency UI and depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. RESULTS: Nine hundred sixty-eight women mean aged 38.7 ± 8.7 years were included. Of these, 191 (19.7%) reported urgency/mixed UI and 183 (18.9%) stress UI. Posttraumatic stress disorder (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.1) but not depression (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-2.0) was associated with urgency/mixed UI. Stress UI was not associated with posttraumatic stress disorder or depression. CONCLUSION: In women veterans, urgency/mixed UI was associated with posttraumatic stress disorder but not depression.