Patient reports of cognitive problems are not associated with neuropsychological test performance in bariatric surgery candidates.

BACKGROUND

Recent work shows that cognitive deficits are common in bariatric surgery candidates and are associated with reduced weight loss at 12 months postoperatively. Because preoperative neuropsychological assessment is not available for all patients at all sites, many care providers ask patients to self-report their level of cognitive dysfunction. However, the accuracy of patient self-report of cognitive abilities has not been empirically examined.

METHODS

Eighty-one bariatric surgery candidates completed self-report measures of cognitive functioning and neuropsychological tests of memory and other cognitive abilities.

RESULTS

Analyses found no association between subjective report of cognitive function and objective performance on neuropsychological testing. However, persons with history of major depressive disorder reported experiencing greater cognitive deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that bariatric surgery candidates have little insight into their current level of cognitive function. Future work is needed to confirm these findings and identify brief, objective measures of cognitive function that are sensitive to deficits in bariatric surgery candidates.