EMOTIONAL REGULATION ASSOCIATED WITH BARIATRIC SURGERY

Abstract

The Ministry of Health recognizes obesity as a public health problem and warns that it is a risk factor for other diseases. In this context, bariatric surgery appears as a treatment option for individuals who have tried to lose weight through conservative treatments and have not been successful. The literature suggests that in obese people, eating behavior problems are sometimes based on the use of maladaptive emotional regulation strategies to deal with such emotions. This article aims to investigate the potential of psychotherapy, especially the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) method, in supporting and optimizing emotional regulation in patients during the pre- and post-operative periods. The methodology used was a qualitative approach and a bibliographic review of literature. The databases selected for this research were PubMed, Brasil Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) and Portal de Periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), with the aim of adding a comprehensive and contextualized view on the subject. The results show that adaptive Emotional Regulation techniques contribute positively to a better recovery of individuals and enable an active and effective role for the psychologist in the psychotherapeutic process for individuals seeking mental health beyond weight loss.