Psychiatric disorders in obese patients range from 20% to 60%, with a lifetime prevalence as high as 70%. Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective therapy for long-term weight control and ameliorates comorbidities. After BS, psychiatric outcomes are still a matter of controversy. Moreover, while psychosocial pre-surgical evaluation is mandatory, post-operatively psychiatric follow-up programs are lacking. Aim of this prospective study was to examine changes in psychiatric symptoms and weight over 1 year of follow-up among a population of individuals submitted to BS.

One hundred forty eight participants were enrolled, 98 women and 50 men; mean age was 46 (SD = 10.7), and mean BMI was 46 (SD = 7.7). Clinical interview and self-report instruments were administered before and one year after BS. Depressive symptoms were measured using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Binge Eating Disorder was measured using Binge Eating Scale (BES).

One year after surgery 86% of patients achieved a percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) ≥40%. Rate of psychiatric comorbidities declined from 41% at pre-surgery to 12% at 1 year post-surgery, P = 0.01. BDI mean score declined from 12 to 8, P > 0.000. After BS, binge eating, depressive symptoms, and age were independent and significant predictors of %EWL (F6,523 = 79.599, P < 0.0001, adjR2 = 0.471).

We reported an improvement of psychiatric symptoms through 1 year after BS. Post surgical binge eating disorder and depression were associated with less weight loss after surgery, adding to the literature suggesting that psychiatric disorder after surgery, unlike pre-surgery, are related to suboptimal weight loss.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.