Weight gain in secure psychiatric settings

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Weight gain in secure psychiatric settings: The role of psychological factors in mediating obesity in relation to antipsychotic medication in secure services.

  • IRAS ID

    238961

  • Contact name

    Joseph L Davies

  • Contact email

    Joseph.Davies@wales.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cardiff Metropolitan University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 1 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    Summary of Research
    This study will explore the predictive efficacy of psychological factors for weight gain amongst secure mental health inpatients. Current inpatients from four ABMU sites (the Caswell clinic, Taith Newydd, Gwelfor and Cefn Yr Afon) and four Non-NHS sites (Priory Group; Ty Catrin, Ty Cwm Rhondda, Llanarth Court and Church Village) will be recruited for the study. Participants will be invited to complete a computer-based task and a number of validated psychometrics. Routinely collected clinical data, including weight, will also be collected from participants health records. Specifically, their weight will be taken at the beginning of participation as well as six months later. We hypothesise that individual psychological factors will predict weight gain better than the type of medication and other demographic information. It is hoped that this will suggest measures for early identification of those patients at highest risk for significant weight gain.

    Summary of Results
    The study found that, contrary to literature in non-psychiatric population that paying greater attention to high calorie food images over non-food images did not predict the amount of weight gained by service users in a secure psychiatric inpatient unit. The study did find eating in response to ones emotions, and having difficulty with self-control when eating was associated with weight gain over a three month period. It was also found that having an anxious-preoccupied attachment style was associated with weight gain over six months.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 2

  • REC reference

    18/WA/0355

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Oct 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion