Comment on: Psychological assessment of the adolescent bariatric surgery candidate

Abstract

For those adolescent patients and their families considering bariatric surgery, the multidisciplinary surgical team offers vast resources that include educational materials, screening protocols, and individualized treatment plans to enhance the probability of long-term success with surgery. This group of experts generally includes surgical specialists, medical providers, registered dieticians, and behavioral health professionals who focus on assessment, selection, and care of adolescent bariatric surgery patients. Each of these disciplines provides a unique and pertinent viewpoint from which to assist, educate, and support both young bariatric surgery patients and their family members before and after the surgical procedure. The behavioral health provider specifically, as described in the corresponding article, conducts a detailed analysis of eating habits and pathology, psychological functioning and coping strategies, and possible barriers to treatment adherence. By incorporating behavioral assessment and education on promoting change, significant strides can be made on lifestyle modifications thought to affect long-term success among those patients who proceed to surgery (e.g., grazing, emotionally triggered eating, level of physical activity). In this way, the specialty team works toward achieving the most favorable combination of postoperative gains while minimizing or containing possible complications associated with this weight loss intervention. Psychological assessment of the adolescent bariatric surgery candidateSurgery for Obesity and Related DiseasesVol. 9Issue 3PreviewBariatric surgery for adolescents is an increasingly acceptable treatment option. However, research regarding who makes a successful candidate is limited. Although presurgical psychological assessment is deemed important before bariatric surgery, no formal standards of practice exist. The purpose of this paper is to provide further information and structure for successfully completing a comprehensive preoperative psychological assessment of the adolescent bariatric surgical patient. Contraindications and factors that affect adherence and postsurgical outcome are reviewed, incorporating available research and emerging standards of practice. Full-Text PDF