Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Before and Twelve Months After Bariatric Surgery: Repeated Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective therapy for those who are excessively obese. However, the consequences of surgery on mental health are still debatable. We aimed to investigate the patients’ depression, stress, and anxiety levels before and after BS at two different times: just before surgery and 12 months later. Methods: This is a repeated cross-sectional study. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Results: There were 288 participants in the BS groups. Changes in anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms over time were examined using generalised estimating equations models with repeated measurements per individual. Anxiety (incidence rate ratio [ IRR] = 1.2, p < .001) and stress (IRR = 0.86, p < .001) worsened, whereas depression ( IRR = –1.8, p < .001) improved significantly in 288 patients one year after BS. Conclusions: BS had significant impacts on obesity-associated mental health issues.