The control of nocturnal enuresis by operant conditioning

Samaan, Makram

doi:10.1016/0005-7916(72)90008-0

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In contrast to Tough et al (1971), Samaan (1972) employed the systematic use of reinforcers in the treatment of enuresis. The role of reinforcement remains in question because there is some evidence that simply placing the child on the toilet during the night can reduce wetting (Baker, 1969).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Behavioral treatments for nocturnal enuresis in children: A review of the recent literature.

Doleys¹

1977

Psychological Bulletin

187

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This paper reviews the recent literature reporting on the use of behavioral treatments for functional nocturnal enuresis in children. The treatment procedures are divided into three categories: (a) those that used the standard urine alarm or bell-and-pad, (b) those that employed retention control training, and (c) those that modified existing stimulus or consequent events but that did not use the urine alarm or retention control training as the primary mode of treatment. The results are presented and then evaluated under each of the three categories.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The other subject relapsed and, according to the authors, was not successfully treated by reinstating the contingencies due to inconsistencies on the part of the parents in implementing the procedure. Samaan (1972) employed an operant conditioning program to eliminate wetting in a…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral treatments for nocturnal enuresis in children: A review of the recent literature.

Doleys¹

1977

Psychological Bulletin

187

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“…This is a promising treatment, with several case studies and one experiment attesting to its usefulness (Paschalis et al, 1972;Stedman, 1972). Finally, a fifth treatment has been advocated (Samaan, 1972) which involves waking the child during the night and rewarding him with sweets for urination. Unfortunately, it is not clear from the case reported whether the result of this treatment is a dry child or a child who wakes up every night and goes to the bathroom to urinate.…”

Section: Urinary and Intestinal Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The application of behavior therapy to the treatment of psychosomatic disorders: Retrospect and prospect.

Price¹

1974

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice

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“…In this method the child learns to awaken at the stimulus of a full bladder, an alarm being sounded when the first drop of urine shorts the electrical circuit in the pad. Several operant methods have been used, including reinforcement for holding urine for progressively longer periods (retention control training [6]), waking the child progressively earlier (nighttime retention training [15]), and simple reinforcement of appropriate nighttime urination (12). The bell-and-pad method usually works in five to 12 weeks, with about a 30% relapse rate (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Family therapy with an enuretic, encopretic child.

Wendorf¹

1984

Family Systems Medicine

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This article describes the application of the structural family therapy model to the treatment of an encopretic, enuretic boy and his family. These and other symptomatic behaviors were greatly reduced in a two-session treatment, in which behavioral interventions were designed from a family systems perspective. Therapeutic change involved a significant restructuring of family relationships, in addition to symptomatic relief.Any therapist with a substantial pediatric practice is likely to receive referrals of encopretic and enuretic children from time to time. While these symptoms may be viewed and treated as medical or behavioral problems, the family-oriented therapist is inclined to see them as part of a family systems pathology and to treat them in a family context. There is considerable support in the literature for the efficacy of both medical and behavioral treatments, yet little has been written concerning family-based interventions for enuresis and/or encopresis. This case study describes the application of a family therapy approach to the treatment of a child with these and other problems. The effectiveness of this treatment suggests that in some cases family-based interventions may be even quicker and more complete than traditional behavioral or medical approaches.Typical treatment for enuresis tends to follow one of three strategies (excluding the psychoanalytic approach which uses traditional Freudian methods): 1) chemotherapy; 2) classical conditioning; or 3) operant conditioning. The drug most commonly used and most effective in treating enuresis is imipramine (Tofranil), an antidepressant with anticholinergic and sleep-stabilizing effects. While its success rate is a relatively high 40% or better, imipramine unfortunately also has a very high relapse rate, in addition to unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects (8). Therefore, many pediatricians are becoming increasingly reluctant to prescribe imipramine, preferring to adopt safer and more effective behavioral approaches. There has been some research on the use of central nervous system stimulants to control enuresis ( 16), but they are not commonly used for this purpose. However, in my experience they often do produce very positive results in children with Attention Deficit Disorder who also

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The control of nocturnal enuresis by operant conditioning

Cited by 16 publications

References 8 publications

Behavioral treatments for nocturnal enuresis in children: A review of the recent literature.

Behavioral treatments for nocturnal enuresis in children: A review of the recent literature.

The application of behavior therapy to the treatment of psychosomatic disorders: Retrospect and prospect.

Family therapy with an enuretic, encopretic child.

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