OUTCOME ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOSEXUAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT OFADULT PATIENTS BORN WITH BLADDER EXSTROPHY

Since sonographic evaluation of the fetus became routine, prenatally e stablished diagnosis of multiple or severe malformations raises the qu estion of whether a pregnancy should be terminated. To answer this que stion properly, all aspects concerning the life of a child born with a serious malformation, such as exstrophy of the bladder, must be consi dered. Therefore, more than ever an evaluation of the quality of life of these patients is necessary to be able to make a solid based decisi on. We studied the psychosexual and socioeconomic development of 22 ad ult exstrophy patients (11 men and 11 women) by a standardized persona l interview, evaluation of a standard performance test SCL-90 (symptom checklist 1990) and an adapted personality score test. The latter 2 t ests are well established and provide reproducible results. Based on s everal large scale investigations, standard scores are available. Nine women (82%) and 10 men (91%) scored better or in accordance with the standard scores. Exstrophy of the bladder does influence the psychosex ual and socioeconomic development. The quality of life is hardly ever considered so poor that termination of pregnancy is a realistic altern ative.