Grand Journal of Urology
E-ISSN : 2757-7163

Psychiatric Comorbidity and Overactive Bladder in Fibromyalgia: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Duygu Kurtuluş1, Selma Dağcı2, Ferhat Yakup Suçeken3, Zehra Özdil Arıkan4
1Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Ataşehir Memorial Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
2Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, Istanbul, Türkiye
3Department of Urology, University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
4Department of Clinical Psychology, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Türkiye
DOI : Fibromiyaljide Psikiyatrik Eşlik Eden Hastalık ve Aşırı Aktif Mesane: Kesitsel Çalışma
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in women with fibromyalgia (FM) presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms, and to examine the relationship between psychiatric comorbidities and symptom severity in this population.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 240 women aged 18–65 years who met the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM and reported lower urinary tract symptoms for at least three months. OAB was diagnosed based on International Continence Society criteria using the OAB-V8 questionnaire (cut-off ≥8) and a three-day bladder diary. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). FM severity was measured using the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), and General Symptom Score (GSS). Patients were divided into FM+OAB and FM−OAB groups. Statistical comparisons and correlation analyses were performed.

Results: OAB was identified in 148 of 240 FM patients (61.7%). The FM+OAB group had significantly higher mean age (47.2 ± 7.4 vs. 41.5 ± 10.1 years, p < 0.001) and fibromyalgia diagnosis time (10.5 ± 8.7 vs. 6.3 ± 6.0 years, p < 0.001) compared to the FM−OAB group. Clinically significant anxiety and depression (HADS ≥8) were more prevalent in the FM+OAB group (52.1% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.006). FM+OAB patients also had higher scores for WPI, SSS, and GSS (all p < 0.001). HADS scores correlated positively with FM symptom severity and OAB-V8 scores (ρ = 0.30–0.42, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Overactive bladder is highly prevalent among women with fibromyalgia and is associated with greater psychiatric burden and symptom severity. These findings suggest a shared underlying mechanism driven by central sensitization and emotional dysregulation. Routine screening for OAB and psychological distress in FM patients may enhance diagnostic accuracy and guide comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment strategies.

Keywords : fibromyalgia, overactive bladder, psychiatric comorbidity, woman, depression, central sensitization
Viewed : 133
Downloaded : 57