Psychological Evaluations for Weight Loss Surgery Candidates

Are you considering bariatric surgery in Perth? Our highly experienced psychology practice provides comprehensive psychological evaluations for bariatric surgery candidates, helping ensure you're mentally and emotionally prepared for this life-changing procedure. As Perth's trusted psychology professionals, we work closely with leading bariatric surgeons to support your weight loss surgery journey.

Why Choose Our Bariatric Psychology Assessment Services in Perth?

Evidence-Based Assessment Approach

Our psychological evaluations utilise the latest research in bariatric psychology, including specialised testing instruments with norms specific to bariatric surgery candidates. Research shows that accurate testing with bariatric-specific norms is crucial for proper assessment, as general population norms may not provide accurate insights for surgical candidates.

Experienced Perth Psychologists

Our team understands the unique psychological challenges associated with weight loss surgery and the specific requirements of Perth's bariatric surgery programs. We're committed to helping you achieve the best possible outcomes from your procedure.

Collaborative Care

We work directly with Perth's leading bariatric surgeons, providing detailed reports and recommendations that support your surgical team's decision-making process.

What is a Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation

A bariatric surgery psychological evaluation is a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate your psychological readiness for weight loss surgery. This evaluation serves multiple critical functions:

• Assessing appropriateness for surgery
• Identifying potential challenges
• Enhancing preparation for post-surgical lifestyle changes

Important: Our evaluation is designed to support your surgery journey, not prevent it. The objective is to help patients prepare mentally for surgery and enable them to avoid mental roadblocks to adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Our Comprehensive Assessment Process

1. Initial Clinical Interview (60-90 minutes)

During your clinical interview, we'll discuss:

• Motivation and Expectations - Your reasons for seeking bariatric surgery, realistic expectations about weight loss outcomes and understanding of lifestyle changes required post-surgery.
• ‍Weight and Diet History - Timeline of weight gain and previous weight loss attempts, family history of obesity and eating patterns, and previous experiences with traditional diet and exercise programs.
• ‍Current Eating Behaviours - Assessment of eating patterns and potential eating disorders, including screening for binge-eating disorder (affecting 10-25% of bariatric candidates) and night eating syndrome.
• ‍Mental Health Assessment - Current and past mental health symptoms, including screening for depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions that may impact surgical success.
• ‍Social Support Systems - Assessing for family and friend support for your surgery decision, your home environment, the eating habits of household members, and the availability of post-surgical support.

2. Psychological Testing

We utilise validated psychological instruments, including:

• Objective personality assessments with validity scales
• Specialised testing instruments designed specifically for bariatric surgery candidates
• Assessments that detect defensive responding and provide accurate psychological profiles

3. Comprehensive Report and Recommendations

Your evaluation concludes with a detailed report for your surgical team, including:

• Assessment of psychological readiness for surgery
• Identification of strengths and potential challenges
• Specific recommendations for pre- andpost-surgical support
• Treatment recommendations if additional psychological support is needed

Remember, the point of a pre-surgical evaluation is not to "gatekeep" surgery; instead, it is to ensure the best chances of success and long-term benefit.

What We Assess: Key Evaluation Areas

Psychological Readiness Factors: Patients must demonstrate a clear understanding of the surgical procedure, associated risks, potential outcomes, and required lifestyle changes. We ensure you fully comprehend what you're undertaking.

Realistic Expectations: We assess whether your expectations about weight loss, timeline, and life changes are realistic and achievable through bariatric surgery.

Motivation for Surgery: Appropriate motivation typically includes the desire to improve medical conditions, enhance mobility and energy, and promote health and longevity. We explore your personal motivations to ensure they align with successful outcomes.

Mental Health Considerations

Depression and Anxiety: Studies show that people with extreme obesity are five times more likely to have experienced depression, with23-47% of bariatric candidates currently using psychotropic medication. We assess current mental health status and treatment needs.

Eating Disorders: Research indicates that patients with preoperative eating disorders, like emotional eating or food addiction, have a higher likelihood of post-operative weight struggle. Early identification allows for appropriate treatment planning.

Substance Use History: We screen for current or past substance abuse issues, as there may be an increased risk of addiction transfer post-surgery.

Post-Surgery Risk Factors

Potential Psychological Complications: Post-operative psychological effects can include increased susceptibility to depression due to dietary changes affecting serotonin levels, mood dysregulation from insulin fluctuations, and the development of eating behaviour disorders.

Body Image Changes: Significant weight loss can trigger body dysmorphia, where patients struggle to adjust to their new body image, potentially leading to mental distress.

Who Benefits from Psychological Evaluation?

All Bariatric Surgery Candidates' Psychological evaluation has become standard practice for most surgery programs, stemming from National Institutes of Health recommendations for multidisciplinary team evaluation.

Patients with Existing Mental Health Treatment

Even patients already receiving mental health care need bariatric-specific evaluation, as therapists trained in bariatrics understand the specific psychological and behavioural issues weight loss surgery patients experience.

High-Risk Candidates Patients with complex psychological histories benefit from thorough assessment to identify needed support and intervention strategies.

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The Importance of Specialised Bariatric Psychology:

Evidence-Based Assessment Tools

Psychologists need assessment tools with specific normative data for bariatric surgery patients, particularly based on presurgical bariatric surgery candidate norms rather than just general comparison groups.

Supporting Long-Term Success

Studies indicate that 10-25% of patients experience weight regain, and 5-25% face postoperative complications due to poor treatment compliance. Our assessments help identify and address factors that could impact your long-term success.

Preparing for Your Evaluation

What to Expect

• Confidential, supportive environment
• Honest discussion about your weight loss journey
• Educational information about surgery and psychological factors
• No "pass or fail" pressure – we're here to support your success

How to Prepare

• Gather information about your weight history and previous diet attempts
• List current medications and mental health treatment history
• Consider your support system and post-surgery goals
• Prepare to discuss your eating patterns and relationship with food honestly

Duration and Process

• Clinical interview: 60-90 minutes
• Psychological testing: 1-2 hours
• Report completion: Within 1-2 weeks
• Follow-up consultation discussing findings and potential implications

Cost

Assessment cost depend on the purpose of the assessment, as costs can vary depending on the type of testing required. For an accurate quote, please contact us.