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Bedwetting: a new approach to treatment in a mentally handicapped boy
1Department of Psychology, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London.
Insights
This study explored progressive lifting to treat lifelong nocturnal enuresis in a boy with Down syndrome. The method successfully achieved sustained all-night dryness, indicating its potential effectiveness for managing bedwetting in similar cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Lifelong nocturnal enuresis presents a persistent challenge, particularly in children with Down syndrome.
- Effective management strategies for persistent bedwetting are crucial for improving quality of life.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome experienced lifelong nocturnal enuresis.
- A progressive lifting program was implemented, involving timed awakenings for voiding.
Findings:
- All-night dryness was achieved 4 months after initiating the progressive lifting program.
- The lifting schedule was only slightly advanced from the original time before discontinuation.
- Complete dryness was sustained four months post-discontinuation of the program.
Implications:
- Progressive lifting may be a viable, non-invasive intervention for nocturnal enuresis in children with Down syndrome.
- The findings suggest a potential for long-term habituation to nighttime dryness.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms and broader applicability of this intervention.
Abstract:
Lifelong nocturnal enuresis in a 9-year-old boy with Down's syndrome was tackled using progressive lifting, in which he was lifted and potted at a time in the early evening when he was found to be reliably dry. The programme was designed for the boy to be lifted progressively later in the evening until all-night dryness was achieved. However, all-night dryness began to occur 4 months after the start of the programme and lifting was at only half an hour beyond the original time when it was discontinued. Four months after this the boy was completely dry. Possible reasons are discussed.