Obesity as a challenge in the treatment of psychological disorders

Abstract

Introduction According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, 300 million people will suffer from obesity. Obesity leads to further health problems, which in return increase the prevalence and resistance to treatment. Objectives The goals of this study are to determine the proportion of obese patients and overweight patients treated at the Psychiatric Hospitality Sveti Ivan as well as determine whether there is a difference in the frequency of comorbidity with somatic diseases, suicidality and intensity of symptoms amongst the three tested groups (obese, overweight and average body weight). Methods The sample covers a cross-sectional study including 15 female patients and 59 male patients under treatment in the Emergency Department at the Psychiatric Hospitality Sveti Ivan in September 2015. The patients were divided into three groups, according to their BMI. All patients fulfilled the DASS 21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale by Fernando Gomez) and Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale [Center for Suicide Risk Assesment] questionnaires). Results In male patients, 30.91% were found to be obese and 36.4% overweight. In total, seven patients had from comorbidity, of which five were obese. In female patients, 33.3% were overweight whereas only six patients were obese. Of those six obese women, all had from comorbidity. Conclusions The results identify that a significant part of individuals with psychological disorders are either obese or overweight, resulting in repercussions in the course of disease and treatment.