The relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and decreased cognitive flexibility in morbidly obese individuals

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and decreased cognitive flexibility in morbidly obese participants who underwent bariatric surgery. In this study, 35 morbidly obese individuals before bariatric surgery were evaluated with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Oktem Verbal Memory Processes Test (OVMPT). A significant positive correlation was found between axiety and depressive scores and perseverative error. In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between BAE scores and number of perseverative error (r = 0.381, p= 0.024) and percentage of perseverative error (r = 0.3337, p= 0.048). There was a significant positive correlation between BDI scores and percentage of perseverative error (r = 0.3337, p= 0.048). According to hierarchical regression analysis, 20.6% anxiety scores were explained by instant and long-term memory and perseverative error scores (F = 3.94, p= 0.017). Inclusion of cognitive flexibility and memory-related cognitive remediation programs in weight reduction strategies after bariatric surgery in individuals with depression and anxiety symptoms may be beneficial in increasing postoperative weight loss success.