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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2025; 133(03): 112-119
DOI: 10.1055/a-2515-3240
Article

Mental Health After Childbirth in Women with Previous Bariatric Surgery: The SPOtMom Pilot Study

Ulrike Plank
1   Dept. of Medicine I, Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Kristin Wehrmann
2   Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Filiz Oehlhof
2   Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Elisabeth Teske
1   Dept. of Medicine I, Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Christine Stier
3   Section for Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany
,
Florian Seyfried
4   Department of Visceral Surgery, Univ Hosp Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Wiebke Buchholz
5   Center for Obesity, Westküstenklinikum Heide, Heide, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN40654)
,
Bodo Warrings
6   Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Martin Fassnacht 
1   Dept. of Medicine I, Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Andrea Kübler
2   Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Ann-Cathrin Koschker 
1   Dept. of Medicine I, Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
› Author AffiliationsRegistration number (trial ID): NCT04297956, Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/), Type of Study: prospective survey, conducted at two centers
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Abstract

Introduction

Currently, no data are available using standardized instruments for evaluating the postpartum mental health of women with previous bariatric surgery. The aim of this pilot study was to assess postpartum mental health in women following bariatric surgery and to establish appropriate tools for a prospective registry study in the future.

Methods

In this survey, the mental health of 22 women during the first weeks postpartum was examined (T1) and their status at least 6 months after childbirth was prospectively assessed (T2). Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated with standardized questionnaires and depression was diagnosed with structured diagnostic interviews (SCID-5).

Results

At T1, 3/22 women (14%) reported depressive or anxiety symptoms, and in these women, the diagnosis of depression was established. In comparison with T1, at T2, symptomatology for depression or anxiety increased to 32% and 27% of patients, respectively, but only one woman was diagnosed with depression. In comparison to patients without symptoms, patients with signs of depression or anxiety or both had lower total body weight loss and, more often, a personal or family history of depressive disorders.

Conclusion

Our pilot study suggests that the rate of postpartum depression in women after BS might be higher than in the general population. High symptom levels of depression and anxiety emphasize the necessity of long-term bariatric follow-up care. Further research is needed to evaluate if prevalence of depression or anxiety disorder or both is higher in this patient group as compared to other patients after bariatric surgery.

Keywords

Depression - Anxiety - Childbirth - Postpartum - Bariatric surgery - Obesity


Publication History

Received: 30 May 2024

Accepted after revision: 02 December 2024

Article published online:
12 March 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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