Urethral Syndrome in the female ("irritable bladder"): the expression of fantasies about the urogenital area.

The urethral syndrome is a frequently encountered psychosomatic disorder; it constitutes the main complaint of some 20% of all women who consult a urologist. After a brief survey of the history of this syndrome, the authors examine 55 case reports of women with the urethral syndrome. The authors particularly emphasize the significance of the manner in which patients describe their perceptions of the pain, which is a valuable diagnostic sign. A follow-up study of patients for 3 to 21 years after the first interview demonstrated the releative efficiency of the various forms of treatment. A discussion of the therapeutic possibilities and their limitations follows.