Mark
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 Posted: 06/18/07 - 16:45 Post subject: Stress Compromises Gastric Bypass Surgery |
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Gastric bypass is a surgery in which the stomach is being reduced as well as bypassing part of the small intestine where digestion occurs.
In their new study, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, found that people who suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression may benefit less from gastric bypass surgery than those not diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
The success of the surgery depends largely on the level of anxiety overweight or obese person is affected. In the study, people diagnosed with either mood or anxiety disorders lost an average of 81 pounds in the 6 months period after they underwent gastric bypass surgery while those with no mental health problems lost 86 pounds for the same period of time.
Many hospitals as well as insurance companies require people who are intended to go under the knife to first undergo psychological evaluations to evaluate if they are mentally fit. Depressed people and those at risk of attempting suicide are not advised to undergo the surgery.
In order for the surgery to give positive results, a person undergoing it, needs to have a strong will to make life-style changes. Those with anxiety and mood disorders usually don’t have strong will power to make that kind of changes.
In an interview made with 207 obesity surgery candidates, 2 thirds of them were found to have a history of depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome or panic attacks.
People with such disorders and lifetime history of mental health problems may benefit only from closer medical surveillance. |
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