Psychological Preparation Prior to Bariatric Surgery

Is it feasible to perform a randomized controlled trial to assess whether or not psychological preparation seminars prior to bariatric (weight loss) surgery are beneficial to the investigators patients?

This is a feasibility study, assessing how possible it would be to perform a randomized controlled trial to see if preoperative psychological or mental health problems impacts on length of stay, short and long term health outcomes, weight loss, and if preoperative counseling has any effect.

Patients undergo 3 seminar sessions with the bariatric psychologist prior to their surgery. These will aim to prepare them for the lifestyle changes that will occur / they will have to make after surgery

Patients will proceed to surgery as usual. They will complete psychological assessment forms at their follow up clinic sessions.

Session 1: Help patients understand their relationship to food. Patients complete a 'food diary' as 'homework'. Give information about lifestyle changes after surgery. Presents the model of 'stress' and how it influences 'overeating', to develop a more balanced lifestyle and better QoL. Session 2: 'Intervention' using Compassion Focussed Therapy model to understand relationship to food from their diary. Help develop a 'minimising overeating plan' (a 'relapse prevention' plan). Help learn to meet needs in other ways than food. Session 3: Focus on physical body. Current body image, explore hopes and expectations for after surgery. Consider how to manage changes to social reactions and sexual relationships that may occur.

Are there increased scores in the BAROS psychometric tests in patients that undergo psychological preparation prior to bariatric surgery, than in those that do not at 12 months?

At 12 months, patients will attend clinic and complete a battery of psychological assessment questionnaires and the results compared to see if there is a quantifiable difference in the quality of life and mental health outcomes of patients that undergo preparation seminars and those that do not.

Are there increased scores in the PHQ-9 psychometric tests in patients that undergo psychological preparation prior to bariatric surgery, than in those that do not at 12 months?

At 12 months, patients will attend clinic and complete a battery of psychological assessment questionnaires and the results compared to see if there is a quantifiable difference in the quality of life and mental health outcomes of patients that undergo preparation seminars and those that do not.

Inclusion Criteria: New referrals to the Sheffield Teaching Hospital Bariatric service Exclusion Criteria: Non-English speakers Patients that are not fit for bariatric surgery Patients that have already seen the bariatric psychologist