[Psychogenic urinary retention: report of two cases]

Case 1 was a 24-year-old woman, with a broken heart who complained of urinary retention. Cystometry revealed a hypoactive bladder without detrusor contraction. Case 2 was a 30-year-old man, who thought that he had renal failure. Urodynamic study showed hypoactive bladder without detrusor contraction. External sphincter electromyograph revealed no evidense of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. These 2 cases were treated by psychotherapy, administration of diazepam and bethanechole, and intermittent self catheterization. The Japanese literature on the psychogenic urinary retention is briefly discussed.