Overactive bladder (OAB) is an important disease affecting people's work productivity, sexual health and mental health. Although, the etiology of OAB is not clear, it has recently been accused of physical and sexual trauma. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between OAB and  childhood trauma, which is a more comprehensive definition.

Between April 2020 and September 2020, 40 patients with OAB symptoms (group 1) and 40 patients without OAB symptoms (group 2), who applied to our outpatient clinic, were included in the study. Patients under 18 years of age, patients with urinary system anomalies and surgical history were excluded from the study. International Continence Inquiry Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8), Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Incontinence Quality of Life Scoring (SEAPI), Beck Depression questionnaires, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) which have been validated for the evaluation, were filled by patients and control group.

Mean age was 47.82±14 (years) and 45.12±15 (years) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age (p=0.398). UDI-6, SEAPI, ICIQ-SF were significantly higher in patients with OAB (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively) (Table 1). Beck depression score was found to be significantly higher in patients wtih OAB (19.80± 13.13, 7.87± 6.54 in group 1 and group 2,  respectively) (p<0.001). The childhood trauma score was slightly higher in patients with OAB than control group (39.15±13.15 and 35.87±8.80, respectively), however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.482).

Table 1. Patients' results of questionnaire forms. 

                            Patients with OAB.    Control group
                                  (n=40)                    (n=40)
 	                             Mean±SD          Mean±SD	P
POPDI-6	                      6.12±4.69	1.95± 2.27	<0.001
CRADI-8	                      5.57±4.99	2.17± 2.67	<0.001
UDI-6	                    11.45±4.10	3.4± 3.57	<0.001
SEAPI	                  20.30±12.38	3.5± 5.25	<0.001
OAB-V8	                    24.70±4.72	6.62± 4.49	<0.001
ICIQ-SF	                    12.22±6.01	 1.42± 2.44	<0.001
Beck depression	  19.80±13.13	7.87± 6.54	<0.001
CTQ	                  39.15±13.15	35.87± 8.80	0.482

Studies in the literature have shown the relationship between physical and sexual assaults and OAB, but controversial results still exist (1). Literature showed the mean daytime voiding frequency and nocturne episodes were found to be statistically significantly higher, and the voiding volume was also found to be statistically significantly lower when compared to individuals with or without a history of sexual abuse (2). Our study also demonstrates that depression scores and SEAPI quality of life significantly higher in patients with OAB. Our work also suggests that the child trauma score was slightly higher in patients with OAB.

Our study showed that OAB is associated with depression and quality of life, in addition to being associated with childhood trauma. The relationship can be demonstrated in detail with further studies that will examine the severity and duration of childhood trauma.

Bradley CS, Nygaard IE, Hillis SL, Torner JC, Sadler AG. Longitudinal associations between mental health conditions and overactive bladder in women veterans. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2017;217(4):430.e1-.e8
Seth A, Teichman JM. Differences in the clinical presentation of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome in patients with or without sexual abuse history. The Journal of urology. 2008;180(5):2029-33.