Pre-Bariatric Surgery Assessments

Are you about to undergo surgery in order to lose weight, or are you going to have an operation to remove excess weight?

Why is mental health a topic of discussion regarding my pre-operative bariatric surgery?

Often when a person undergoes a bariatric surgery many pre-surgical requirements are needed. These requirements ask that you prepare for the surgery in several ways. Mental health and a psychiatric evaluation are sometimes requirements for these operations. This process helps you identify the seriousness of the operation and helps assure that you can and do, fully understand the risks and possible implications of the surgery.

Your doctors and surgeons may state and require that you understand that bariatric surgery is not an instant approach to health, it requires an ongoing attention to your health and wellbeing.

Pre-bariatric surgery requirements often demand that you understand areas surrounding your mental health relevant to your upcoming bariatric surgery. You may be required to:

• Undergo a behavioral and psychiatric evaluation with a mental health expert.
• Abstain from substance use or abuse.
• Abstain from alcohol use or abuse.
• Seek treatment in all areas in which you may have mental health or psychiatric matters.
• Seek a recommendation from your mental health provider regarding any areas of concern identified from the psychiatric evaluation.

Other areas in which you may need a mental health professional before a bariatric surgery are to:

• Be assessed for your readiness to change your diet.
• Begin designing an exercise plan.
• Design a mental health plan.
• Begin to make behavioral changes that your doctor or surgeon recommends after the operation.

What does a psychiatric evaluation for pre-operative bariatric surgery test for?

These types of tests will assess you and your background in many ways. At Thoughtwise we can help you better understand this process, and move towards being assessed with the exact tests that you have been required to take.

These types of tests may test you for:

• Current mental health or psychiatric conditions.
• Alcohol or drug abuse.
• Ongoing stressors.
• Many factors of your current health.

Who can conduct these assessments?

If you are in need of a pre-operative psychiatric assessment for bariatric surgery or another type of surgery or medical procedure in the Florida or Tallahassee area, please make contact with us at Thoughtwise.

We specialize in conducting psychiatric, mental health, psychological, and neuropsychological assessments. We may be able to offer you other assessments or services that you require for these procedures. We may also be able to offer you the mental health intervention or behavioral therapy interventions that your doctor has recommended that you seek prior to surgery.

We can help you start treatments and interventions in which can guide you through this process. Behavioral therapy may be another effective intervention for you if you are undergoing or thinking about undergoing bariatric or life changing surgery.

Please contact us at Thoughtwise about your pre-operative bariatric surgery psychiatric or psychological evaluation today.