PhD Studentship: Investigating the Role of Trauma in Eating Behaviours and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated individual to undertake a fully funded 3-year PhD programme investigating the role of trauma in eating behaviours and bariatric surgery outcomes. The successful candidate will be hosted within the world-renowned IoPPN at KCL and linked to an NHS bariatric psychology service(s) to conduct clinical aspects of the research. 

This PhD would be suited to someone with an interest in obesity research and the intersections between physical and mental health, and/or in health psychology or clinical psychology.

Background: 

Bariatric surgery (also known as weight loss surgery) is currently the most successful treatment of obesity for individuals with a body mass index over 40 (or 35 with comorbidities). Despite significant medical advances in bariatric surgery, the psychological literature remains inconclusive and sparse.

Individuals who present for bariatric surgery often have complex psychological histories, including but not limited to exposure to trauma. Trauma history has been associated with increased rates of psychopathology in those who have had bariatric surgery, such as PTSD-symptoms and suicidality. Although many patients benefit from surgery, some display poorer behavioural outcomes post-surgery, such as recurrence of binge eating and substance misuse. These patients may also show suboptimal weight loss or weight regain.

Successful bariatric surgery requires individuals to make substantial changes to their long-term eating behaviours and to follow strict dietary regimes. Those with a trauma history may particularly struggle with these behavioural changes due to trauma-related nervous system dysregulation and, consequently, emotion dysregulation. Given that food consumption is a known mechanism through which some people regulate their emotions (e.g., ‘emotional eating’), it is possible that a history of trauma could potentially mediate or moderate this relationship. To date, little is known about the relationship between trauma, eating behaviours, and bariatric surgery outcomes. 

The PhD:

This exciting PhD aims to build a psychological research stream to investigate the role of trauma in bariatric surgery outcomes (e.g., weight loss or regain, PTSD-symptoms); with a particular focus on potential mechanisms between trauma, emotion dysregulation, and eating behaviours.

The PhD projects will employ a mixed-methods approach combining different methodologies, also requiring the student to set up studies and collect primary data within an NHS clinical service (including applying for NHS ethics). We anticipate that the PhD will include a systematic review; quantitative data collection and advanced statistical analyses; and in-depth qualitative interviews. We will develop and refine the final research questions and studies with the successful candidate.

Depending on the candidate’s CV and background, there may also be scope for them to complete their professional BPS Stage 2 training in Health Psychology alongside this PhD (though note, the Stage 2 qualification is not funded through this scholarship and will incur fees at the candidate’s own expense).

This PhD will be co-supervised by Dr Emily McBride (Project Lead) and Dr Whitney Scott, in the Health Psychology Section, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London (KCL).

More info: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/study/research-funding/em-ioppn-hp-23

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