Psychologists' evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates influenced by patients' attachment representations and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
This study examines whether patients self-reported attachment representations and levels of depression and anxiety influenced psychologists' evaluations of morbidly obese patients applying for bariatric surgery. A sample of 250 patients (mean age 44, 84 % female) who were referred for bariatric surgery completed questionnaires to measure adult attachment and levels of depression and anxiety. Psychologists rated patients' suitability for bariatric surgery using the Cleveland Clinic Behavioural Rating System (CCBRS), unaware of the results of the completed questionnaires. Attachment anxiety (OR = 2.50, p = .01) and attachment avoidance (OR = 3.13, p = .001) were found to be associated with less positive evaluations on the CCBRS by the psychologists, and symptoms of depression and anxiety mediated this association. This study strongly supports the notion that patients' attachment representations influence a psychologist's evaluation in an indirect way by influencing the symptoms of depression and anxiety patients report during an assessment interview. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Department of Internal Medicine, Slotervaart Hospital, Louwesweg 6, 1066 EC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, floor.aarts@slz.nl.
Floor
F
Aarts
Chris
C
Hinnen
Victor E A
VE
Gerdes
Yair
Y
Acherman
Dees P M
DP
Brandjes
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires