Lower urinary tract symptoms, nocturia and overactive bladder in patients with depression and anxiety

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) remain highly prevalent worldwide, and are well known to negatively impact patients' quality of life, sleep and psychosocial wellbeing. Conversely, both depression and anxiety have been shown to have a negative effect on perception, development and prolongation of LUTS. This paper provides an overview of an association between the lower urinary tract symptoms, depression and anxiety. It also explores possible common mechanisms underlying the causes of both conditions. There has been a large body of evidence linking LUTS with anxiety and/or depression. Studies have documented not only a significant impact of LUTS on the psychosocial wellbeing, but also showed a strong negative effect of depression and anxiety on perception, development and prolongation of LUTS. High level of psychiatric morbidity has important implications on the appropriate management in patients with LUTS, as well as LUTS may have important implications on development and management of depression and anxiety. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the bidirectional association between LUTS and anxiety and/or depression, as some patients may require a multidisciplinary approach and a combined treatment. The precise common mechanism underlying LUTS, depression and anxiety remain largely unknown and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological pathways.