Behavioral therapies at the primary care level: the current state of knowledge

Urinary incontinence, the complaint of any involuntary loss of urine, is a troubling symptom experienced by men and women of all ages. Options for treatment include a range of behavioral, pharmacologic, and surgical therapies. Behavioral therapies, such as dietary modification, pelvic floor muscle training, and bladder training, are noninvasive, with little risk of side effects, and experts agree they should represent the first line of treatment whenever possible. These therapies can be initiated and monitored at the primary care level, thereby enhancing the accessibility of care for those affected. The purpose of this article is to methodically review what is and is not known about behavioral therapies, with attention to research needs. Although there is clear evidence for pelvic floor muscle training in women with urinary incontinence and modest evidence in men for a short time after radical prostatectomy, less is known about bladder training, prompted voiding, habit retraining, and timed voiding. Additional research is required to enhance our understanding of the comparative efficacy of behavioral interventions in specific populations. This research must take an increasingly long-term focus, given the potentially chronic nature of urinary incontinence.