Using the MMPI-3 in Presurgical Psychological Evaluations of Persons Seeking Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) include some of the most effective procedures for long-term weight loss and demonstrate good long term weight maintenance. However, outcomes are not all universal. For instance, some patients in the postoperative years may experience weight recurrence, increased risk of suicide and self-harm behaviors, a change in how psychotropic medications are absorbed, loss of control over eating, and new onset of alcohol/substance use disorder. To help reduce these instances, presurgical psychological evaluations are routinely conducted to assess for risk factors that may impede MBS outcomes and, to the extent possible and feasible, provide careful pre-and postoperative intervention to reduce that risk. This webinar will provide an overview of presurgical psychological evaluations in MBS, review the literature on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPIs) and it’s relevance to the evaluation of persons seeking MBS, and discuss a few case examples.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the rationale for conducting presurgical psychological evaluations
2. Describe psychosocial factors impacting metabolic and bariatric surgical results
3. Review research on the MMPI in this population
4. Work through case examples of persons seeking metabolic and bariatric surgery