Self-harm before and six months after obesity surgery
Astrid Müller, Tobias A. Thomas, Katja Tilk, Katharina Klassen, Melanie Pommnitz, Martina de Zwaan
Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany

Objectives: This longitudinal study investigated 1) possible short-term post-operative changes in self-harm, 2) gender effects, and 3) how self-harm is related to mental health disorders. Methods: The sample included 220 adults before and six months after obesity surgery. Self-harm behaviors were assessed with the Self Harm Inventory.  The assessment further included standardized instruments for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol use, and suicidal ideations. Results: Results indicate improvements in BMI, eating pathology, alcohol use, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideations but no changes in self-harm from before to six months after obesity surgery. Twenty-five percent of the sample admitted any self-harm both before and after surgery, and 11% experienced self-harm at both times. Some patients (13%) showed self-harm only before and others (14%) only after surgery. More than half of patients did not report any current self-harm before and after surgery. Self-harm was strongly associated with post-operative psychopathology, especially with depression and suicidal ideation, but not with gender. Conclusions: Screening for self-harm should be included in obesity surgery care. More large-scale longitudinal studies that directly assess multiple features of self-harm behaviors (e.g., type, frequency, intensity, consequences) and underlying mechanisms should be carried out.

Category
Psychological