Application of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders in post-bariatric surgery patients: an effectiveness and feasibility study in group format

Obesity is a serious health problem with global implications. Bariatric surgery (BS) is the most used and effective treatment, but there are patients who do not lose a substantial amount of weight, a fact that has been related with the presence of emotional eating, anxiety and depression symptoms. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness and feasibility of an emotion regulation-based intervention called Unified Protocol (UP), applied in group format to 6 post-BS patients presenting emotional disorders/symptoms. Results at post-treatment shown high attendance rates and satisfaction with the UP scores and significant improvements on neuroticism, eating disorders symptoms and emotional eating. At 6-month follow-up we found significant reductions on anxiety symptoms, neuroticism, maladjustment and dysregulation (d = 0.83-1.46) and the body mass index remained stable over time. These preliminary results are encouraging about the effectiveness and feasibility of the UP to treat emotional dysregulation in patients after BS.