Personality profiles of the morbidly obese after vertical banded gastroplasty

Abstract

Background: The authors attempted to determine if mental status could predict personality profiles, 18 months after surgery in morbidly obese patients.

Methods: Personality characteristics of 100 morbidly obese patients (85 female, 15 male) were analyzed after bariatric surgery (vertical banded gastroplasty). Patients were given the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II). Data were compared with a Spanish clinical population to validate the test in our country.

Results: Significant differences were found in Schizoid scale (P<0.0001), Paranoid scale (P<0.001), Histrionic scale (P<0.0001), Compulsive scale (P<0.0001), and Delusional disorder scale (P<0.0001) between the two groups. When psychiatric comorbidity appeared, there were higher values on these scales.

Conclusions: Morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery show traits and personality disturbances, and the mental state impairs the personality structure.