Psychosocial Intervention for Women With Mood Disorders Seeking Treatment for Obesity

Women with mood disorders are vulnerable to the negative consequences associated with obesity, and face considerable challenges with adherence to behavioral weight management interventions. Strategies are needed to support the psychological well-being of this population, and improve adherence to weight-related treatment. The goal of this preliminary study is to determine the acceptability of a group-based compassion-focused psychoeducational intervention among women with mood disorders who are attending a behavioral weight management program.

Pilot feasibility trial to examine the acceptability and efficacy of compassion-based intervention in reducing indices of psychopathology (i.e., internalized weight stigma, mood symptoms), and improving weight management outcomes (i.e., physical activity behaviour, dieting behaviour, weight loss) among women with mood disorders undergoing lifestyle weight management. In this proof of concept study, adult females with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder of bipolar disorder will be randomized into two arms: weight management treatment as usual + psychoeducation group; weight management as usual + control.