People with overactive bladder syndrome may benefit from making certain behavioural changes, according to a new review in Nursing Times.

Angela Patterson, lead clinical nurse specialist in bladder and bowel dysfunction at Bangor Community Hospital in Northern Ireland, has written an article on the subject in which she discusses some of the more common behavioural therapies that are used to treat the condition.

Overactive bladder is characterised by urinary urgency, with some people also experiencing urinary incontinence and becoming dependent on products such as Tena Comfort incontinence pads.

Ms Patterson cited research dating back to 2003 which found that 17 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men in the US were affected by overactive bladder syndrome, while a separate study among a sample population in Europe and Canada, published in 2008, found prevalence rates of 13 per cent in women and 11 per cent in men.

She pointed out that the condition has a "detrimental" effect on several aspects of people's lives, including their professional, social and recreational activities, sexual function and relationships.

According to the nurse specialist, patients may be advised to make a number of behavioural changes, such as drinking plenty of certain types of fluid, reducing their caffeine intake, stopping smoking and losing weight.

Ms Patterson noted that the evidence base to support weight loss and smoking cessation is "limited and contradictory", but that both goals should be encouraged, "not only to improve continence but also for the other potential health benefits".

Caffeine, meanwhile, is thought to adversely affect continence and Ms Patterson said that in her experience, "caffeine moderation has proved beneficial in the clinical setting in improving urge incontinence and frequency".

In conclusion, she said: "Behavioural interventions aim to improve quality of life of patients with overactive bladder and empower them to control their symptoms on a long-term basis.

"Both patients and clinicians need to invest time to be successful in this."