Pilot pharmacological experimental study in obese obsessivecompulsive personality traits patients treated with sertraline after plastic surgery

Correlations between psychiatric disorders and overweight/obesity are reported in the literature. However, temperament/personality traits have been less frequently studied even though the correlation with Axis-1 diseases is well defined. Seventy overweight/obese patients (age 18-60 years, BMI 25-34.9 at recruitment) referring to the outpatient service for obesity-related lipodystrophism were enrolled. Psychiatric disorders, temperament traits, and body image perception were evaluated and compared with a control group (N = 33) from the general population sharing clinical/demographic features. Patients had higher scores in lifetime depression, with moderate/mild concern with body shape. Regarding personality traits, tests revealed higher scores on subscale RD4 (dependence/independence) in patients, whereas controls scored higher on the "openness to experience" NEO Five Factory Inventory sub-scale. Obese patients had a higher prevalence of obsessive characteristics.The affective sphere is an important feature in obese patients, as are obsessive traits, since a distorted body shape perception, temperament and personality traits appear to be involved in leading patients to seek surgical advice. These characteristics appear really relevant not only for obesity pathology diagnosis but also for medical follow-up such as compliance in control visits, diets and rehabilitation programs. After this pilot-study, we have hypothesed the possibility to pharmacologically treat these patients (sertraline at maximum dosage (150-200 mg/die) in the clinical manifestation of their personality assessment in order to optimize their clinical management.The possibility to detect these patients could be an important instrument to avoid early post- treatment relapse and to give patients the possibility to refer also to a psychiatric care not only before but also after surgery. Correlations between psychiatric disorders and overweight/obesity are reported in the literature. However, temperament/personality traits have been less frequently studied even though the correlation with Axis-1 diseases is well defined. Seventy overweight/obese patients (age 18-60 years, BMI 25-34.9 at recruitment) referring to the outpatient service for obesity-related lipodystrophism were enrolled. Psychiatric disorders, temperament traits, and body image perception were evaluated and compared with a control group (N = 33) from the general population sharing clinical/demographic features. Patients had higher scores in lifetime depression, with moderate/mild concern with body shape. Regarding personality traits, tests revealed higher scores on subscale RD4 (dependence/independence) in patients, whereas controls scored higher on the "openness to experience" NEO Five Factory Inventory sub-scale. Obese patients had a higher prevalence of obsessive characteristics.The affective sphere is an important feature in obese patients, as are obsessive traits, since a distorted body shape perception, temperament and personality traits appear to be involved in leading patients to seek surgical advice. These characteristics appear really relevant not only for obesity pathology diagnosis but also for medical follow-up such as compliance in control visits, diets and rehabilitation programs. After this pilot-study, we have hypothesed the possibility to pharmacologically treat these patients (sertraline at maximum dosage (150-200 mg/die) in the clinical manifestation of their personality assessment in order to optimize their clinical management.The possibility to detect these patients could be an important instrument to avoid early post- treatment relapse and to give patients the possibility to refer also to a psychiatric care not only before but also after surgery. Correlations between psychiatric disorders and overweight/obesity are reported in the literature. However, temperament/personality traits have been less frequently studied even though the correlation with Axis-1 diseases is well defined. Seventy overweight/obese patients (age 18-60 years, BMI 25-34.9 at recruitment) referring to the outpatient service for obesity-related lipodystrophism were enrolled. Psychiatric disorders, temperament traits, and body image perception were evaluated and compared with a control group (N = 33) from the general population sharing clinical/demographic features. Patients had higher scores in lifetime depression, with moderate/mild concern with body shape. Regarding personality traits, tests revealed higher scores on subscale RD4 (dependence/independence) in patients, whereas controls scored higher on the "openness to experience" NEO Five Factory Inventory sub-scale. Obese patients had a higher prevalence of obsessive characteristics.The affective sphere is an important feature in obese patients, as are obsessive traits, since a distorted body shape perception, temperament and personality traits appear to be involved in leading patients to seek surgical advice. These characteristics appear really relevant not only for obesity pathology diagnosis but also for medical follow-up such as compliance in control visits, diets and rehabilitation programs. After this pilot-study, we have hypothesed the possibility to pharmacologically treat these patients (sertraline at maximum dosage (150-200 mg/die) in the clinical manifestation of their personality assessment in order to optimize their clinical management.The possibility to detect these patients could be an important instrument to avoid early post- treatment relapse and to give patients the possibility to refer also to a psychiatric care not only before but also after surgery. Correlations between psychiatric disorders and overweight/obesity are reported in the literature. However, temperament/personality traits have been less frequently studied even though the correlation with Axis-1 diseases is well defined. Seventy overweight/obese patients (age 18-60 years, BMI 25-34.9 at recruitment) referring to the outpatient service for obesity-related lipodystrophism were enrolled. Psychiatric disorders, temperament traits, and body image perception were evaluated and compared with a control group (N = 33) from the general population sharing clinical/demographic features. Patients had higher scores in lifetime depression, with moderate/mild concern with body shape. Regarding personality traits, tests revealed higher scores on subscale RD4 (dependence/independence) in patients, whereas controls scored higher on the "openness to experience" NEO Five Factory Inventory sub-scale. Obese patients had a higher prevalence of obsessive characteristics.The affective sphere is an important feature in obese patients, as are obsessive traits, since a distorted body shape perception, temperament and personality traits appear to be involved in leading patients to seek surgical advice. These characteristics appear really relevant not only for obesity pathology diagnosis but also for medical follow-up such as compliance in control visits, diets and rehabilitation programs. After this pilot-study, we have hypothesed the possibility to pharmacologically treat these patients (sertraline at maximum dosage (150-200 mg/die) in the clinical manifestation of their personality assessment in order to optimize their clinical management.The possibility to detect these patients could be an important instrument to avoid early post- treatment relapse and to give patients the possibility to refer also to a psychiatric care not only before but also after surgery.