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The psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) are well established with primarily Caucasian samples. However, little is known about its reliability and validity with minority groups. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the BDI-II in a sample of low-income African American medical outpatients (N=220). Reliability was demonstrated with high internal consistency (.90) and good item-total intercorrelations. Criterion-related validity was demonstrated. A confirmatory factor analysis supported a hierarchical factor structure in which the BDI-II reflected 2 first-order factors (Cognitive and Somatic) that in turn reflected a second-order factor (Depression). These results are consistent with previous findings and thus support the use of the BDI-II in assessing depressive symptoms for African American patients in a medical setting.

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This study is the first to reveal the feasibility of using a smartphone app in the education and engagement of patients prior to bariatric surgery. The app was well-received based on subject satisfaction scores and revealed trends toward positive behavior change and increased weight loss. Randomized trials are necessary to delineate true efficacy.

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Given the high percentage of patients with weight regain after surgery, significant effort has been placed on developing treatment options in the last few years. Tremendous work has taken place in the realm of cognitive behavior therapy, appetite suppressants, and endoscopic procedures with the hope of reducing the need for revision surgery which can be associated with significant complications. Weight regain is unfortunately a common phenomenon associated with all weight loss modalities including bariatric surgery. We now have a number of treatment options that can reverse the weight loss trend.

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