Obesidade e morbilidade psicológica

: psicopatologia, alterações da personalidade, auto-conceito e estratégias de Coping em obesos seleccionados e a aguardar cirurgia bariátrica

Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease constituting one of the most serious publichealth problems. This study aimed to identify the psychological morbidity in 218 obese selectedand awaiting for the bariatric surgery, through an epidemiological, descriptive, cross-sectionaland correlational study, there was made a profile psychopathological, personality disorders,self-concept and coping strategies. The evaluation methodology used was based on theapplication of the following instruments: socio-demographic questionnaire, a clinicalquestionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Symptom Checklist-90- Revised (SCL-90-R); Multiphasic Personality Inventory (Mini -Mult), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) and Clinical Inventory Self-concept (ICAC). Four hypotheses were formulated: Hypothesis 1 predicted that the socio-demographic differences would influence levels of anxiety and depression; the second hypothesis predicted that self-concept was correlated with psychopathology and personality disorders; the third hypothesis predicted that coping strategies was correlated with psychopathology and personality disorders; and finally, the fourth hypothesis predicted that self-concept was correlated with coping strategies. The results obtained in this study show that obese selected and waiting the bariatric surgery have high levels of somatization, distress associated with body functions. It was also found considerable percentage of subjects who have high levels of depressive symptoms (19% and 32%), anxious (20% and 31%), interpersonal sensitivity (35.3%), paranoid ideation (45.7%).Women have more depressive and anxious symptoms than men. As they age have more depressive and anxious symptoms. Residents in rural areas have more anxiety symptoms. There was a negative correlation between scales of psychopathology with the self-concept. There were identified some coping strategies associated with greater psychopathology, in particular the Escape-avoidance. It was found a low association between self-concept and coping strategies.The finding of clinically significant disturbances in some patients is relevant and should be considered in its therapeutic approach in view of the success of bariatric surgery.

Date of Award	23 Mar 2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora C. V. Costa (Supervisor)