Pregastroplasty psychological assessment at the CHU of Liege using the BIPASS

Obesity is a chronic disease that has become a major public health problem with a prevalence that has doubled in the past two decades in most industrialized and developing countries. Currently, bariatric surgery represents the most effective treatment for extreme or severe overweight (BMI ? 40 kg/m² or ? 35 kg/m2 with weight-related comorbidities). Pre-operative bariatric surgery psychiatric and psychological assessment is essential for various reasons. In addition to the selection of candidates for the operation, its objectives are to prepare patients for future postoperative changes as well as to optimize their psychological and psychiatric care. This article describes a standardized tool, the BIPASS (Bariatric Interprofessional Psychosocial Assessment Suitability Scale), which allows a quality assessment in the field.