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Objective: The aim of this study is to present the clinical features of children with encopresis, their comorbid psychiatric disorders, the relation between types of encopresis and comorbid psychiatric disorders and the relation between the suggested treatment type and continuation of treatment. Method: The study population consisted of children who were older than 4 years and referred to the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic with soiling, between July 2005 and June 2007. Clinical charts of patients with fecal soiling were examined retrospectively. Findings: Of a group of children who were referred to our department with a complaint of soiling, 107 [83 boys, 24 girls] were found to fulfill the diagnostic criteria for encopresis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. Of the 107 participants, 22 [20.6%] had primary encopresis and 85 [79.4%] had secondary encopresis. 74 [69.2%] of the patients met the criteria for at least one comorbid disorder. The patients with secondary encopresis had a significantly higher rate of comorbidity [p=0.039]. Behavioral treatment was provided to 44.9% of the patients, psychopharmacologic treatment was given to 18.7% and a combined treatment was provided to 36.4% of the patients. Discussion and Conclusion: Encopresis is a disruptive impairment that may affect a child's social, emotional, and educational development. Encopresis is frequently accompanied by a psychiatric disorder. This study shows significantly high rates of behavioral and emotional problems in children who soil. Clinicians need to inquire about symptoms of other psychiatric disorders in patients who present with encopresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enuresis and encopresis can be stressful for children and parents. We investigated the comorbid psychiatric disorders and the emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with elimination disorders. A total of 97 children and adolescents (aged 4-17 years) with an elimination disorder participated in this study. The elimination disorder group consisted of three subgroups: 50 subjects with enuresis nocturna, 26 with encopresis, and 21 subjects with enuresis+encopresis. The control group with no elimination disorder comprised 50 healthy subjects. All children were interviewed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Comorbid psychiatric disorders were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The most common diagnosis was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, followed by oppositional defiant disorder. The highest rate of psychiatric comorbidity was observed in the enuresis+encopresis subgroup, followed by the enuresis nocturna and encopresis subgroups. All the subgroups had higher total difficulties scores than the control group. Screening for psychiatric disorders should be performed for all children with incontinence., (Copyright © 2020 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)