Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity. Reported benefits include major weight loss, improvement in diseases associated with obesity, and better quality of life. Nevertheless, there is a long-term risk of deleterious physical and psychological effects: regained weight (30% of patients), depression, and body image dissatisfaction. The purpose of this review of the literature is to identify the contribution of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in the context of bariatric surgery. Eligible articles and published since 2003 were systematically searched in electronic databases (PsychoINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed and Academic Search). Among the 98 citations, eleven cross-sectional and longitudinal studies concerning bariatric surgery patients who participated in CBT programs fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The therapeutic efficacy of CBT was demonstrated in ten of the eleven studies. An improvement in eating behavior, comorbid psychological conditions, and body weight were reported in patients who participated in CBT group sessions before and/or after bariatric surgery. The beneficial effect of CBT in the context of bariatric surgery suggests interesting therapeutic perspectives. Further research is however needed to consolidate these early findings and to provide longitudinal follow-up data beyond 2 years post-surgery.
Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Cognitive-behavioral therapy; Obesity.