Eating and weight disorders : EWD
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Conservative interventions for weight reduction are not very effective in many cases of morbid obesity. For this reason, bariatric surgery plays an increasing role in the treatment of these patients. Bariatric surgery, however, is not the solution but an important precondition for successful management of morbid obesity. ⋯ Therefore, psychological and/or psychiatric treatment seem to be needed in some obese patients to gain an early postoperative understanding of possible psychological or eating problems. Various kinds of psychological support are available at Innsbruck Medical University Hospital before and after bariatric surgery, such as pharmacotherapy, individual psychotherapy, small-group psychotherapy, and the "Obesity Club". The reasons for the relatively low degree of willingness to take part in psychological treatment programs are demonstrated.