Psychological and Behavioral Aspects of Primary and Reoperative Surgery: a 6-Month Longitudinal Study

Psychological Profiles and 12-Month Weight Outcomes of Women Evaluated for Reoperative Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

The use of psychological screening instruments prior to bariatric surgery has been well established. However, there is currently no specific literature on psychological screening of candidates for reoperative bariatric surgery.

METHODS

This study evaluated archival data for 40 women who were candidates for reoperative bariatric surgery and completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Profile analysis examined differences between patient groups who did and did not undergo reoperative surgery. MMPI-2-RF profiles for reoperative patients then were compared to previous samples of preoperative and postoperative patients. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict BMI following reoperative surgery over a 12-month period based on MMPI-2-RF scales while controlling for age and initial BMI.

RESULTS

Profile analysis results showed no significant differences on MMPI-2-RF scale scores between reoperative candidates who did and did not undergo a second surgery. With some minor differences attributed to minimization of symptoms, there were no systematic differences in MMPI-2-RF scale scores for reoperative surgery patients compared to preoperative and postoperative patient groups. BMI outcomes over a 12-month period showed that age and initial BMI were significantly better predictors than MMPI-2-RF scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of MMPI-2-RF for reoperative bariatric surgery patients likely is equivalent to its typical use in preoperative screening. Only the MMPI-2-RF Disconstraint scale showed any relationship to BMI outcomes over time following reoperative surgery.

Bariatric surgery alleviates depression in obese patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the rapid increase in the incidence of depression, there have been studies investigating whether bariatric surgery can alleviate this condition. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of bariatric surgery on depression in obese patients.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library databases for studies on bariatric surgery and depression. Then, the clinical significance of bariatric surgery on depression was evaluated based on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) or Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Subgroup analysis was carried out in terms of surgery types, assessment tool, follow-up time and nationalism. Dichotomous data were analyzed using odds ratio (OR), and continuous data were evaluated using the weighted mean difference (WMD) or standardized mean difference (SMD).

RESULTS

Overall, 33 studies with a combined total of 12,556 participants met the inclusion criteria. Statistical results were significantly different whether continuous or dichotomous, and depression was improved in obese patients after surgery (SMD = -0.87, p < 0.001; and OR = 0.29, p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, subgroup analysis showed that bariatric surgery improved depression in obese patients regardless of surgery types, assessment tool, follow-up and country.

CONCLUSION

Bariatric surgery alleviates depression in obese patients. However, further studies are needed to elucidate on the complex effect of between bariatric surgery on depression.

Grazing Behavior Hinders Weight Loss in Long-Term Post Bariatric Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Grazing behavior is common in patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BS); however, little is known about grazing behavior in operated patients in the long term. We aimed to estimate grazing frequency and its association with weight loss and surgery response in patients who had undergone BS.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 109 patients who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at least 5 years previously. They answered questions about socioeconomic factors, surgical information, and adherence to treatment/follow-up. The Rep(eat) questionnaire was used for grazing assessment. Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to evaluate differences between groups. Analysis of covariance and partial correlation were used to investigate grazing behavior, and weight loss outcomes were controlled for the elapsed time since BS, healthcare service type, current psychologist care status, and the presence of a constriction ring.

RESULTS

The mean elapsed time since BS was 9.97 ± 2.39 years. Patients with grazing behavior (67%) comprised fewer surgery responders (p = 0.019), had lower total (%TWL, p = 0.005) and excess weight loss (%EWL, p = 0.029), and received less psychological counseling (45.5% vs. 54.5%, p = 0.042). Correlations were found between the presence of grazing and its subtypes and %EWL and %TWL (T = - 0.382, T = - 0.361, p < 0.001; compulsive grazing: T = - 0.358, T = - 0.342, p < 0.001, p = 0.001; non-compulsive grazing: T = - 0.333, T = - 0.311, p = 0.001, p = 0.003). No significant difference between patients with and without grazing behavior was found for previous/current diagnoses of psychological diseases or dietitian counseling.

CONCLUSION

Grazing behavior is common in the long-term among patients who have undergone BS and is negatively related to weight loss parameters.

Eating Behavior after Bariatric Surgery (EBBS) Questionnaire: a New Validated Tool to Quantify the Patients' Compliance to Post-Bariatric Dietary and Lifestyle Suggestions

PURPOSE

In the management of bariatric surgery follow-up, a multidisciplinary approach allows to evaluate the weight loss maintenance and the dietary and lifestyle changes adherence. The main aim of this study is to create and to validate a questionnaire (eating behavior after bariatric surgery (EBBS)) to objectivize the compliance to dietary/lifestyle suggestions after bariatric surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational retrospective monocentric clinical trial was carried out at the Bariatric Surgery Unit of Modena, Italy. All weight-related data of bariatric surgery patients collected during the multidisciplinary post-surgical path were recorded. EBBS questionnaire and three validated psychological tests were administered. EBBS includes 11 questions concerning food (domain A), drinks (B), behaviors (C), and lifestyle (S). All data analyzed in the study were collected during the same visit.

RESULTS

In 41 enrolled patients (52.2 + 11.9 years), the total weight loss after surgery was 44.87 + 18.37 kg (- 35.40 + 11.60%), with a weight loss maintenance of 86.92 + 14.30%. The EBBS questionnaire showed a good internal validity (Cronbach's alpha 0.743, Hotelling's T-square test p < 0.001). The S domain was directly related with the percentage of weight loss maintained (p = 0.048), suggesting that the frequent physical activity and the periodic weight self-check are the most predictive behaviors to obtain weight control. None of the psychological questionnaires appeared related to the weight trend.

CONCLUSIONS

We validated for the first time a 11-item self-filling questionnaire allowing to quantify the adaption to dietary/lifestyle suggestions provided after bariatric surgery. EBBS questionnaire could be a useful tool both in clinical and research setting to monitor the patient's adherence to post-surgical indications and to identify predictive factors for bariatric surgery efficacy.

The utility of DSM-5 indicators of loss of control eating for the bariatric surgery population

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the utility of DSM-5 indicators of loss of control (LOC) eating in adult bariatric surgery patients who presented with binge-eating episodes.

METHODS

Participants (all women) were 40 preoperative and 28 postoperative bariatric surgery patients reporting objective binge eating (OBE), 46 preoperative and 52 postoperative with subjective binge-eating (SBE), 53 bulimia nervosa (BN) controls, and 34 binge-eating disorder (BED) controls. Face-to-face Eating Disorder Examination interviews and questionnaires were administered. ANOVA, T-test, χ ² , and regressions compared the groups in terms of LOC indicators endorsed and to explain disordered eating psychopathology.

RESULTS

The indicator most commonly reported by bariatric patients with OBE was "feeling disgusted" (90% and 75% of pre- and postoperative groups), and the least endorsed was "eating alone" (40 and 28.6%). These indicators were reported by >84.9% of the BN and BED. Bariatric patients (pre- or post-surgery) with OBE only reported a higher number of indicators than patients with SBE only (t(150) = 2.34, p = .021). A higher number of indicators reported were associated with increased eating-related psychopathology (F(1,134) = 31.06, p < .001), but only for the post-surgery patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The LOC indicators proposed by DSM-5 need to be refined or revised for the bariatric population. Highlights Bariatric patients endorse fewer LOC indicators than BN or BED during a binge-eating episode. Some of the DSM-5 LOC indicators may not be suited to assess episodes of loss of control eating among bariatric patients. The Higher the number of LOC indicators reported, the higher the eating-related psychopathology.

Eating Pathology After Bariatric Surgery: an Updated Review of the Recent Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of this paper was to extend the prior literature on eating pathology following bariatric surgery by highlighting themes in data published over the past 3 years and identifying limitations and future directions for research.

RECENT FINDINGS

Changes in eating pathology after bariatric surgery remain consistent with previous research. Specifically, diagnostic prevalence rates and incidence of related behaviors generally decrease following surgery. However, some research supports that these factors increase and/or remit over time following surgery, and that they subsequently have a negative impact on weight loss outcomes. While recent findings have extended knowledge on eating pathology following bariatric surgery, the overall body of literature is still relatively limited. Additional research is needed, including work focusing on the standardization of eating pathology definitions, development/validation of standardized eating pathology instruments for bariatric surgery patients, and predictors of risk for continued or new onset eating pathology following surgery.