Irritable bladder syndrome: a void in the research?

There has been much interest in recent years in the effective treatment of functional or psychosomatic symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome. Functional bladder disorders appear to have received little attention from psychologists, although they may account for as many as 20 percent of urology out-patient referrals. Evidence is presented to support the existence of an irritable bladder syndrome which is characterized by urgency and frequency of micturition. Aetiological factors are considered and treatment approaches are briefly described and evaluated. Research to date is reviewed and suggestions are made for future research in this area.