Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Treatment of Urinary Urge Incontinence

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Physical Conditions: A Narrative Review Evaluating Levels of Evidence

“…To give a sense of the breadth and range of additional applications, studies have been published evaluating MBIs for epilepsy [180–183], psoriasis [184], multiple sclerosis [185, 186], tinnitus (a constant ringing in the ears) [187, 188], King-Kopetzky syndrome (characterized by difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise) [189], menopause-related hot flashes [190, 191], prader-willi syndrome (characterized by over-eating and delay in the satiety response) [192], hepatitis C, [193], asthma [194], Parkinson's disease [195], Tourette's syndrome [196], chronic fatigue [197], urinary incontinence [198], failed back surgery syndrome [199], aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhages [200], memory loss [201, 202], chronic obstructive lung disease [203], vestibular dysfunction [204], sexual dysfunction [205], migraines [206], as well as for groups of mixed medical patients [207–211]. …”

Mind over bladder: Women, aging, and bladder health

“…In studies that evaluated mindfulness' effects on urinary incontinence, mindfulness was shown to be more effective than yoga therapy and at least as effective as routine pharmacologic therapies and bladder training. Specifically, mindfulness was found to significantly decrease daily incontinence episodes from 4.14 to 1.23 (P= 0.0005) (Baker et al, 2012), and mindfulness' outcome of improved health related quality of life was statistically significant compared to yoga therapy (Baker, Costa & Nygaard, 2012;Baker et al, 2014).…”

“…Despite the high prevalence of urinary incontinence in older women, the significant costs of its management and treatment, and its impact on quality of life, older women often do not receive timely and effective care. Urinary incontinence affects an estimated 26% of women, with higher estimates of 37% in women 65 and older (Hawkins et al, 2011;Baker, Costa & Nygaard, 2012). By 2020, in the United States, the healthcare system and affected individuals will spend more than USD 82 billion on the treatment of urinary incontinence (Coyne et al, 2014).…”

“…Mindfulness has been shown to improve self-care and self-management of chronic, functional conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headache, chronic pain and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and in recent years has been shown to decrease urinary incontinence episodes (Baker et al, 2012;Bawa et al, 2015;Benzo, 2013;Day et al, 2014;Matchim, Armer & Stuart, 2008). In studies that evaluated mindfulness' effects on urinary incontinence, mindfulness was shown to be more effective than yoga therapy and at least as effective as routine pharmacologic therapies and bladder training.…”

“…Imaging studies provide improved understanding of the role that mindfulness plays in addressing the brain-bladder connection. Functional MRIs of women with overactive bladder have shown exaggerated activation in the emotional cortex of the brain when a woman is experiencing strong sensations of bladder fullness, indicating a strong reaction to the perceived threat of an incontinent episode (Baker et al, 2012;Tadic et al, 2012 (Garland et al, 2012). As with irritable bowel syndrome, emotional arousal plays a role in urinary incontinence management, and mindfulness may be a valuable tool to address this.…”