20% of WLS candidates flunk psych exam

About one in every five people who were candidates for bariatric weight-loss surgery did not receive the recommended psychiatric clearance for the procedure, a U.S. study shows.

Psychiatric evaluations are part of the preoperative screening process in most bariatric surgery programs, notes a team from the Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University in Providence.

The most common reasons why patients did not receive psychiatric clearance included frequent overeating to cope with stress/emotional distress; a current eating disorder; or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders.

The researchers also found that the decision to clear candidates for bariatric surgery is made with high reliability -- meaning that a review of available information by independent psychiatrists would result in the same decision.

"The goal of psychiatric evaluation is not to keep patients from having the surgery. Rather, the goal is to determine if there are any problems that might interfere with the success of surgery, and have the patient get treatment for these problems," study author Dr. Mark Zimmerman, director of outpatient psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, said in a prepared statement.

He said a patient is "more likely to have a positive outcome from surgery that is delayed to allow time to address the problems."

The study appears in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

-- Robert Preidt

Interesting article Boner.  However, at least where I live, I would say that 20% (at least) of the GENERAL POPULATION has some type of mental issue!  Not just WLS patients!  LOL

You know this is why I'm glad for the DS. According to the Meauru (sp?) 15 year study ...which I have on my profile...the DS required no significant change in diet to achieve and maintain weight loss.

I am an emotional eater, I was preop, and I still am post op...while the issue is MUCH MUCH better, it still crops up every so often. Forunately I have a surgery that helps me keep the weight off.

FYI I think there are lots of people (if these boards are indications) that get cleared for WLS *****ally aren't mentally able to handle it.

FYI I think there are lots of people (if these boards are indications) that get cleared for WLS *****ally aren't mentally able to handle it.

A-******g-men.

I don't want to start a **** storm, but there's some women over at the RNY board who I wouldn't care to meet in person.

But I think there are many, many more who are denied WLS due to stupid-ass shrinks who feel compelled to figure out why we're fat and god forbid, why we would like to live a little longer. For example, "Boner, are these thoughts of your life being shortened because of your obesity fatalistic thoughts?" By the time the frickin' shrink has the time to "fix" our emotional problem, we're dead. Ok, so maybe that does sound a tad fatalistic.  

Personally, a few people getting WLS when they're unprepared is a small price to pay when compared to the 20% who get denied because of some lame brain insurance-driven requirement to save some $$$$.

Boner

You know its funny you should bring that up.. I got the call last Friday that its time for mine.................. They set me up for the psych.......... review in two weeks. I knew it was coming,,, good sign to me that I am closer to the prize. But, I have NEVER BEEN analyzed before for mental stability... I can't wait till they get into my brain.. I wonder how it will turn out. AM I NUTS???? I guess I'll finally find out.

My "psych evaluation" as best I can tell consisted of one question. "Why do you want to have this surgery?" My answer was, "Because if I don't do something to get some weight off pretty quick, I'm gonna be dead. And I've dieted repeatedly, and the weight has come back repeatedly, and I've got to try something else." I think that my answer convinced the doctor that I wasn't looking in to it for reasons of vanity and that's all he wanted to know I guess. Because the line of questioning went on to other areas. He may have been reading my mail on some of the other questions also, I don't know, but that was the one that seemed to reassure him that I would be a good candidate.

Well if thats the answer that he's looking for I can just take my clothes of in the office. One look at this naked body and he wont ask another question. He'll need therapy.............  Oh,, I guess I better not do that..

"The most common reasons why patients did not receive psychiatric clearance included frequent overeating to cope with stress/emotional distress; a current eating disorder"
 
Ok, I want to see a vote of hands. How many of you were fat due to stress eating or some sort of eating disorder, let's say something like....I think I'm hungry...don't know why but I feel like eating. I'm guilty as charged your honor!

What a croc of crap for denying WLS.

Boner

WellI guess I'm an emotional eater . I would eat when I was happy when I was mad,sad, glad or just wanted in fad . I made a funny . 
Soo I'm an emotional eater too . We all are . We have a fam. get together .What's the main thing we do ? Have a meal . Almost  all of our lives center around food. 

  In my fam. they all look to me for that dinner because I'v been to culinary school . 
 When I had my wls everybody in my fam was worried to death , not for my safety but for the meals I would make for all the fam function's .

  I have since put their fears to rest. I still  cook , and still have a love for cooking .

  I guess I fooled my  shrink too. LOL 

Best wishes
Nick ( BTW this thread helped to pulled me out of lurkdum )