[Psychological assessment of candidates for bariatric surgery]

Nowadays, the number of bariatric surgery for treating morbid obesity is significant. There is strong evidence about the influence of mental state (depression, anxiety, eating disorder, etc.) on patient's cooperation with the medical team and the outcome, and on the short or long-term effectiveness of surgery. However, no protocol or recommendation exist for screening patients before bariatric procedures in Hungary. Thus, even if the surgeon or the hospital requires psychological expertise, neither doctors are familiar with the expectable results of such an expertise, nor psychologists know exactly what the most important areas are to talk through with patients. This article shortly reviews the mostly used bariatric surgery procedures and presents a protocol that was developed by the Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans in detail. Based on the protocol, the core parts of the psychological interview are the following: reasons for seeking surgery (I.), weight and diet history (II.), current eating behaviors (III.), understanding of the surgery and its associated lifestyle changes (IV.), social supports (V.), and history and psychiatric symptoms (current and past) (VI.). The original protocol was completed with newer, more recent studies, statements, and with examples by the authors. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(12): 448-455.

[Invasive methods in the treatment of obesity]

Treatment of obesity and concomitant diseases have a significant burden on the health care system. Due to the lack of efficacy of conservative treatment methods, attention has shifted towards invasive methods. Surgical and endoscopic treatments of obesity are based on two different methods: restrictive and malabsorptive procedures or their combination. The author reviews the most effective surgical and endoscopic procedures in the treatment of obesity.