Overactive bladder is a 'misleading term'

The term "overactive bladder" is misleading and serves a commercial rather than diagnostic use.

This is the opinion of Dr Kari Tikkinen from the Heads of University Counselling Services (HUCS) Department of Urology, who claims that "overactive bladder syndrome has become an accepted way to simplify a complex array of symptoms".

What's more, the term tricks patients into believing that the condition is an "independent disease in itself", rather than several factors generating symptoms.

Under the current definition, patients with overactive bladder syndrome experience urinary urgency with or without urgency incontinence.

However, this misconception and amalgamation of symptoms is often why medications fail to treat the problem, according to Dr Tikkinen.

Instead, symptoms must be studied individually to develop effective medications and therapies to treat the condition.

It is currently believed darifenacin can substantially improve the quality of life for people with overactive bladder symptoms, but a cure has yet been found.

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