ENCOPRESIS TREATMENT OUTCOME - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 45 CASES

Among children diagnosed and treated for encopresis (N = 88) at either of two incontinence clinics between 1986 and 1994, 45 could be assess ed for long-term (>12 months) outcome, Measures consisted of retrospec tive analysis of clinical charts and parent report of child soiling st atus, At follow-up (mean duration 53 months, range 15 to 99 months), 2 6 children (58%) were in remission, 13 (29%) were improved, and six (1 3%) showed no improvement. Logistic regression showed that children wh o presented with no previous encopresis treatment(s) (odds ratio 5.88, 95% confidence interval 1.61 to 21.55, p < .01) and/or children who p resented with fecal retention (odds ratio 17.8, 95% confidence interva l 2.70 to 153.37, p < .01) were more likely to be in remission. The in terval between treatment and follow-up was significantly longer (mean 62 months, range 26 to 94) for children in remission than for children still soiling (mean 45 months, range 15 to 75) (p < .01). At follow-u p 1 year or more after treatment for encopresis, a significant number of children may continue to soil. Previous encopresis treatment(s) and /or nonretentive encopresis may be risk factors for persistent soiling . The chances of complete remission of encopresis tend to increase wit h the passage of time.