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Benefits of Group Psychotherapy Programs in the Treatment of Obesity

Benefits of a Psychotherapy Group Program as Oppossed to the Standard Method in the Treatment of Obesity. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03937167
Enrollment
180
Registered
2019-05-03
Start date
2017-01-01
Completion date
2020-06-30
Last updated
2022-10-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obesity, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy, Group

Keywords

obesity, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Group

Brief summary

Obesity has reached pandemic proportions in recent years, affecting not only the physical health, but also the mental health, of obese people. According to Spain's National Health Survey 2011-12, the prevalence of obesity in the adult population of Spain was 17%, having increased by 2.5% since 2006. Therefore, a constant and worrying increase in the prevalence of obesity is being observed, which is having a great impact, both individually, in terms of health and quality of life, and socially, inter alia, by raising health expenditure due to increased morbidity. In this context, the desirability of a comprehensive approach that includes psychological intervention in attending obese patients (Rev Cochrane, 2006), has been given greater prominence. Paying attention to the emotional and psychopathological aspects related to obesity has proven to be an action that could have positive impact on obesity intervention models. The aim of this project is to measure, through a clinical trial, the efficacy of a psychotherapy group program for obesity patients who are attended by the consulting endocrinologist at the Infanta Leonor Hospital (Madrid). The impact of body mass index, psychological wellbeing, psychopathology and quality of life of two experimental study groups will be compared, one a control group of patients that follows the standard treatment, the other an experimental group that follows not only the standard treatment, but also the psychotherapy group intervention program.

Interventions

Added to standard treatment patients will participate in a standardized group of psychological intervention. 21 sessions with 10 to 12 members closed-ended groups.

Sponsors

Carlos III Health Institute
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age older than 18 and younger than 65. * Body mass index of 30 or higher. * Candidate to a specific obesity treatment. * Accept psychological attention. * Able to understand and consent participation. * Able to speak, write and read in Spanish. * Committed to assist weekly for 6 months Non-inclusion Criteria: * Obesity related to a non- stabilized hormonal disorder. * Severe mental disorders requiring specific treatment resources. * Cognitive or sensitive deficits. * Having had bariatric surgery within last 2 years.

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy during treatment * Bariatric surgery during treatment * Addictive disorder as a principal diagnosis.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
weight difference1 yearDifference between the initial and final weight in kilograms

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI)1 yearStyle of response to distress measured by Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). T score.
Positive Symptom Total (PST).1 yearcount of all the items with non-zero responses at Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). T score.
Eating disorder risk (EDRC)1 Yeardisfunctional eating behavior assessed by Eating Disorders Inventory 3rd Edition (EDI-3). T score. It is an index calculated by combining 3 scales: drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia
Global Severity Index (GSI)1 yearGlobal psychopathology measured by Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). T score.
Mental quality of life1 yearperceived mental or psychic quality of life assessed by Quality of Life Cuestionnaire SF-36
Mediterranean Diet Adherence1 yearMediterranean Diet Adherence measured by Test KIDMED
Motivation to change1 yearMotivation to change assessed by University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). 4 scales are measured: precontemplation, contemplation, action and maintenance.
Physical quality of life1 yearperceived physical quality of life assessed by Quality of Life Cuestionnaire SF-36

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026