The long-term effect of bariatric surgery on depression and anxiety
Journal of affective disorders, 2019•Elsevier
Background No previous review has comprehensively assessed long-term changes in
anxiety and depressive symptoms in bariatric surgery patients. This systematic review
assessed the effects of bariatric surgery on long-term reductions (≥ 24 months) in anxiety
and depressive symptom severity in morbidly obese (≥ 35 BMI kg/m 2) participants. Short
term effects (< 24 months) are briefly reviewed for context. Methods PsychINFO, Google
Scholar and PubMed databases were systematically searched for prospective cohort studies …
anxiety and depressive symptoms in bariatric surgery patients. This systematic review
assessed the effects of bariatric surgery on long-term reductions (≥ 24 months) in anxiety
and depressive symptom severity in morbidly obese (≥ 35 BMI kg/m 2) participants. Short
term effects (< 24 months) are briefly reviewed for context. Methods PsychINFO, Google
Scholar and PubMed databases were systematically searched for prospective cohort studies …
Background
No previous review has comprehensively assessed long-term changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms in bariatric surgery patients. This systematic review assessed the effects of bariatric surgery on long-term reductions (≥ 24 months) in anxiety and depressive symptom severity in morbidly obese (≥ 35 BMI kg/m2) participants. Short term effects (< 24 months) are briefly reviewed for context.
Methods
PsychINFO, Google Scholar and PubMed databases were systematically searched for prospective cohort studies published from inception to 14 June 2018 that evaluated long-term (≥ 24 months) changes in anxiety and depressive symptom severity in bariatric surgery patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 using a combination of the following search terms: bariatric surgery (and surgical approaches included under this term), obesity, depression, depressive disorder, anxiety, anxious, psychiatric disorders, mood disorders.
Results
We reviewed 2058 articles for eligibility; 14 prospective studies were included in the systematic review. 13 studies (93%) reported significant reductions in depressive symptom severity 2–3 years after bariatric surgery. However, all studies recorded statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms at the conclusion of the study. Similarly, there were reductions in overall anxiety symptom severity at ≥ 24 months follow-up (k = 8 studies, n = 1590 pooled). Pre-operative anxiety or depression scores did not predict outcomes of post-operative BMI. Similarly, post-surgery weight loss did not predict changes in anxiety symptoms.
Limitations
Very few studies assessed anxiety or depression as a primary outcome. Therefore, we cannot suggest bariatric surgery as a stand-alone therapeutic tool for anxiety and depression based on our findings.
Conclusion
Currently available evidence suggests that bariatric surgery is associated with long-term reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. This supports existing literature showing that metabolic treatments may be a viable therapeutic intervention for mood disorders.
Elsevier