Enurese noturna na adolescência: tratamento em grupo e individual

The results of a behavioral intervention program for nocturnal enuresis were compared using a national urine alarm device, applied in groups and individually, to adolescents from two Brazilian University clinics. The participants included adolescents and their parents in a program of active family participation. The participants (N=22) were behaviorally guided. Some participants were assisted in group (total N = 14; G1, N=8; G2, N=6) while eight were assisted individually (G3). Treatment success was determined following two consecutive weeks without “wet episodes” and the criterion for discharge was eight consecutive weeks without any wet episodes. The maximum length of the assistance was 40 weeks. Results in the current report focus on the analyses of the simple “wet episode” recordings, used throughout the treatment. From the assisted group, 11 participants (78.6%) succeeded and nine (64.2%) were discharged. Of those undergoing individual assistance, seven (87.5%) succeeded, and six (75%) were discharged. These differences did not reach statistical significance. The individual assistance group, within the interval of six and ten months, proved to be more efficient in promoting discharge than the group assistance service, (p=0,030 and 0,045, respectively). In the other aspects, the two types of assistance demonstrated comparable results. Missing therapeutic sessions were associated with poorer treatment performance, independently of assistance type. It is concluded that group treatment for nocturnal enuresis is feasible in university clinics, especially considering the cost/benefit relationship.Keywords: urine alarm device; enuresis; adolescence; individual assistance; group assistance