PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS IN CLIENTS PRESENTING FOR COMMERCIAL WEIGHT-REDUCTION TREATMENT

Objective: To study the prevalence and severity of psychiatric symptom s in a group of clients presenting to a commercial weight reduction pr ogram, compared with a group of patients seeking outpatient medical tr eatment. Method: Sixty-six clients presenting for commercial weight lo ss treatment and 52 patients presenting for general outpatient medical treatment were given self-report measures of anxiety (Spielberger Sta te and Trait Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), body dissatisfaction (Body Shape Questionnaire), and overall impairment in functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale). Results: Weight loss clients h ad significantly higher rates of depressive symptomatology and psychos ocial disability than patients presenting for medical treatment. Weigh t loss clients were also more likely to demonstrate body dissatisfacti on regardless of actual weight. Levels of anxiety were not significant ly different despite the medical group reporting themselves to be in p oorer health as compared with the weight loss group. Discussion: Regul ar screening for psychiatric symptoms in clients presenting for commer cial weight reduction treatment may be valuable as this group may cons titute an as yet unidentified cohort requiring psychiatric interventio n. (C) 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.