Other factors suggested to be important in the development of IC or the severity of its symptoms include psychological factors, allergies, and the urinary excretion of as yet unidentified toxic substances that result from either dietary or drug intake. Unfortunately, there is a relative lack of objective data to evaluate the effectiveness of any of the four main most commonly used therapeutic approaches. Alternatively, hydrodistention of the bladder is used in the diagnostic evaluation and may be an effective method to decrease symptoms. Open surgical procedures, such as radical cystectomy, are the only curative treatments available but carry substantial associated morbidity. It is intriguing that some patients experience a decrease in symptoms following dietary modification, yet this has not been examined in a rigorous manner.
Psychologic counselling is often helpful for patients as they learn to cope with a chronic disease.
IC has been the subject of surprisingly little rigorous research, thus current practice is based primarily on anecdotal evidence, case reports, and small trials. Further study of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of IC is needed to improve our ability to detect, treat and perhaps prevent this disease. Complete collection of this information will then enable researchers to better define the spectrum of this syndrome. The scarcity of randomized controlled trials evaluating the various treatments of IC emphasizes the need for further study of therapeutic interventions. It is likely that certain subgroups of patients with IC will respond better to one type of treatment than another.