An urgent case for sensory urgency: A patient perspective

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pain Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Urgency and frequency of voiding are hallmark symptoms, often leading to social isolation.
• The "sensory" aspect of urgency, characterized by pain or unpleasant sensation, is a key patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the historical and ongoing lack of official recognition for "sensory" urgency in IC/BPS.
• To advocate for the re-integration of "sensory" urgency into the clinical and research understanding of IC/BPS.
• To emphasize the need for accurate symptom representation in medical research and patient care.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical diagnostic criteria and research trends for IC/BPS.
• Analysis of patient-reported experiences and their alignment with clinical definitions.
• Comparative study of recognized vs. unrecognized symptoms in IC/BPS literature.

Main Results:

• The "sensory" type of urgency has been officially disregarded as a primary IC/BPS symptom for approximately 20 years.
• This misrepresentation affects the scope of research and the development of targeted treatments.
• Patient experiences of intolerable pain or unpleasant sensation during urgency are not adequately addressed in current IC/BPS frameworks.

Conclusions:

• The official neglect of "sensory" urgency in IC/BPS requires urgent attention and correction.
• Rectifying this misrepresentation is crucial for medical accuracy and improved patient outcomes.
• Revisiting and validating "sensory" urgency will enhance research and therapeutic strategies for IC/BPS patients.