Depression, Neuroticism, and Urinary Incontinence in Premenopausal Women: A Nationwide Twin Study

Abstract

Previous studies have found that major depression and neuroticism are positively associated with urinary incontinence (UI). However, the genetic contribution to these associations has never been investigated. In 2005, a total of 14,094 female twins born 1959-1985 in the Swedish Twin Registry participated in a comprehensive survey on common exposures and complex diseases. Structured questions provided information on UI, depressive symptoms, major depression, and neuroticism. A logistic regression model based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Environmental and genetic influences were assessed in co-twin control analyses and quantitative genetic analyses, which were also used to determine the proportion of the phenotypic correlation explained by familial factors. Major depression, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism were positively associated with all UI subtypes (overall, stress, urge, and mixed UI). In a trivariate Cholesky model with neuroticism, depressive symptoms (or depression), and UI a modest genetic correlation was found between indicators of depression and overall, or stress, UI. The majority of this correlation was independent from neuroticism. In contrast, the genetic factors shared between indicators of depression and urge or mixed UI were entirely in common with neuroticism. In conclusion, depression and neuroticism are associated with UI among premenopausal women: the associations are in part determined by genetic factors in common to the disorders.

Are seasonal and income variations accountable for bowel and bladder dysfunction symptoms in children?

“…We also know that in adults there is an association between anxiety and a higher incidence of urgency and frequency. 8,9 In the past there have been mixed results between the relationship of anxiety (neurotiscism) and intelligence, 10-12 but more recent work has found that it is necessary to remove the anxiety caused by the test to measure this appropriately. 13 Penney et al has found that there is a positive correlation between IQ and anxiety.…”

Mental health problems, stressful life events and new-onset urinary incontinence in primary school-age children: a prospective cohort study

“…Enuresis is understood as a genetically determined developmental disorder, which is modulated by environmental factors; daytime wetting is also multifactorial with a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors [10,[30][31][32]. There is evidence for genetic overlap of enuresis with ADHD [33] and affective disorders [34]. However, it is unclear whether this is due to the same set of risks manifesting as different disorders in different people, at different ages, or because ADHD/affective disorders causes enuresis (or both).…”

Mental health problems, stressful life events and relapse in urinary incontinence in primary school-age childhood: A prospective cohort study

“…Enuresis is understood as a genetically determined developmental disorder, which is modulated by environmental factors; daytime wetting is also multifactorial with a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors [9,[29][30][31]. There is evidence for genetic overlap of enuresis with ADHD [32] and affective disorders [33]. However, it is unclear whether this is due to the same set of risks manifesting as different disorders in different people, at different ages, or because ADHD/affective disorders causes enuresis (or both).…”