Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic Scales Do Not Predict Long-term Weight Loss Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND

Psychological factors identified during presurgical screening have the potential to identify which patients may respond better to bariatric surgery, and which patients may need additional assistance. Previous research has validated a number of potential instruments for use in presurgical screening.

METHOD: This study evaluated archival data for 224 patients for a 60-month period following bariatric surgery to examine how presurgical scores on the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic predict body mass index (BMI) over time. Follow-up data was available on 96% of these patients at 12 months and 63% of these patients at 60 months. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to predict BMI based on demographic and psychopathology factors using linear and nonlinear coefficients while controlling for demographic factors and initial BMI.

RESULTS

Results overall showed that demographic factors and initial BMI were significantly better predictors of BMI outcomes following bariatric surgery. Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic scales did not significantly contribute to any models predicting outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic has been recommended for presurgical screening prior to bariatric surgery, the current findings suggest that this measure and its specific scales do not predict BMI outcomes following bariatric surgery over time.