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Conduct disorder, enuresis and specific developmental delays in two types of encopresis: a case-note study of 63 boys

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Abstract

Encopresis, defined as the passage of stool in an unacceptable place, may occur either as a failure to establish toilet training (primary encopresis), or as a subsequent breakdown in that training (secondary encopresis). A case-note study of sixty-three encopretic boys was undertaken to test the hypothesis that primary and secondary encopresis differed in their associated psychopathology. Boys with primary encopresis were more likely to have developmental delays (p<0.001) and enuresis (p<0.05) than boys with secondary encopresis. Those with secondary encopresis had excesses of psychosocial adversity (p<0.001) and conduct disorder (p<0.05) compared to those with primary encopresis. These results suggest that future research should clearly distinguish these two subtypes when investigating the associated psychopathology of encopresis in boys; research is needed to establish if these associations hold for girls also.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry School of Postgraduate-Medicine and Biological Sciences, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive Hartshill, ST4 7QB, Stoke-on-Trent, England

    D. M. Foreman

  2. Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to Mid-Staffordshire Health Authority, England

    M. S. Thambirajah

Authors
  1. D. M. Foreman
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  2. M. S. Thambirajah
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Foreman, D.M., Thambirajah, M.S. Conduct disorder, enuresis and specific developmental delays in two types of encopresis: a case-note study of 63 boys. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 5, 33–37 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708212

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708212

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