Recent evidence suggesting post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery patients are at an increased risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs) has brought to light the importance of understanding how the postoperative development of a SUD may affect weight loss and psychosocial outcomes. The present investigation used a quasi- experimental, non- equivalent, matched pair between subjects group design to compare these outcomes in post-RYGB patients in inpatient treatment for SUDs with post-RYGB patients who reported no significant post-surgical substance-related problems. Participants were matched on sex, age, and time since surgery. Average weight losses of the two groups were not significantly different, but the SUD group exhibited a lower rate of surgical weight loss failure. The SUD group reported poorer psychosocial outcomes, including greater symptoms of depression, higher rates of probable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and poorer quality of life. No significant differences were found in rates of preoperative Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or postoperative behavioral excesses. Implications of these results for pre-and postsurgical care, in addition to addiction transfer theory, are discussed.
","abstract_html":"<p>Recent evidence suggesting post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery patients are at an increased risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs) has brought to light the importance of understanding how the postoperative development of a SUD may affect weight loss and psychosocial outcomes. The present investigation used a quasi- experimental, non- equivalent, matched pair between subjects group design to compare these outcomes in post-RYGB patients in inpatient treatment for SUDs with post-RYGB patients who reported no significant post-surgical substance-related problems. Participants were matched on sex, age, and time since surgery. Average weight losses of the two groups were not significantly different, but the SUD group exhibited a lower rate of surgical weight loss failure. The SUD group reported poorer psychosocial outcomes, including greater symptoms of depression, higher rates of probable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and poorer quality of life. No significant differences were found in rates of preoperative Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or postoperative behavioral excesses. Implications of these results for pre-and postsurgical care, in addition to addiction transfer theory, are discussed.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Pulcini, Melissa"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Karen K. Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Heather C. Janisse, Ph.D.","Tamara Loverich, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:51Z","subjects":["substance abuse","addiction","gastric bypass","obesity","weight loss","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/466","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Karen K. Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Heather C. Janisse, Ph.D.","Tamara Loverich, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Pulcini, Melissa"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-05-31T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["substance abuse","addiction","gastric bypass","obesity","weight loss","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/466"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Recent evidence suggesting post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery patients are at an increased risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs) has brought to light the importance of understanding how the postoperative development of a SUD may affect weight loss and psychosocial outcomes. The present investigation used a quasi- experimental, non- equivalent, matched pair between subjects group design to compare these outcomes in post-RYGB patients in inpatient treatment for SUDs with post-RYGB patients who reported no significant post-surgical substance-related problems. Participants were matched on sex, age, and time since surgery. Average weight losses of the two groups were not significantly different, but the SUD group exhibited a lower rate of surgical weight loss failure. The SUD group reported poorer psychosocial outcomes, including greater symptoms of depression, higher rates of probable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and poorer quality of life. No significant differences were found in rates of preoperative Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or postoperative behavioral excesses. Implications of these results for pre-and postsurgical care, in addition to addiction transfer theory, are discussed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Obesity and outcomes of bariatric surgery: A focus on patients with postoperative substance use disorders"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Karen K. Saules, Ph.D., Chair","Heather C. Janisse, Ph.D.","Tamara Loverich, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Pulcini, Melissa"],"dc:date.available":["2013-05-31T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Recent evidence suggesting post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery patients are at an increased risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs) has brought to light the importance of understanding how the postoperative development of a SUD may affect weight loss and psychosocial outcomes. The present investigation used a quasi- experimental, non- equivalent, matched pair between subjects group design to compare these outcomes in post-RYGB patients in inpatient treatment for SUDs with post-RYGB patients who reported no significant post-surgical substance-related problems. Participants were matched on sex, age, and time since surgery. Average weight losses of the two groups were not significantly different, but the SUD group exhibited a lower rate of surgical weight loss failure. The SUD group reported poorer psychosocial outcomes, including greater symptoms of depression, higher rates of probable Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and poorer quality of life. No significant differences were found in rates of preoperative Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or postoperative behavioral excesses. Implications of these results for pre-and postsurgical care, in addition to addiction transfer theory, are discussed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/466"],"dc:subject":["substance abuse","addiction","gastric bypass","obesity","weight loss","Psychology"],"dc:title":["Obesity and outcomes of bariatric surgery: A focus on patients with postoperative substance use disorders"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:51Z"}