How stress and anxiety affect overactive bladder symptoms
Official title: Stress and Anxiety Effects on Overactive Bladder: A Controlled Study
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10903961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress and anxiety affect people with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, like needing to go to the bathroom often, to help find better ways to manage these issues and improve their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $378,813 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129624-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10903961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing symptoms of overactive bladder, particularly those who also experience anxiety or stress.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without symptoms of overactive bladder or those not experiencing anxiety or stress may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between stress, anxiety, and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, which include urinary urgency and frequency. It aims to understand how psychological factors contribute to the behaviors people adopt to manage OAB, such as fluid restriction and planning restroom access. By conducting controlled studies, the research will explore how stress impacts bladder function and the overall quality of life for individuals with OAB. The findings could lead to more personalized treatment approaches for patients suffering from this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management strategies for patients with overactive bladder, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a link between anxiety and overactive bladder, but this study aims to explore the less understood relationship with stress, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sebesta, Elisabeth M — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Sebesta, Elisabeth M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How stress and anxiety affect overactive bladder
This project explores whether stress and anxiety make overactive bladder symptoms worse and lead people with OAB to use coping behaviors that reduce quality of life.
-
Doula support to improve mood and anxiety health for rural mothers
A rural-focused program tests whether birth doulas can boost confidence, support, and maternal health for new mothers with mood and anxiety concerns.
-
Understanding how heavy drinking and anxiety relate in emerging adults
This grant studies how heavy alcohol use and anxiety symptoms interact in young adults (ages 18–34) and what biological stress markers might reveal about that relationship.
-
Molecular and brain circuits linked to anxiety disorders
A researcher is studying a specific brain circuit to understand what drives anxiety and how it could be treated for people with anxiety disorders.
-
Expressive Writing to Help Sexual Minority Veterans with Depression and Anxiety
A brief writing program to help sexual minority veterans feel less depression and anxiety.
-
Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.