Effect of Uristop on primary nocturnal enuresis. A prospective randomized double-blind study

Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is a very common problem in pediatric and child psychiatric practice. Many treatments have been tried, but none has proved entirely successful. Uristop, a commercially available alarm device based on a theory somewhat different from those used in the common alarm devices, was tried in a prospective randomized double-blind study. Of 134 enuretic children who were examined on an out-patient ward, 53 were selected for inclusion in this study on the basis of certain criteria. The children were randomized either in a treatment group with a functioning device, or in a control group with a non-functioning device. They used their devices for 6 weeks and were followed for an additional 12 weeks. The sex, age, history of previous urinary tract infection (UTI) or treatment of PNE and a family history of PNE were compared between the groups and no statistical differences were found. In the control group, however, there was significantly more often a history of upsetting life events and previous child psychiatric contact. This difference was not considered as having any effect on the results. The results showed that the device had no effect on the study group as compared with the control group. However, both groups improved significantly as compared with the expected sponaneous cessation of bedwetting.