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
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