Prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery

Abstract

Morbid obesity is associated to several psychiatric disorders and bariatric surgery is a therapeutic option. Current research characterizes the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in patients who underwent bariatric surgery at the Regional Hospital of Maringá and at the Obesity Surgery Center of Maringá, Maringá PR Brazil. Study was undertaken with 50 morbid obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery and comprised different periods, namely, pre-surgery, one month after surgery, three months after surgery and six months after surgery. Depressive disorder was evaluated by Beck’s Depression Inventory and by the Hospital Scale of Anxiety and Depression (HAD). Results show prevalence of anxiety in 40% (20) of patients during the pre-surgery period; 18% during the 1^st post-surgery month; 8% during the 3^rd post-surgery month and 14% during the 6^th post-surgery month. High rates of depression were found in 26% (13) of patients in the pre-surgery period; 10% in the 1^st and 3^rd post-surgery month and 8% in the 6^th post-surgery month. Levels of anxiety were actually high in the pre-operative period but they decreased in the 1^st and 3^rd months after surgery. However, a rise during the 6^th month was reported which reached higher levels than that during the 3^rd month.