CASE SERIES STUDY ON MENTALIZATION-BASED GROUP THERAPY FOR ADULTS WITH OBESITY FOLLOWING BARIATRIC SURGERY

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

Background:

• Obesity is complex, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Bariatric surgery is effective for severe obesity, but long-term success hinges on psychological adjustment and behavioral change.
• Mentalization, the capacity to understand behavior via mental states, is emerging as crucial for sustained change post-surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a group intervention on psychological functioning, reflective function, and health behaviors in post-bariatric surgery patients.
• To explore how enhancing mentalization influences adjustment and behavior modification after bariatric procedures.

Main Methods:

• A multiple case study design involving five women with class I obesity post-bariatric surgery.
• Three participants underwent a six-month Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) group intervention.
• Data collection included CORE-OM, Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), and qualitative interviews, analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in psychological symptoms, overall well-being, and reflective functioning.
• RFQ scores indicated a reduction in both hypo- and hypermentalization.
• Qualitative analysis revealed a shift towards more relational, emotionally nuanced language and increased self-insight into behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) shows promise in improving post-bariatric surgery adjustment by enhancing reflective capacity and emotional awareness.
• Integrating mentalization-focused interventions may address psychological complexities crucial for sustained health behavior change in obesity treatment.