title: Psychopathology, psychosocial factors and obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between obesity and socio-demographic and psychopathological variables in a clinical sample of patients referred to a center for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity, compared with a homogeneous sample of normal-weight subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the context of a research project regarding obesity and psychopathology, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between obesity and the demographic and clinical variables, on the basis of the dataset of a consecutive sample of 293 obese patients (48 males, 245 females, mean age: 45.41±13.55, mean body mass index [BMI] 35.6±6.2)compared with a control group of 293 non-obese subjects (48 males, 245 females, mean age 45.66±13.86, mean BMI 21.8±2.06). All subjects were assessed by structured clinical interview, the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis for axis I DSM-IV (SCID-I) and for axis II DSM-IV(SCID-II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the status of housewife and the presence of lifetime axis I and II psychiatric diagnosis in general, and of depressive, anxiety, eating and some personality disorders in particular, significantly increased the likelihood of being overweight/obese. The likelihood for different combinations of risk factors increased from a value of 32.3% for an individual not exposed to any risk factor, to a value of 86.7% for those exposed to all risk factors considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of an axis I and/or II diagnosis and housewife status are both independently associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight/obese. The interaction of these factors increases this likelihood. Even taking into account the limits of the study, in particular of its cross-sectional nature, these findings may have important implications in both prevention and treatment of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Unit of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Unit of Epidemiology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Unit of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Italy - H. Shultz Institute, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.affiliation: Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Velluzzi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity, University Hospital, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loviselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Unit of Epidemiology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Contu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Unit of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpiniello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires