BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgeries have been considered an alternative for treatment of morbid obesity. Some adverse events that people experience after the treatment frequently are the consequence of the lack of consistent knowledge associated with psychosocial factors that are related to the pre-surgery status of the patients. AIM: To evaluate psychosocial variables of 414 candidates for bariatric surgery from Clinical Hospital of Medical School at University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. METHODS: Semi-structured interview, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Binge Eating Scale (BES) were used. RESULTS: BMI was higher among patients who had no employment (p = 0.019). Female, patients who had a partner and patients with a BMI < 50 kg/m², all of them desired have a lower weight (p < 0.001). BAI scores were higher among patients who had no employment (p < 0.05) and higher among those with a BMI > 50 kg/m² (p < 0.05). BDI scores were higher among women (p < 0.05) and lower among those who had an employment (p < 0.01). No difference in BES was found. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that women showed higher indicators of anxiety and depression, suggesting that they had a more fragile psychological functioning with difficulties in coping with distress. Self-perception as well as skills and abilities, may reflect internal aspects of individual's personality. Patients who had an employment before surgery seemed have more emotional resources. So, they may feel less distress because the employment may protect them. Women and those who did not have an employment were more likely to experience depression symptoms. Furthermore, patients who did not have an employment and those with BMI> 50 kg / m² were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms.
Depression; Bariatric Surgery; Anxiety; Employment
