| Abstract: | Gastroplasty, a newer form of surgery for morbid obesity, produces physical and psychosocial benefits equivalent to those of jejunoileal bypass, but with fewer complications. As interest in this approach to intractable obesity has increased, surgeons have looked to psychiatrists to help them to assess psychiatric risk associated with undergoing surgery. Drawing on a review of the literature and long-term experience with patients requesting gastroplasty, this review addresses the benefits of gastroplasty and offers suggestions about when and how to perform preoperative psychiatric evaluations in patients requesting surgery for obesity. |
