[Binge eating disorder in a population of morbid obese candidates to bariatric surgery at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife, PE].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the frequency of binge eating disorder (BED) and of the main psychiatric disorders associated with morbid obesity in individuals on the waiting list for bariatric surgery.

METHOD: Cross sectional study. Interviews with patients from the Surgery for Obesity Program of Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital were conducted evaluating socio-demographic profile, quality of life (SF-36 scale), BED (Binge Eating Scale BES) and psychiatric disorders (M.I.N.I./DSM-IV).

RESULTS: 67 out of 400 patients enrolled in the program were interviewed (16.8%). The BMI varied from 36.1 to 81.8 kg/m(2) (average 48.5 +/- 8.8). All have associated diseases, the most frequent being systemic arterial hypertension, sleeping disorders and osteopathies. The most frequent psychiatric disorders were: 47.8% generalized anxiety disorder, 29.9% major depressive disorder, single episode, 34.3% recurrent major depressive disorder. In this group 56.7% showed BED (25.4% moderate and 31.3% severe) and the worse scores in all the domains of quality of life (SF-36 scale).

CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of BED. The compulsive eaters showed a higher number of obesity treatments, higher prevalence of actual major depression, and the worse scores in all the domains of the SF-36 scale. Considering the ample range of psychopathology associated with BED and the greater probability of jeopardizing the surgery results it is very important to improve the detection of these disorders in order to provide adequate treatment.