Effects of sleevegastrectomy operation on depression, anxiety and quality of life

Introduction: Obesity is known to be a major risk factors of many diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. Obesity has also severe effects on psychological status and quality of life (QoL) of patients. Bariatric surgery, especially sleeve gastrectomy is an effectively used method in the treatment of obesity. The objective of this study is to investigate effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on QoL, and its psychological impacts.
Material and Methods: This study included 34 morbid obese patients with a BMI>40 and obese patients with a BMI>35 and comorbidity who were scheduled for Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery in our clinic. All patients gave consent and preoperatively filled the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and SF36 Health-related Quality of Life Scale. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy operation was performed under general anesthesia. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and SF36 Health-related Quality of Life Scale were applied again in the postoperative 6th month.
Results: Accordingly, there were strongly significant differences between preoperative and postoperative 6th month evaluation of the patients in terms of BDI, BAI and subdimensions of SF-36 scale including physical functioning, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, general health perceptions, vitality and mental health (p<0.05). The mean BDI was decreased by 9.41 and BAI by 6.15 points after six months. On the other hand, physical functioning was increased by 8.56, physical role functioning by 1.26, emotional role functioning by 1.1, bodily pain by 2.18 general health perceptions by 2.18, vitality by 7.47, social role functioning by 2.5 and mental health by 6.38 points.
Conclusion: Sleeve gastrectomy provides decrease in depression and anxiety scores, causing an increase in quality of life in the early period. Bariatric surgery patients should be followed-up in cooperation with the department of psychiatry.