[Hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory nocturnal enuresis]

Nocturnal enuresis represents a practical, social and emotional problem. The present study illustrates the advantage of using hypnosis as a therapy in chronic cases.

Twelve boys, median age 12 years (range 8-16), eight with primary nocturnal enuresis and four with primary nocturnal and diurnal enuresis, reported at referral a median of 0 (range 0-3) dry nights per week. All patients had a family history of enuresis and had used enuresis alarm and Desmopressin; 50% used Imipramin. Eight had been referred to psychological or psychiatric services for treatment.

All patients had undergone a somatic assessment by a paediatrician, a paediatric surgeon, or an urologist. After a preliminary assessment of motivation, they underwent hypnotherapy with a median of six sessions (range 2-8), followed by median one month with self-hypnosis exercises.

At follow-up after three months and one year, nine out of 12 patients had respectively 6-7/7, and 7/7 dry nights per week. Three patients had nocturnal enuresis at follow-up; two of them were referred to a paediatric surgeon for their overactive urine bladder and one was referred to his local psychiatric clinic because of ongoing family conflicts.

Hypnotherapy had lasting effects for boys with chronic and complex forms of nocturnal enuresis. We suggest that hypnotherapy should be included in the therapeutic guidelines.