Psychological correlates of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and gastric bypass patients.
BACKGROUND
To compare psychological characteristics of patients seeking laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) and gastric bypass surgery.


METHODS
In the present study, 898 women were assessed as part of a comprehensive presurgical evaluation. Of these 898 patients, 107 (12%) were seeking LAGB surgery and 791 (88%) were seeking gastric bypass surgery. Their scores on a battery of psychological tests were compared with T-tests with Bonferroni correction.


RESULTS
Those patients seeking gastric bypass had greater body mass indices than those seeking LAGB. However, the analyses found no statistically significant differences on measures of IQ, depression, anxiety, anger, self-assessed reasons for weight gain, and psychopathology and personality as indicated by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 scale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychological evaluation can be helpful in identifying behavioral and emotional issues that merit adjunct psychological attention to optimize long-term surgical outcome. These results suggest that, as a group, no differential treatment planning needs to take place for psychological issues based on surgery performed.
Walfish
Steven
S
Independent Practice, Atlanta, GA, USA. psychpubs@aol.com