Intervenção intensiva para o desenvolvimento de flexibilidade psicológica em pessoas com sobrepeso e obesidade

Abstract

The consequences of obesity and overweight can be analyzed by matters of mental and physical health, quality of life and social impacts. When this condition is already instated, it is necessary to act with treatments that bring benefits. The goal of the present dissertation is to report an intervention based on the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as identifying the results on the Psychological Flexibility in people with obesity or overweight. In order to achieve that, the inclusion criteria were being between 18 and 59 years of age, presenting a BMI 25 or above, and having studied at least eight years, The exclusion criteria were the presence of diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Mood Disorders (in active episode), Depressive Disorder (in active episode) and Substance Abuse Disorders. Instruments used: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Binge Eating Scale (BES), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight (AAQ-W), Values of Life Questionnaire (VLQ), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire - Body Image (CFQ-BI) and Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). They were applied in three moments: before the intervention, right after the intervention, and five months after the intervention. The present study was done with 39 subjects, ages between 21 and 58, with an average of 40.9. The majority of the participants was single (35.7%) and had a college degree, either completed or not (66.7%). The participants presented a BMI between 25.3 and 51.6, with an average of 34.2 (considered obesity). In section I an experience account with patient illustrations was done. The intensive intervention presented aspects connected to ACT concepts such as experiential acceptance, cognitive defusion, Mindfulness, among others, as well as the use of Matrix diagram and the texting of messages in the weeks following. In section 2 the effects of intensive intervention on psychological flexibility, eating compulsion, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Of the 478 people who were interested in participating on the intervention, 181 underwent triage. Of those, 39 participated on the intervention and 29 returned for the segment evaluation. As far as results, a significant difference was found in the increase of experiential acceptance (AAQ–II F10,92; p<0,001; AAQ–W F14,94; p<0,001), in the development of cognitive defusion (CFQ F10,96; p<0,001; CFQ-BI F24,45; p<0,001), increase of consciousness and attention in the eating process (MEQ t=-3,75; p=0,001) and there was no significant difference in the importance of life values and how much they can be applicable in actions (VLQ). There was an expressive reduction on eating compulsion related symptoms. Even though they’re preliminary, the results appear to be promising to for the increase in Psychological Flexibility.