Outcome following gastric bypass surgery: impact of past sexual abuse.
BACKGROUND
This study examined gastric bypass (GBP) outcome in 2 groups of morbidly obese females: those with a history of sexual abuse (SA) and those without a history of sexual abuse (NSA).


METHODS
Subjects were assessed preoperatively and at one of two time points following surgery: either 5 to 9 months or 10 to 14 months. Outcome measures included BMI, level of depression as measured through the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and level of self-esteem as measured through the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE).T-tests were conducted for pre and post scores between the 2 groups on each of the variables.


RESULTS
Of the 12 tests conducted, the only statistically significant difference was on BDI scores for the 5 to 9 month post-surgery groups, with the SA groups showing a significantly higher level of depression than the NSA group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that females with a history of sexual abuse are as successful with weight loss following GBP as those without a history of abuse. While females with a history of sexual abuse show significantly more depression 5 to 9 months after surgery, they are indistinguishable from those without a history of abuse 1 year following GBP.Thus, sexual abuse does not appear to be a negative prognostic indicator for GBP.
Buser
Amy
A
Institute of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA. atbuser@hotmail.com
Dymek-Valentine
Maureen
M
Hilburger
John
J
Alverdy
John
J
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012649:Self Concept; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss