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Psychological assessment of candidates for bariatric surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Mark Davies
Mark Davies*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Belfast City Hospital Trust, 95 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AE, Northern Ireland
*
Correspondence Email: mark.davies@bch.n-i.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Objectives: National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines indicate that pre-surgical assessment of patients wishing to undergo bariatric surgery should include consideration of psychological factors. This paper describes the psychological characteristics of a cohort of 59 patients.

Method: Patients were interviewed and completed the following psychometric assessments: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Dieting Belief Scale, the Binge Eating Scale, the Emotional Eating Scale, the Generalised Self Efficacy Scale, and the Social Support Questionnaire.

Results: High levels of psychological distress and binge eating were reported. Men more commonly reported a history of alcohol misuse. There was evidence to suggest that psychological distress predated obesity in the majority of cases.

Conclusion: Compulsive eating leading to obesity appears to be both a consequence and a cause of psychological distress. Replacing compulsive eating represents a major post-surgical challenge in the majority of cases. Psychological assessment and follow-up should be offered to each patient.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , September 2007 , pp. 99 - 102
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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