Weight loss and psychopathology: a three-cluster MMPI typology

The present study investigated the effects of a treatment, including diet, exercise, and psychoeducational groups, on the severity of the psychopathology of obese subjects. The 120 subjects (60 male and 60 female), aged 20 to 50 years, were hospitalised for about two months. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) at the start was 40.9 (SD = 5.3) and at the end 34.3 (SD = 5.5). The MMPI and clinical interview were administered to the subjects. The aims of the study were to see if there was change between the beginning and the end of treatment and to individuate groups of subjects homogeneous for the severity of the psychopathology at the start of treatment and to relate the severity to changes, whether worsening or improving, at the end of treatment. A multivariate analysis of variance showed significant change in scores on the psychological variables after treatment. Cluster analysis divided the patients into three groups with different severity of psychopathology. There were significant decreases on Hypochondriasis, Depression, and Social Introversion. Scores of the subjects with the most severe psychopathological traits changed most.