Course Description:

The Masters in Behavioral Health Course provides an overview of the psychological, social, behavioral issues of bariatric surgery patients both before and after surgery. The course is designed for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, licensed counselors and other mental and medical health professionals who work with bariatric surgery patients. This educational content is designed for an intermediate/advanced level.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Summarize current issues related to the role of behavioral health in the treatment of bariatric surgery patients through use of case studies and scientific data
  2. Identify psychological, biobehavioral, and social factors commonly present in bariatric surgery patients, changes that occur with surgery, and their associations with outcomes.
  3. Discuss the intersection of obesity, racial/ethnic disparities and COVID-19
  4. Describe current behavioral and psychotherapy interventions aimed at improving eating behaviors and physical activity in bariatric surgery patients

11:00am Welcome and Course Overview
Janelle Coughlin, PhD
11:10am A070 “What can Psychology do to optimize this patient?”: Mental health barriers to weight loss surgery
Authors: Nini Peterson, PhD; Emily Fink, PsyD; Daniel Baughn, PhD
Presenter: Nini Peterson, PhD
11:30am A071 Weight Bias and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms:Exploring Risk and Protective Paths in Individuals Seeking Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Tosca Braun, PhD
Presenter: Tosca Braun, PhD
11:50am A070 “What can Psychology do to optimize this patient?”: Mental health barriers to weight loss surgery
Authors: Nini Peterson, PhD; Emily Fink, PsyD; Daniel Baughn, PhD
Presenter: Emily Fink, PsyD
12:10pm A072 Psychosocial and Behavioral Predictors of Early Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery
Authors: David Sarwer, PhD; Jacquelin Spitzer, MSEd; Jingwei Wu, PhD; Rohit Soans, MD; Courtney McCuen-Wurst, PsyD LCSW; Colleen Tewksbury, PhD RD CSOWM; Caitlin LaGrotte, PsyD MEd; Rebecca Ashare, PhD; Thomas Wadden, PhD; Noel Williams, MD; Kelly Allison, PhD
Presenter: David Sarwer, PhD
12:30pm Break
12:45pm An Update on Integrated and Behavioral Health
Lisa West-Smith, PhD LISW-S
1:05pm A073 Blood Alcohol Concentrations Prior to and Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Do Patients Accurately Perceive How Intoxicated They Are?
Authors: Kristine Steffen, PharmD PhD; Gail Williams-Kerver, PhD; Wenqiu Zhang, MS; Ross Crosby, PhD; Scott Engel, PhD
Presenter: Kristine Steffen, PharmD PhD
1:25pm A074 The rewarding effects of alcohol after bariatric surgery: Do they change and are they associated with pharmacokinetic changes?
Authors: Scott Engel, PhD; Lauren Schaefer, PhD; Gail Williams-Kerver, PhD; Lynnette Leone, PhD RN; Gregory Smith, PhD; James Mitchell, MD; John Gunstad, PhD; Ross Crosby, PhD; Kristine Steffen, PharmD PhD
Presenter: Scott Engel, PhD
1:45pm Bariatric Surgery for Adolescents:  Updates and Best Practices
Melissa Santos, PhD; Eleanor Mackey, PhD
2:00pm Adjourn