title: Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced depressive symptoms and better sexual function in obese female patients: a one-year follow-up study.
abstract: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity; few studies, however, have investigated its impact on patients' sexuality. We aimed to determine bariatric surgery's effect on female patients' body mass index (BMI), anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sexual function and delineate predictors of treatment outcomes. Fifty-nine obese female bariatric candidates were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Female Sexual Function Index 1 week before surgery (T1) and 1 year after (T2). Statistical analysis revealed significant reductions in BMI (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001), and sexual pain levels (p = 0.014) and significant improvements in sexual desire (p = 0.005), arousal (p = 0.001), lubrication (p = 0.003), satisfaction (p = 0.012), and total sexual function (p = 0.003) postoperatively. Postoperative total sexual function was independently predicted by baseline sexual function and low baseline BMI. Bariatric surgery is an effective way to reduce weight, manage depression, and improve sexual function in female obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Patras Medical School, Rion Patras, 26504, Greece. kassim@med.upatras.gr
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaivazoglou
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panayiotopoulos
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hyphantis
authors.forename: Gregoris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iconomou
authors.forename: Fotis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalfarentzos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001143:Arousal; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult