Psychological Intervention with Parents Improves Treatment Results and Reduces Punishment in Children with Enuresis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the impact of psychological intervention with parents of children with enuresis on treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 66 children with enuresis were randomized into 2 groups. All children received urotherapy orientation and psychological counseling. Psychological intervention was performed with parents in the experimental group and not in the control group. All parents answered a questionnaire to evaluate violence against their children (Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale) and the Tolerance Scale. The Child Behavior Checklist was applied to evaluate behavior problems. Children responded to the Impact Scale and the Children and Youth Self-Concept Scale. Treatment results were assessed with a 14-day wet night diary. RESULTS: Mean age and gender were similar in both groups. Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale showed less violence after the treatment in the experimental group (p=0.007). The Tolerance Scale indicated that parents of children with enuresis were intolerant and that, after treatment, intolerance had a greater decrease in the experimental group (p <0.001). The Impact Scale showed that children suffer some impact from enuresis, and that in those in the experimental group this impact was smaller after treatment (p=0.008). No differences were seen in the Child Behavior Checklist or Children and Youth Self-Concept Scale after intervention. After treatment the percentage of dry nights had a greater improvement in the experimental group (52%, range 30% to 91%) than in the control group (10%, range 3% to 22.5%; p <0.001). Children in the experimental group had a 6.75 times greater chance of having a complete response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological intervention with parents of children with enuresis during their treatment improved the percentage of dry nights and the impact of enuresis, while their parents started coping better with the problem and became more tolerant, reducing punishment toward their children.