Degree of body weight in obesity and Rorschach personality aspects of mental distress.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between degree of obesity and personality measures of mental distress.


METHODS
The Rorschach method (Comprehensive System) and the Beck Depression Inventory. General descriptors were also included. Participants were 120 obese patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 41 (+/- SD 6) kg/m2.


RESULTS
Depression, stress or psychopathology such as distortions in perception and cognitions were not related to the degree of obesity. Body concern and body-related anxiety (An+Xy) were more common in relatively lower degrees of obesity. According to general descriptors heavier patients had lower educational and socio-economic level, and more bodily pain problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression was not related to body weight, in spite of findings of more depression in obesity compared to normal weights. Other factors than severity of obesity would account for the mental distress in obese patients. The differences in body concern and anxiety in varying degrees of obesity could be related to the social and educational context, where attitudes toward obesity differ. Less Rorschach signs of body concern in the morbidly obese contrasted with more self-reported bodily pain problems.
Elfhag
K
K
Obesity Unit, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Kristina.Elfhag@medhs.ki.se
Rössner
S
S
Carlsson
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012392:Rorschach Test; D012720:Severity of Illness Index