Psychological and Demographic Predictors of Successful Weight Loss following Silastic Ring Vertical Stapled Gastroplasty

To identify psychological factors involved in obesity 45 individuals (40 women and 5 men), ranging in age from 21 to 54 years ( M age = 41 yr.), who were candidates for silastic ring vertical stapled gastroplasty were assessed on the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory and the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory-III. In addition, a number of demographic variables such as education, marital status, and age of onset of obesity were considered. Analysis indicated that significant predictors of weight loss at a 6-mo. postoperative assessment include age of onset of obesity and scores on the Schizoid scale of the Millon-III. These findings may be of assistance in identifying personality variables associated with changes in weight if replicated in a larger sample.

Typological Description of the Chronic Low Back-Pain Syndrome Using the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory

The Millon Behavioral Health Inventory was administered to 67 individuals with chronic low back pain who participated in a rehabilitation program on pain and stress. Base-rate scores from the 20 scales, submitted to cluster analysis using Ward's minimum variance method, gave four subtypes. Discriminant analysis accurately classified 98.51% of the sample. The discriminant functions were interpreted and labeled as I: somatic distress and II: inhibition-dependency. The groups were then examined for differences and similarities with respect to those dimensions, and the groups were labeled I–introversive, II–denial/minimizers, III–conformers, and IV–severe psychophysiological reaction. The types were next compared across medical, vocational, and demographic data. With the exception of sex of subject, no other data were significant by type. The results were discussed, and recommendations for research were made.