Bariatric Surgery Study

As of 2009, 344,000 bariatric procedures were performed annually . Although some studies report depressive symptoms decrease in the 6 months after bariatric surgery, there is growing body of literature suggesting there exists a subgroup of patients whose depressive symptoms worsen after surgery and the likelihood of developing depressive symptoms increases longitudinally. Depression can be an indicator of an increased risk of self-harm and additional studies have found that the risk of suicide may increase post bariatric surgery compared to obese individuals who have not undergone surgery. Research supports that psychosocial factors contribute to successful postoperative outcomes. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy shows potential to impact social variables that may be relevant to bariatric surgery outcomes including depression. In this context, FAP aims to improve interpersonal relationships through experientially teaching skills intended to increase social connection. FAP also seeks to increase awareness, which includes the ability to view interpersonal interactions from multiple perspectives, allowing new interpersonal skills to emerge. The present study seeks to evaluate the use of a FAP group to enhance interpersonal relating with a sample of post-bariatric surgery patients. Measures will be collected on quality of life and variables involved in interpersonal connectedness.