# Reinforcement as a Prospective Predictor of Real-time Alcohol Abuse Following Bariatric Surgery

> **NIH NIH R21** · SANFORD RESEARCH NORTH · 2022 · $259,001

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Recent research has clearly shown that when compared to before surgery, post-bariatric surgery patients are
at increased risk for alcohol use disorders and increased alcohol intake. Understanding the mechanisms that
contribute to these negative clinical outcomes is of considerable scientific and clinical importance. In the
present study, we propose to investigate the extent to which changes in the reinforcement of alcohol lead to
increased alcohol intake in post-bariatric surgery patients. We will employ momentary naturalistic assessment,
objective continuous alcohol measurement, and laboratory methodology to carefully assess reinforcement
using an empirically supported behavior economics-based measure. Additionally, this study is designed as a
prospective, longitudinal investigation that will follow bariatric surgery patients from one year to two years after
surgery.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10370120
- **Project number:** 1R21AA029145-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** SANFORD RESEARCH NORTH
- **Principal Investigator:** SCOTT G ENGEL
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $259,001
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10370120

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10370120, Reinforcement as a Prospective Predictor of Real-time Alcohol Abuse Following Bariatric Surgery (1R21AA029145-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10370120. Licensed CC0.

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