Patología psiquiátrica y cirugía bariátrica

Abstract

Medical treatments have shown poor outcomes, bariatric surgery has become a frequent treatment alternative for obesity. Obese patients seeking treatment have higher psychiatric comorbidity than not consulting ones. Bariatric surgery has allowed a reduction in medical comorbidity and some improvement in pre surgery psychopathology. Recent evidence reports a decrease in depressive disorders rate, improvement in self-esteem and life quality, in direct association with weight reduction, with no significant anxiety changes. Although weight decrease should help to have a better social life, important difficulties in adapting to the new environment can emerge. An increase in suicides and problematic alcohol use has been observed, as well as a decrease in binge eating disorder with further appearance of compensatory behavior, distorted body image, and marital problems. Pre surgery personality disorder could be a risk factor for a negative outcome. In this context a rigorous post surgery follow up is desirable, in order to optimize mental health benefits of massive weight reduction.