Obesity requires multidisciplinary treatment, that is, it is analyzed by more than one specialist, and the psychologist plays an important role alongside the specialists, as he or she will be responsible for carrying out the psychological evaluation.
Since bariatric surgery has a major impact on the body's anatomy and the patient's mental state, pre- and post-operative psychological monitoring is necessary.
The psychological evaluation is an investigative process that begins with a thorough interview, where the professional will conduct a psychosocial assessment of the individual. It is essential to understand what the expectations are regarding the surgery, in addition to changes in lifestyle, and the reasons that led the patient to undergo the surgery; to understand whether the patient is prepared and, above all, whether he or she has understood all the changes that will occur in his or her life and whether he or she will be able to put them into practice. This support serves to understand all the aspects involved, resulting from the pre- and post-surgery period, for a better quality of life in the long term for the individual.
The psychologist's goal during the assessment is to provide the patient with an understanding of the changes needed in relation to the post-operative period of the bariatric patient, thus increasing the chances of success of the surgery. The assessment is essential in this process, as the patient must be completely confident in making a decision regarding the procedure, whether it is to be performed immediately or in the future, or even not to perform the procedure.
At the end of the process, a document (report) is prepared and must be given to the patient so that, together with their doctor, they can evaluate the best time to perform the surgery or the option of not performing it.
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