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Psychiatric Disorders and Participation in Pre- and Postoperative Counselling Groups in Bariatric Surgery Patients

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Abstract

Background

Psychological and behavioural factors seem to influence the results of bariatric surgery and the ability to achieve sustained weight loss and subjective wellbeing after the operation. Adequate pre- and postoperative psychological counselling are suggested to improve the results of surgery. However, some patients are reluctant to participate in pre- and postoperative counselling. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible influence of psychiatric disorders on willingness to participate in group counselling in patients accepted for bariatric surgery.

Methods

One hundred and forty-one patients referred to bariatric surgery (F/M: 103/38) with mean body mass index (BMI) of 45.2 kg/m2 (SD = 5.3) and mean age of 42.0 years (SD = 10.4) were interviewed with Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-II) preoperatively.

Results

The overall prevalence of current psychiatric disorders was 49%. Thirty-one percent did not want to participate in counselling groups. Patients who were unwilling to participate in counselling groups had significantly higher prevalence of social phobia (32%/ 12%, p = 0.006) and avoidant personality disorder (27%/ 12%, p = 0.029) than patients who agreed to participate.

Conclusions

Psychiatric disorders are prevalent among candidates for bariatric surgery. Social phobia and avoidant personality disorder seem to influence the willingness to participate in counselling groups. Individual counselling and/or web-based counselling might be recommended for bariatric surgery patients who are reluctant to participate in group counselling.

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank Oddbjørn Hove (PhD) at Section of Mental Health Research, Haugesund Hospital for help with preparing the manuscript.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Mental Health Research, Haugesund Hospital, Helse Fonna HF, P.O. Box 2170, 5504, Haugesund, Norway

    Haldis Ø. Lier, Eva Biringer & Bjarte Stubhaug

  2. HEMIL Research Centre for Health Promotion, Unifob Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Hege R. Eriksen

  3. Section of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Bjarte Stubhaug & Tone Tangen

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  1. Haldis Ø. Lier
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  2. Eva Biringer
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  3. Bjarte Stubhaug
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  5. Tone Tangen
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Correspondence to Haldis Ø. Lier.

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The study was supported by a grant from the Western Regional Health Authority, Norway.

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Lier, H.Ø., Biringer, E., Stubhaug, B. et al. Psychiatric Disorders and Participation in Pre- and Postoperative Counselling Groups in Bariatric Surgery Patients. OBES SURG 21, 730–737 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0146-7

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