Preliminary report: detrusor hyperreflexia in schizophrenia

The object of this study was to demonstrate detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) in schizophrenic patients. Twelve consecutive schizophrenic patients were evaluated by DSM-IIIR diagnostic criteria and other standard psychiatric measures, urological history and examination, and urodynamic study. All were referred for clinical indication, voiding dysfunction, or incontinence. Two patients were excluded for confounding variables, mental retardation and benign prostatic hypertrophy. Of the ten evaluable patients, four had DH. Detrusor hyperreflexia does occur in a subset of schizophrenic patients, even in the absence of other recognized disease to explain the occurrence. This relationship, previously unreported, warrants further investigation.