Mental healthcare utilization in patients seeking bariatric surgery: The role of attachment behavior

Obesity may be a factor contributing to mental health in patients seeking bariatric surgery. Whether a person uses mental healthcare may have its roots in attachment behavior. The present study (N=260) identified that attachment anxiety was associated with more mental healthcare visits (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.11-2.54, p=0.02), present use of medication (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.43-3.68, p=0.001), and previously prescribed medication (OR=2.01, 95% CI=1.13-3.57, p=0.02). Furthermore, the use of previously prescribed medication was especially prevalent in patients with high attachment anxiety and low attachment avoidance (OR=2.96, 95% CI=1.35-6.50, p=0.007). The observation that attachment behavior is associated with mental healthcare utilization indicates that it should be recognized and considered by healthcare providers working with patients with morbid obesity for therapeutic and economic reasons.