Gastric bypass for morbid obesity: preoperative and postoperative psychological evaluation of patients

Twenty consecutive patients undergoing gastric bypass for morbid obesity were evaluated psychologically preoperatively and postoperatively by Minnesota Mulitphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) assessment, a Problem Index designed for the study, and semistructured interviews. Patients were classified into categories based on the extent of psychopathology demonstrated preoperatively, and into categories based on the presence or absence of postoperative complications. Eighty percent of the patients continue to do well or improve psychologically. Patients with postoperative complications showed no significant change in psychological status. Patients who did not experience postoperative complications showed significant improvement in depression, hysteria, poor morale, psychoticism, phobias, and health concerns. Psychological changes with surgery did not correlate with weight loss. All patients with complications were unmarried and more likely to be moderately or severely disturbed on preoperative MMPI assessment.