Following on from last month’s article on hypnosis and eczema, Fiona Mantle considers hypnosis as an additional therapy for children with enuresis

Enuresis is defined as an involuntary discharge of urine by day or night or both in the absence of a congenital or acquired defect of the central nervous system or urinary tract in a child aged five years old or older. Of all childhood problems, enuresis is one of the most prevalent, affecting up to three quarters of a million children aged seven or over (Collins 1980). In addition, it would seem that fewer than half of those suffering are seen by doctors but, because of its chronic nature, once the condition has been diagnosed it can take up a significant amount of health professionals’ time (Novello and Novello 1987).