When insurance is not a barrier: psychological factors predicting whether bariatric candidates undergo surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite the effectiveness of bariatric surgery, utilization rates have increased only marginally over the last 2 decades; candidates who are eligible for bariatric surgery regularly fail to undergo surgery. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) has previously been used to assist in identification of those who will not move forward with surgery after being identified as eligible. However, medical insurance has been identified as a significant barrier to surgery; research in those who have universal healthcare may yield different results. OBJECTIVES: Determine if MMPI-RF scales are associated with failure to undergo bariatric surgery in patients eligible to have the procedure. SETTING: Large military hospital in the Northwestern U.S. METHODS: This study used archival data for 279 patients psychologically screened for eligibility for bariatric surgery. All assessments took place between January 2017 and December 2019. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare groups of patients who did and did not have surgery on relevant medical and demographic variables. Profile analyses of patient MMPI-2-RF scores were conducted to examine scale associations with undergoing surgery. RESULTS: A total of 86 bariatric surgery candidates (30.8%) did not undergo surgery. Results showed that sex, age, employment status, and arthritis were different between groups. Additionally, MMPI-2-RF scales were different between groups, including somatic complaints, neurological complaints, cynicism, and helplessness/hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS: MMPI-2-RF scales were associated with not having bariatric surgery, although not all scales exceeded clinical cut-offs. Findings indicate psychological and psychosocial differences, rather than psychopathology per se, may play a role in who undergoes bariatric surgery.

The role of obesity severity in Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory-2-restructured form prediction of 12-month bariatric surgery outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) has been widely used in bariatric surgery samples. However, questions remain regarding its utility when predicting changes in body mass index over time following bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVES: Examine whether MMPI-2-RF scales differentially predict 12-month changes in body mass index (BMI) following bariatric surgery when comparing patients with Class III or higher versus Class II or lower obesity. SETTING: Military hospital in the Northwestern United States. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated data from 193 bariatric surgery patients who completed the MMPI-2-RF as part of presurgical evaluation requirements. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict body mass index over a 12-month postsurgical period based on MMPI-2-RF scales. Loss to follow-up rate was 30% during this period. RESULTS: Among patients with Class II or lower obesity, the Symptom Validity, Adjustment Validity, Response Bias, Cynicism, Aggression, Stress/Worry, and Anger Proneness scales showed a significant relationship to BMI after bariatric surgery. Among patients with Class III or higher obesity, the Infrequent Psychopathology Responses, Emotional / Internalizing Dysfunction, Ideas of Persecution, Multiple Specific Fears, and Inefficacy scales showed a significant relationship to body mass index after bariatric surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Certain MMPI-2-RF scales may have better utility in predicting bariatric surgery outcomes based on the patient's obesity severity. The interaction of metabolic and personality factors may play a significant role in weight change following bariatric surgery.

Psychological Profiles and 12-Month Weight Outcomes of Women Evaluated for Reoperative Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The use of psychological screening instruments prior to bariatric surgery has been well established. However, there is currently no specific literature on psychological screening of candidates for reoperative bariatric surgery. METHODS: This study evaluated archival data for 40 women who were candidates for reoperative bariatric surgery and completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Profile analysis examined differences between patient groups who did and did not undergo reoperative surgery. MMPI-2-RF profiles for reoperative patients then were compared to previous samples of preoperative and postoperative patients. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict BMI following reoperative surgery over a 12-month period based on MMPI-2-RF scales while controlling for age and initial BMI. RESULTS: Profile analysis results showed no significant differences on MMPI-2-RF scale scores between reoperative candidates who did and did not undergo a second surgery. With some minor differences attributed to minimization of symptoms, there were no systematic differences in MMPI-2-RF scale scores for reoperative surgery patients compared to preoperative and postoperative patient groups. BMI outcomes over a 12-month period showed that age and initial BMI were significantly better predictors than MMPI-2-RF scores. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of MMPI-2-RF for reoperative bariatric surgery patients likely is equivalent to its typical use in preoperative screening. Only the MMPI-2-RF Disconstraint scale showed any relationship to BMI outcomes over time following reoperative surgery.