Personality changes after gastric banding surgery for morbid obesity. A prospective study

89 morbidly obese patients completed the Basic Character Inventory before and 1 and 3 years after horizontal gastric banding surgery. The aim of the study was to compare preoperative scores of personality traits with those of a normal population, and to examine any change in scores on the different personality traits at the follow-up tests. There was a uniform tendency to higher scores on the Oral cluster traits (Self-doubt, Insecurity, Sensitivity, Dependence, Compliance and Emotional instability) among the patients compared to normals. There was a general significant decrease in the post-operative scores on the Oral cluster traits present already at the 1 year follow-up, most pronounced for Self-doubt, Insecurity and Sensitivity. On the other hand there was a significant increase in the postoperative scores on the Obsessive traits: Parsimony and Orderliness. As a group these patients did not show any adverse changes in their personality traits, on the contrary they seemed less neurotic and possibly exerted more control of their situation after the operation and weight loss.