Behavioral therapy for overactive bladder

What is behavioral therapy? On the one hand there is no consensus in the li terature as to the definition of the treatment or the optimal mode of deliv ery. On the other hand, it is possibly the "best" single treatment for urin ary incontinence when viewed from a risk:benefit analysis. There is general agreement that within this framework wide variations exist in intensity of treatment, expertise required to deliver the treatment, and the subsequent cost of therapy. A definition of behavioral therapy should include at leas t the following techniques: first, education and explanation of normal lowe r urinary tract function; second, micturition charts and diaries; and final ly, timed voiding/bladder training regimens. All of the behavioral methods are demonstrably effective, with improvement rates in incontinence episodes uniformly in excess of 50%. Our challenge is to define the critical parts of behavioral therapy and develop algorithms that can be delivered to the i ncontinent population in the most cost-effective manner. UROLOGY 55 (Suppl 5A): 3-6, 2000. (C) 2000, Elsevier Science Inc.