Effect of dry bed training on behavioural problems in enuretic children

Children with nocturnal enuresis (n = 91) selected by school doctors in The Netherlands from 1991 to 1994 were included in a study to assess the course of behavioural problems especially when the children became dry after the Dry Bed Training (DBT) programme. The Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) questionnaire was completed by 88 parents (96%) prior to DBT (T1) and by 83 parents (91%) 6 mo after DBT (T2). The mean CBCL total problem score at T1: 24.0 (range 2-91, SD 16) was significantly higher than that of a Dutch norm group: 20.45, (p=0.025). Compared to T1, the mean CBCL total problem score at T2 was 16.8 (range 0-73; SD 14.7; p < 0.0001). Of the children with CBCL total problem scores at T1 in the borderline or clinical range, 92% became dry and 58% improved to the normal range. At T2, the children seemed to have less internal distress, fewer problems with other people, and were less anxious and/or depressed.

Children with behavioural/emotional problems who wet their beds need not first be treated for their behavioural/emotional problems. Bedwetting can be treated successfully with DBT when other treatments such as normal alarm treatment have failed, and alarm treatment/DBT can have a positive influence on behavioural/emotional problems.