Empowering Bariatric Patient Care: How Dr. Jonathan Cole Uses the PAI to Enhance Pre-Surgical Evaluations

Integrating Psychological Assessment for Improved Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

When it comes to healthcare, physical health and mental health are often thought of as two separate entities that exist wholly independently from one another. The reality, however, is that the two are more interconnected than it may seem. Personality traits, for example, can affect numerous aspects of an individual’s physical health—from the frequency they exercise to their likelihood of success for certain medical procedures.

This underscores the importance of integrating psychological assessment tools into various medical and healthcare settings, including the complex landscape of bariatric surgery. In this article, we will uncover the pivotal role that psychological assessment plays in ensuring patient readiness and optimizing outcomes. This success story explores how one clinical psychologist, Dr. Jonathan Cole, leverages the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) to uncover critical psychological factors, enhance treatment planning, and ultimately improve the lives of his patients preparing for bariatric surgery.

Dr. Jonathan Cole and the PAI

Dr. Jonathan Cole, Ph.D., is a board-certified Clinical Health Psychologist and founder of a thriving group health psychology practice. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Cole and his team specialize in pre-surgical psychological evaluations for bariatric, spinal cord stimulator, and pain pump candidates, as well as treatment for chronic pain, headaches, and sleep disturbances.

His commitment to advancing patient care is evident in his daily motivation: “Being able to impact not just a patient’s mental but also their physical well-being is what gets me excited to go to work every day,” he said. “We focus on where the mind and body intersect.”

Dr. Cole’s practice utilizes the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) from PAR—a tool that is considered one of the most important innovations in personality assessment. The PAI’s ability to distinguish between health concerns and conversion symptoms, coupled with the targeted reporting of the PAI Bariatric, has made it indispensable for his team.

The Role of Psychological Assessment in Bariatric Surgery

In the context of bariatric surgery (procedures that not only transform bodies, but that also require significant psychological adjustment), physical and mental health are deeply intertwined. Research consistently shows that psychological assessments are critical for identifying mental health concerns, evaluating patient motivation, and predicting adherence to post-surgical guidelines. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, psychological factors such as coping skills, emotional eating, and untreated trauma can significantly impact surgical outcomes and recovery.

Dr. Cole and his team recognize that psychological readiness is essential for long-term success, especially when it comes to bariatric patients. His approach is grounded in the belief that understanding a patient’s psychological profile is just as important as assessing their physical health.

“Many pre-surgical patients will deny psychological problems in order to have the procedure,” said Dr. Cole. “The PAI gives additional patient information that is helpful when making surgical determinations from a psychological perspective.”

This comprehensive evaluation helps uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as hidden trauma or mental health conditions that could affect recovery. For example, Dr. Cole recalls a patient who initially denied any history of trauma but later admitted to significant PTSD after the PAI revealed trauma elevations. This allowed the team to connect the patient with appropriate therapy before surgery, ultimately reducing distress and improving post-surgical outcomes.

Evidence from clinical literature supports this approach. A study published in Diabetes Spectrum highlights that “addressing mental health aspects can improve adherence to post-surgery lifestyle changes, thereby enhancing long-term weight loss success and overall well-being.”

Choosing the Right Tool: Why Dr. Cole Relies on the PAI

Selecting the appropriate psychological assessment tool is crucial for clinicians working with complex patient populations. For Dr. Jonathan Cole, the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) quickly became the instrument of choice for his practice’s pre-surgical evaluations. He explains:

“The PAI provides a complete overall assessment of personality, and distinguishes between health concerns and conversion, which is important when dealing with medical patients. We were also able to develop bariatric norms for the measure, which is helpful with that population.”

This distinction is vital in medical populations, where patients may underreport psychological symptoms in hopes of being cleared for surgery. The PAI provides clinicians with objective data that can inform treatment planning and surgical decision-making.

The PAI’s comprehensive nature also allows Dr. Cole and his team to efficiently assess a wide range of psychological symptoms and personality traits, without sacrificing depth or accuracy. This is especially valuable in a busy clinical setting, where time is limited but the need for reliable information is paramount.

By choosing the PAI, Dr. Cole ensures that his patients receive thorough, accurate, and actionable psychological evaluations, laying the groundwork for successful surgical outcomes and improved overall well-being.

Improving Care and Patient Outcomes with the PAI

Dr. Jonathan Cole’s experience demonstrates the transformative impact of integrating psychological assessment into medical care—especially in the demanding context of bariatric surgery. By leveraging the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), Dr. Cole and his team can uncover critical psychological factors, tailor treatment plans, and support patients in ways that extend far beyond the operating room.

PAR has also played a major role in Dr. Cole’s work. “PAR has been helpful and willing to partner when we were wanting to create specific norms for tests,” he said. This partnership has helped him to continue advancing the field by developing population-specific norms and striving for even greater accuracy in psychological testing. His commitment to holistic patient care—addressing both mind and body—sets a powerful example for healthcare professionals everywhere.

As research and clinical experience show, addressing mental health needs before surgery leads to better outcomes, improved adherence to post-surgical changes, and enhanced overall well-being. The partnership between Dr. Cole’s practice and PAR exemplifies how innovative assessment tools like the PAI can help patients achieve lasting success on their health journeys.

Discover how the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) can transform patient care in your practice. Learn more about the PAI or contact PAR today to speak with an expert.