title: Psychopathology in a sample of candidate patients for bariatric surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of morbid obesity and the popularity of bariatric surgery have grown in recent years. Many surgical protocols require that the candidates undergo a pre-operative psychological evaluation. We describe the psychopathological characteristics of both clinical syndromes (Axis I of the DSM-IV), as well as personality disorders (Axis II of the DSM-IV), in a sample of morbidly obese patients accepted as bariatric surgery candidates and who participate in a specific surgery preparatory programme, and we analyze its relationship with personality clusters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) scores from 50 patients attending for bariatric surgery were cluster analyzed in hopes of identifying clinical subgroups corresponding to typical personality profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to personality disorders, the highest prevalence was found in the histrionic disorder, followed by obsessive- compulsive disorder. Cluster analysis revealed three personality profiles, which were validated by examining demographics, morphological variables, scores on anxiety and depression psychometric scales, and MCMI-III clinical scales scores. Groups were different in virtually all the MCMI-III clinical scores, as well as in depression and trait anxiety, with Cluster 3 presenting the worst scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that morbidly obese patients are heterogeneous in their psychological profiles, highlighting Cluster C disorders.
authors: University General Hospital of Alicante, Spain.
authors: Enrique Pérez
authors: EP
authors: Martínez
authors: Sonia Tirado
authors: ST
authors: González
authors: Margarita Mateu
authors: MM
authors: Vicente
authors: Carlos J
authors: CJ
authors: van-der Hofstadt Román
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Rodríguez-Marín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D055815:Young Adult