Stomach reduction surgeries are among the frequently used methods in the treatment of obesity. Stating that psychiatric complications can be seen after the surgical operation, experts stated that some patients stop overeating after weight loss surgeries; however, alcohol, substance or behavioral addiction may develop in these people.
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Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz gave important information about addictions caused by stomach reduction surgeries.
"Alcohol addiction is increasing"
"Today, stomach reduction surgery methods are increasingly used in the treatment of obesity. Psychiatric complications can be seen after surgery," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "After successful weight loss surgeries, clinicians have reported that some patients stop overeating and may develop alcohol, substance or behavioral addiction instead. This has been termed 'Phenomenon Addiction Transfer'. There is an increasing number of case reports of alcohol use disorder after bariatric surgery in the literature. In these cases, food addiction is thought to be transferred to another substance or behavior after surgery."
Many types of addiction can be seen
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "Apart from alcohol addiction, gambling addiction, internet addiction, cocaine and heroin cannabis addiction, hair plucking addiction kleptomania (stealing disease), sex addiction have been reported."
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"Those with a genetic predisposition to addiction, underlying mood disorders, impulsivity, hyperactivity, etc. are considered to be addicted to food. It is also thought that these cases are actually food addicts and that the pathway of pleasure with food in the brain has developed an addiction network. Since this network in the brain is not cured after gastric surgery, it can be said that the brain continues to seek pleasure and usually escapes to pleasure in the easiest way. This is usually alcohol."
The risk of addiction needs to be determined before surgery
Emphasizing that it is very important to inform patients and their relatives before and after obesity surgeries, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz said, "Before such surgeries, especially if there is an addiction risk, this should be treated. This approach will prevent destructive consequences that may occur later," she said and concluded her words as follows:
"Addictions that develop after stomach surgeries can be treated. It is not different from other addiction treatments. It can be said that medication, magnetic stimulation treatments, psychotherapies are the treatment methods applied."
