Positive Psychology for Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Larissa McGarrity, Ph.D.
Disqualifiers: Both had bariatric surgery, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this waitlist-control design, pilot randomized controlled trial is to test feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a remotely-delivered dyadic positive psychology intervention for patients 2 years after bariatric surgery and their romantic partners (called ReConnect).
The main question it aims to answer is whether the intervention results in improvements in depressive symptoms for patients and partners. The additional questions it aims to answer are whether the intervention results in improvements in resilience, relationship satisfaction, eating and physical activity behaviors, and weight maintenance for those in the intervention versus waitlist control condition.
Participant couples randomly assigned to the intervention condition will engage in ReConnect for 8 weekly modules and associated positive psychology activities, some individually and some as a couple. Participant couples randomly assigned to the waitlist control condition will wait for 8 weeks to begin the 8 week intervention. All participants will fill out assessment measures at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on a psychological intervention, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment ReConnect for post-bariatric surgery patients?
Research suggests that psychological care is important for success after bariatric surgery, as it helps patients adjust to lifestyle changes and maintain healthy habits. Patients believe psychological support should be part of standard care, indicating that treatments like ReConnect could be beneficial.
12345How is the ReConnect treatment different from other treatments for post-bariatric surgery patients?
ReConnect is unique because it focuses on positive psychology to help patients adjust emotionally and socially after bariatric surgery, addressing issues like body image dissatisfaction and emotional stress, which are often overlooked in traditional follow-up care.
23678Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adult couples where one partner had bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) 1-3 years ago at the participating institution. They must be cohabiting, in a romantic relationship since before the surgery, and both willing to enroll in the study.Inclusion Criteria
My partner or I had weight loss surgery at a participating hospital.
I have been with the same romantic partner since before my weight loss surgery.
I had weight loss surgery 1 to 3 years ago at a participating hospital.
+1 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Intervention
Participants engage in the ReConnect intervention for 8 weekly modules, involving positive psychology activities both individually and as a couple
8 weeks
Remote sessions
Waitlist Control
Participants in the waitlist control condition wait for 8 weeks before starting the intervention
8 weeks
Remote check-ins
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in depressive symptoms, resilience, relationship satisfaction, eating behaviors, and weight maintenance
8 weeks
3 assessments at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks
Participant Groups
The trial tests 'ReConnect', a remote positive psychology program designed for post-bariatric surgery patients and their partners. It checks if this 8-week intervention can improve depression, resilience, satisfaction in relationships, healthy behaviors, and weight maintenance compared to those on a waitlist.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Waitlist Control ConditionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will receive 8 weeks of check-in surveys/follow-ups followed by 8 weeks of ReConnect, as well as 3 assessments (baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks).
Group II: Intervention ConditionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will receive 8 weeks of ReConnect followed by 8 weeks check-in surveys/follow-ups, as well as 3 assessments (baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks).
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Larissa McGarrity, Ph.D.Lead Sponsor
References
The patient-practitioner interaction in post bariatric surgery consultations: an interpersonal process recall study. [2023]The patient-practitioner relationship is fundamental to rehabilitation practice and patients' health and wellbeing. Dissonance between patients who have had bariatric surgery and health care practitioners about what supportive care and good outcomes are can undermine care. To address the mechanisms of this process, we conducted an Interpersonal Process Recall study.
Patients' experiences of life after bariatric surgery and follow-up care: a qualitative study. [2021]Bariatric surgery is the most clinically effective treatment for people with severe and complex obesity, however, the psychosocial outcomes are less clear. Follow-up care after bariatric surgery is known to be important, but limited guidance exists on what this should entail, particularly related to psychological and social well-being. Patients' perspectives are valuable to inform the design of follow-up care. This study investigated patients' experiences of life after bariatric surgery including important aspects of follow-up care, in the long term.
Totally changed, yet still the same: patients' lived experiences 5 years beyond bariatric surgery. [2013]Bariatric surgery provides sustainable weight loss and increased quality of life for most, but not all patients. To increase the knowledge of this complex patient group and their needs during follow-up, we aimed to describe the essential meaning of bariatric surgery patients' long-term experiences by using a phenomenological lifeworld approach. Eight patients were interviewed between 5 and 7 years after bariatric surgery. Life after bariatric surgery was described as living with tension, ambivalence, and reinforced attention toward one's own body. The tension was related to embodied change and altered relations to the social world. The patients express an ongoing demand for control of health-related habits and practices, and to not lose control over the body again. Surgical weight loss and improved physical function do not necessarily mean changed health-related habits and practices in the long term. Experiencing weight regain is connected with emotional stress, shame, and self-contempt.
Patient perspectives on psychological care after bariatric surgery: A qualitative study. [2021]Psychological interventions may be effective in improving adherence after bariatric surgery; however, there is limited research on patients' willingness to engage with psychological aftercare. This study aimed to qualitatively explore patient perspectives on psychological services in the bariatric setting. Participants reported believing that psychological care is essential for treatment success and indicated that they wanted support with adjusting to changes in lifestyle, self-identity, and relationships after surgery. Participants suggested that psychological aftercare should be recommended by their medical team and incorporated into standard management after bariatric surgery. These findings can be used to inform the design of services for bariatric surgery patients.
Monitoring and normalising a lack of appetite and weight loss. A discursive analysis of an online support group for bariatric surgery. [2012]A significant adjustment in eating practices is required before and after bariatric surgery, yet we know relatively little about how patients manage these changes. In this paper, we explored how members of an online bariatric support group constructed their appetite and weight loss. Two hundred and eighty four online posts were collected, covering a period of just over a year, and analysed using discursive psychology. We found that a lack of appetite post-surgery was oriented to as something that was positively evaluated yet a cause for concern. Indeed, members monitored their food intake and marked out food consumption as a necessary activity in line with notions of healthy eating. Through monitoring members also normalised periods of weight stabilisation and were inducted into a group philosophy which encouraged a more holistic approach to post-surgery 'success'. Our analysis also highlights how monitoring and policing work as social support mechanisms which help to maintain weight management. Thus we argue, in line with others, that weight management, typically depicted as an individual responsibility, is bound up with the social practices of the online support group. We suggest that clinical advice about a loss of appetite and periods of weight stabilisation post-surgery perhaps need further explanation to patients.
'Shopping for a new body': descriptions of bariatric post-operative adjustment. [2021]Co-morbid conditions resulting from obesity cause 3.4 million deaths per year. Bariatric surgery has become a solution for obesity. Post-operative psychosocial changes can be problematic and must not be neglected. Up to 74% of people with overweight or obesity have body image distortion or dissatisfaction, which may persist even after surgery and weight loss. The questions addressed by this research were: (a) what are the categories of open-ended responses from bariatric surgery patients about their experiences of post-operative adjustment? (b) Do the categories of response support previous quantitative findings of a retained obese identity after surgery?
Impact of a CBT psychotherapy group on post-operative bariatric patients. [2020]Psychological difficulties for patients seeking bariatric surgery are greater and in the post-operative phase, a significant minority go on to experience significant psychosocial difficulties, increasing their risk of poorer post-operative adjustment and associated weight regain. 17 post-operative patients participated in an eight-week cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based psychotherapy group at the Ottawa Hospital. A pre-post design with a 3-month follow-up investigated the impact of the group on emotional eating, general as well as obesity-specific adjustment, psychological distress, and attachment. There were significant and meaningful improvements in patients' level of psychological distress, perceived difficulties in their lives, and weight-related adjustment that were maintained at a 3-month follow-up period. Although statistical change was not significant, there were also meaningful improvements in emotional overeating and relationship anxiety and avoidance. The intervention also appeared to be acceptable to patients in that attendance and satisfaction were good. Findings suggest that a short-term CBT psychotherapy group led to significant and meaningful benefits in psychological wellbeing for post-surgical bariatric patients.
Weight regain among women after metabolic and bariatric surgery: a qualitative study in Brazil. [2018]Due to the increased number of bariatric surgeries over the years, aspects contributing or hindering the achievement of outcomes, among them weight regain, have acquired increased significance. Psychological factors directly influence on this unwanted situation, but there are few studies and controversies about the degree of participation of these factors. We propose a qualitative investigation to analyze the meanings of weight regain after surgery among women and how these factors influence this outcome.