BACKGROUND: Many bariatric surgery programs require that candidates undergo a preoperative mental health evaluation. Candidates may be motivated to suppress or exaggerate psychiatric symptoms (i.e., engage in impression management), if they believe doing so will enhance their chances of receiving a recommendation to proceed with surgery. METHOD: 237 candidates for bariatric surgery completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-ll) as part of their preoperative psychological evaluation (Time 1). They also completed the BDI-II approximately 2-4 weeks later, for research purposes, after they had received the mental health professional's unconditional recommendation to proceed with surgery (Time 2). RESULTS: There was a small but statistically significant increase in mean BDI-II scores from Time 1 to Time 2 (11.4 vs 12.7, P<.001). Clinically significant changes, defined as a change from one range of symptom severity to another, were observed in 31.2% of participants, with significant increases in symptoms occurring nearly twice as often as reductions (20.7% vs 10.5%, P<.008). Demographic variables were largely unrelated to changes in BDI-II scores from Time 1 to Time 2. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of bariatric surgery candidates reported a clinically significant change in depressive symptoms after receiving psychological "clearance" for surgery. Possible explanations for these findings include measurement error, impression management, and true changes in psychiatric status.
BACKGROUND: Many bariatric surgery programs require that candidates undergo a preoperative mental health evaluation. Candidates may be motivated to suppress or exaggerate psychiatric symptoms (i.e., engage in impression management), if they believe doing so will enhance their chances of receiving a recommendation to proceed with surgery. METHOD: 237 candidates for bariatric surgery completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-ll) as part of their preoperative psychological evaluation (Time 1). They also completed the BDI-II approximately 2-4 weeks later, for research purposes, after they had received the mental health professional's unconditional recommendation to proceed with surgery (Time 2). RESULTS: There was a small but statistically significant increase in mean BDI-II scores from Time 1 to Time 2 (11.4 vs 12.7, P<.001). Clinically significant changes, defined as a change from one range of symptom severity to another, were observed in 31.2% of participants, with significant increases in symptoms occurring nearly twice as often as reductions (20.7% vs 10.5%, P<.008). Demographic variables were largely unrelated to changes in BDI-II scores from Time 1 to Time 2. CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of bariatric surgery candidates reported a clinically significant change in depressive symptoms after receiving psychological "clearance" for surgery. Possible explanations for these findings include measurement error, impression management, and true changes in psychiatric status.
Authors: Gerbrand C M van Hout; Petra Boekestein; Frederiek A M Fortuin; Aline J M Pelle; Guus L van Heck Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Melissa A Kalarchian; Marsha D Marcus; Michele D Levine; Anita P Courcoulas; Paul A Pilkonis; Rebecca M Ringham; Julia N Soulakova; Lisa A Weissfeld; Dana L Rofey Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 18.112
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Authors: LaShanda R Jones-Corneille; Thomas A Wadden; David B Sarwer; Lucy F Faulconbridge; Anthony N Fabricatore; Rebecca M Stack; Faith A Cottrell; Melissa E Pulcini; Victoria L Webb; Noel N Williams Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Alexandra Osterhues; Thomas von Lengerke; Julian W Mall; Martina de Zwaan; Astrid Müller Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 4.129