Mental Healthcare Utilization in Patients Seeking Bariatric Surgery: The Role of Attachment Behavior

Floor Aarts*, Chris Hinnen, Victor E. A. Gerdes, Dees P. M. Brandjes, Rinie Geenen

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)
    285 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Obesity may be a factor contributing to mental health in patients seeking bariatric surgery. Whether a person uses mental healthcare may have its roots in attachment behavior. The present study (N=260) identified that attachment anxiety was associated with more mental healthcare visits (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.11-2.54, p=0.02), present use of medication (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.43-3.68, p=0.001), and previously prescribed medication (OR=2.01, 95% CI=1.13-3.57, p=0.02). Furthermore, the use of previously prescribed medication was especially prevalent in patients with high attachment anxiety and low attachment avoidance (OR=2.96, 95% CI=1.35-6.50, p=0.007). The observation that attachment behavior is associated with mental healthcare utilization indicates that it should be recognized and considered by healthcare providers working with patients with morbid obesity for therapeutic and economic reasons.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)134-138
    Number of pages5
    JournalBariatric surgical practice and patient care
    Volume8
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1-Dec-2013

    Keywords

    • OBESE SUBJECTS
    • QUALITY
    • ILLNESS
    • PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
    • CANDIDATES
    • STRESS
    • SAMPLE
    • STYLE

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