Overweight/obese Patient Referrals to Plastic Surgery: Temperamental and Personality Traits

Abstract

Introduction

Correlations between psychiatric disorders and overweight/obesity are reported in the literature. The study aimed at detecting correlations between psychiatric disorders, temperamental traits and body image perception in overweight and obese patients who seek surgical lipostructuring treatments.

Methods

28 overweight/obese patients (age 18–60 yrs, BMI 25 to 34.9 at recruitment) were enrolled in the period March 2008–June 2011 between those referring to the outpatient service for Obesity-related lipodystrophisms of the Institute of Plastic Surgery. Presence of psychiatric disorders, temperamental traits and body image perception were evaluated, and compared to a control group (n = 25) from general population sharing clinical/demographic features. Psychiatric evaluation was based on acquisition of clinical history, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Beck Depression Inventory, Yale Brown Scale (YBOCS), Paykel Life Events Scale, NEO Five Factory Inventory, Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ).

Results

The patients group presented higher scoring in lifetime depression and BSQ with moderate/mild concern with body shapes. With regard to personality traits, TPQ revealed higher score in subscale RD4 (dependence/independence) in the patients, while controls scored higher in “openness to experience” NEO-FFI sub-scale. At YBOCS obese patients presented higher prevalence of obsessive characters.

Conclusion

The affective sphere is a relevant feature in obese patients, but also obsessive traits, as negative body shape perception and temperamental and personality characteristics appear to be involved in leading patients to seek surgical consultation. These aspects are implicated in medical/surgical outcome and compliance to treatments.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.