Psychological changes of a sample of morbid obese patients before and after bariatric surgery

Abstract

Objective Morbid obesity (defined as a BMI>40) is a severe condition in developing countries. Morbid obese patients are at high risk for psychiatric and psychological dysfunctional disorders. Moreover, many of bariatric surgery candidates experience mood disorders, anxiety, and eating disorders after bariatric surgery. Patients and methods Psychological assessment was done using the Arabic version of structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition axis I disorders for 70 morbid obese patients (22 males and 48 females), with mean age of 36.57 years, at Al-Zahraa University Hospital, before they underwent bariatric surgery. Psychiatric reassessment for the same patients was done 6 months later after the operation. Results The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among 70 morbid obesity participants who underwent obesity surgery was 48.6%, depression was 45.71%, anxiety was 12.86%, and eating disorders (binge eating) was 11.43% before surgery, whereas reassessment 6 months after surgery by reusing Arabic version of structured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition axis I disorders showed decrease in psychiatric disorders by 20.6%, decrease in diagnosis of depression by 37.5%, and eating disorders, especially binge eating, by 62.5%, but no difference in anxiety. Conclusion The results highlight the importance of psychological assessment and counseling before and after bariatric surgery to help patients to achieve their goal of losing weight and improve their quality of life after surgery.