Bariatric Psychiatry Assessment
Bariatric Psychiatry
Weight loss surgery is a treatment for obesity that is growing at an impressive rate across the world. Research shows the importance for greater mental health assessment and ongoing psychological support for bariatric patients.
There are 3 main areas where bariatric psychiatry can support patients:
- Assessing the prevalence of any psychiatric contraindications to safe bariatric surgery
- Diagnosis and treatment of any pre-existing mental health conditions, that could affect surgical outcomes
- Post-surgery assessment, diagnosis and treatment of any new developing mental health conditions
We know that bariatric surgery is more than just the actual surgical procedure, it is a journey that starts way before your surgery date, and continues for months and years afterwards.
Weight loss is an important measure of success in bariatric surgery, and we believe a better quality of life is equally aspirational.
Dr Samantha Scholtz explains how bariatric psychiatry can support you in achieving the best outcomes from your weight loss surgery.
Let us Explain how we can help you
Speak with our friendly patient concierge team, and let us answer any questions you have about weight loss surgery
Bespoke Support For Your Mental Health
Bariatric psychiatry has evolved into a new subspeciality within the medical treatment of mental health. As it has grown, there has been a shift away from excluding patients with certain mental health conditions, to a more inclusive focus of how patients can experience a safe weight loss surgery experience, and achieve optimal outcomes post surgery.
We believe a bariatric psychiatric assessment, when required, is actioned to ensure we deliver the best medical care and support for you. It is a conversation, to explore a wide range of factors that may affect and influence the outcomes from your surgery.
It is rare that we may need to exclude a patient from a surgical procedure. If that does happen, with our expert team we can curate a bespoke weight loss treatment protocol for you that combines alternatives like obesity medication, nutrition and lifestyle coaching and ongoing psychological support.
We know our patients want to understand how a bariatric procedure may affect the absorption of their current psychiatric medication, as well as the effect of psychiatric medication on weight loss. This is why it is important that out team of consultants talk with each other as an MDT (multi disciplinary team), to ensure we provide you with the medical excellence you deserve.
Weight Loss Surgery – Quality Of Life
These reflective self-assessment questions invite you to assess how life has changed for you after your bariatric procedure.
If you are planning a future surgery, they may also help you plan what other life changes you wish to experience, in addition to significant weight loss.
- How have my eating habits and behaviours changed?
- How has my self-care routine changed?
- What differences do I notice in my body sensations and experiences?
- How have my thoughts and beliefs changed?
- What’s changed in the way I manage stress and other emotions?
- How has my social life changed, how am I different with other people?
- How do I see my body differently now?
- How has my self-worth changed?
Most patients experience positive life changes in the first 2-years following surgery, as significant weight loss often brings greater happiness.
We suggest you use these questions as a helpful self-coaching tool every 3-months, and get curious when you start to see any significant change in direction one way or another.
If you have received bariatric surgery in the past, and feel that your quality of life self-assessment is not in a good place, please do contact us, and let us help you find a happier path moving forwards.
BARIATRIC SURGERY & DISORDERED EATING
Many people who explore bariatric surgery as a weight loss solution, have often struggled with some form of disordered eating.
The pages below take a deeper dive into factors that might be at play with disordered eating, and the treatment solutions we can provide.
