Surgical Capacity

      In clinical care, many physicians are concerned about their patients' mental well being when considering surgical procedures.  Physicians have become increasingly aware of the value of standardized psychological tests in deciding about surgery and managing post-surgery outcomes.  They know it is vital to understand psychological appropriateness for gastric bypass and other surgical procedures.  Research literature documents that pre-surgical patients who are depressed take longer to heal.  Further, patients without psychological problems are more likely to adjust better after surgery.  Discovering if there is an underling psychological disorder in someone undergoing preparations for surgical procedures such as gastric bypass, cosmetic enhancement, or sexual reassignment  can save long hours of clinic visits and potential law suits.  

     For Gastric Bypass patients, determining the many psychological issues behind their weight gain is important.  The bypass’ positive effects can be undone if the patient’s behaviors do not change after their surgery.  A thorough assessment would include general issues around health habits, coping styles, family and spiritual support, capacity to moderate stress, and indicators of psychiatric disturbance.  Specific issues related to weight are also explored.  This can include exploring a patient’s eating behaviors, relationship of food and family distress, social outlets, and perceptions and expectations of weight loss on life style.  After an individual has struggled with many years of being overweight, the decision about surgery is typically the first step leading to many other changes.

     With all surgical patients, I not only serve as an evaluator, but also as teacher, consultant, and therapist.