Arousal training for children suffering from nocturnal enuresis: a 2 1/2-year follow-up

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 613 - 615
• Main Authors: VAN LONDEN, A, VAN LONDEN-BARENTSEN, M. W. M, VAN SON, M. J. M, MULDER, G. A. L. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science 01.07.1993; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arousal - physiology; Behavior; Behavior Therapy; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Bibliotherapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Children & youth; Conditioning, Operant; Enuresis - therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Recurrence; Social research; Treatments; Human; Urinary incontinence; School age; Enuresis; Treatment efficiency; Behavior therapy; Child
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-7967(93)90113-9

Arousal Training is a fast, simple, and effective form of bibliotherapy for nocturnal enuresis with non-clinical children between 6 and 12 years of age. The parents act as therapists. They reward the operant behavior-pattern following the urine alarm. The success rate is 98% (N = 41), which is significantly high when compared to the control conditions (79%, N = 86). There was a response rate of 100% and no drop-out from therapy. All parents (N = 127) completed and returned the record. The results of a follow-up of this bibliotherapy (N = 113) 2 1/2 years later are presented. The success rate of Arousal Training was still significantly higher (92% continent) when compared to the urine device with specific instructions (77%) and urine alarm only (72%). Arousal Training is the treatment of choice for non-clinical enuretic children between 6 and 12 years of age.