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Characterization of the Improvement in Depressive Symptoms Following Bariatric Surgery

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Abstract

Background

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) has been frequently employed as a measure of depression in studies of obesity, with the majority of studies reporting an improvement in scores following weight loss. Given the potential similarity in obesity-related and depressive symptoms, it is uncertain whether all components of depression would improve equally with weight loss.

Method

The study included obese patients who had undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery and had completed BDIs at baseline and 1 year after surgery. Two groups of patients were included, a general background group (N = 191, mean age = 41 ± 9, mean BMI = 43 ± 8) and a group identified as experiencing elevated depressive symptoms based on BDI scores ≥23 (EDS group; (N = 67, mean age = 40 ± 9, mean BMI = 45 ± 7).

Results

Overall, BDI scores fell for both groups, background group at baseline 17 ± 9–8 ± 7 at 1 year and for the EDS group at baseline 30 ± 5–14 ± 10 at 1 year. Patient scores on the negative self-attitude subscale were significantly greater than the two other subscales and showed the greatest improvement 1 year following LAGB. Preexisting antidepressant therapy had little or no association on the BDI scores or on its change following weight loss.

Conclusion

High rates of depression are continually reported in obesity, as is a remarkable decrease in depressive symptoms following weight loss. Negative attitudes towards one’s self appears to be driving elevated BDI scores rather than the overlap in physical symptoms between obesity and depression.

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Acknowledgements

CORE receives unrestricted research funding from Allergan.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

    Melissa J. Hayden & Paul E. O’Brien

  2. Department of General Practice, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

    John B. Dixon & Maureen E. Dixon

  3. Department of Management, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

    Tracey L. Shea

  4. Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), Monash University, Level 6, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia

    Melissa J. Hayden

Authors
  1. Melissa J. Hayden
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  2. John B. Dixon
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  3. Maureen E. Dixon
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  4. Tracey L. Shea
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  5. Paul E. O’Brien
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Correspondence to Melissa J. Hayden.

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Hayden, M.J., Dixon, J.B., Dixon, M.E. et al. Characterization of the Improvement in Depressive Symptoms Following Bariatric Surgery. OBES SURG 21, 328–335 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0215-y

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