Psychological investigation in female patients suffering from urinary incontinence.

The available data about the hypothesis that psychological conditions cause urinary incontinence are contradictory. This study was based on a group of patients undergoing urodynamic investigation to define the type of incontinence. Patients were submitted to a battery of psychological tests, including STAXI, CES-D and IBQ (in their Italian version). Patients suffering from urge incontinence showed higher degrees of inner anger and anger trait than those suffering from stress or mixed incontinence. Neither group showed signs of depression. The conviction of illness was greatest in patients suffering from stress or mixed incontinence, whereas irritability and general hypochondria prevailed in patients suffering from urge incontinence. Such patients tend to develop psychosomatic reactions that may contribute to the severity of their symptoms.

Weekly cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: a well-tolerated alternative.

To assess the efficacy and the compliance of weekly cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer, 23 patients, FIGO stage IB-IIA > 4 cm-IIB, were recruited. Treatment consisted of four weekly courses of cisplatin (1.5 mg/kg): 91% of the patients received the planned therapy without dose reduction or delay. Toxicity was mild: delayed emesis was the most common side effect. Overall clinical response rate was 85% with a complete response in 28%. Nineteen patients underwent surgery without any undue increase in morbidity. Histologic analysis of surgical specimens revealed a complete response in 25% of stage IB-IIA patients; in only one case of stage IIB, was residual parametrial involvement present. In conclusion, weekly cisplatin is highly effective, with lower cost and less toxicity compared to other neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens.