Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines For Pediatric Preoperative Anxiety, Whitney R. Stant

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Preoperative anxiety is a problem that occurs frequently in pediatric patients. Preoperative anxiety creates physical and psychological changes that impact a child’s surgical experience. Pediatric patients who experience preoperative anxiety may also experience prolonged postoperative care, long-term psychological complications, and increased postoperative pain. Sedating medications are often administered to prevent and treat preoperative anxiety. Commonly, midazolam is administered intranasally to prevent preoperative anxiety. Midazolam increases the risk of cognitive impairment and respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine is an effective alternative to midazolam. Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 agonist and provides arousable sedation without respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine is safe and effective at …

Animation As Therapy For Mental Health Treatment Across Diverse Populations And Contexts, A Literature Review, Daneile Tabana

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Scientific research has explored and identified the beneficial relationship between health and creative expression, recognizing art therapy as a source of healing. Animation has been newly recognized as an art therapy medium with potential for therapeutic healing and increased psychological well-being. This review of the literature on animation therapy explores the history of the modality’s interaction with the population observed and the effects of animation on the cognitive processes, discusses current theoretical orientations and treatment options for treating a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior with animation therapy, and considers culturally informed and client-centered practices alongside traditional …

Neural Mechanisms Of Estrogen And Inflammation In Female Stress Susceptibility, Samantha Jane Bouknight

Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are highly debilitating psychiatric disorders that notably share stress as an etiological factor. Stress is a common occurrence experienced daily by virtually everyone and, while most people are resilient, a substantial portion of the population exhibit risk factors that yield them susceptible to developing stress-related psychiatric disorders. One prominent factor that has long been known to increase this risk is the female biological sex with women presenting at least twice as often with disorders like PTSD and MDD compared to men. Interestingly, this bias exists distinctly during the reproductive years and …

An Anxiety And Coping Mechanism Educational Program For Children And Adolescents, Amanda Garrett

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The following capstone project encompassed creating and implementing an educational program focusing on anxiety and coping mechanisms for adolescents 12-15 years of age at the YMCA in Largo, Florida. The academic program focuses on six different types of anxiety, which are generalized anxiety, social anxiety, test anxiety, feelings of panic, feelings of stress, and health anxiety, all in a PowerPoint format. Each of these topics also included a coping mechanism that the teens completed after learning about each different type of anxiety. These coping mechanisms included journaling, creating a stress ball, participating in a yoga class, completing a scavenger hunt …

Implementation Of Depression Screening For The Puerperal Woman During The Fourth Trimester, Ashley Tidwell Bowlin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Postpartum depression is a mental illness that most commonly develops in the first twelve weeks postpartum, known as the “fourth trimester.” Nationally, one in five women suffers from postpartum depression, with 50 percent going undiagnosed and untreated due to fear of stigmatization and lack of consistent screenings among healthcare providers.

Purpose: The evidence-based Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project included screening for postpartum depression between seven to 14 days postpartum to increase the identification of women likely to have postpartum depression before their scheduled postpartum visit over six weeks.

Methods: The project used a quantitative design as the …

A Multimodal Approach: Implementing Omm For Spinal Surgery Patients' Pain And Anxiety, Summer Barnes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: The purpose of this evidence-based practice Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to encourage thorough assessment of pain and anxiety prior to spinal surgery in order to identify the need for implementation of additional modalities, such as osteopathic interventions for pain and anxiety management. It is pertinent that as holistic providers we address this populations often missed psychological distress and ineffective pharmacological pain regimens to promote better patient outcomes.

Background: Research says there are approximately 1.62 million instrumented spinal procedures performed annually in the United States. Spinal surgery is not uncommon, and neither is the chronic pain and …

Restorative Yoga To Increase Mindfulness And Reduce Anxiety And Burnout Of Inpatient Mental Health Workers: A Quality Improvement Project, Rachaele Warden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background/Significance: Burnout syndrome negatively impacts healthcare systems via quality reduction of patient care and communication, increased medical errors, hospital-acquired infections, staffing shortages, and costly malpractice suits (De Hert, 2020). The characteristic exhaustion, cynicism, job detachment, feelings of inadequacy and incompetence that emerge from burnout further hinder individual mental health and wellbeing.

Purpose: The purpose of the restorative yoga intervention strives to reduce employee anxiety, burnout and enhance mindfulness-based practice strategies within a local inpatient mental health hospital.

Methods: Quality improvement project with evidence-based interventions.

Interventions: The project intends to hold one instructor-guided and one video-guided 25-minute restorative yoga weekly session …

Incorporation Of Mindfulness Application Use In Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Curricula For Mitigation Of Stress And Anxiety In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Kerrie Rodgers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The nurse anesthesia specialty is highly stressful, with educational training being no exception. High didactic demands and intensive clinical experiences are placed on student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs), increasing stress and anxiety in their personal and professional lives. High levels of psychological distress can lead to inadvertent consequences in students’ mental, emotional, and physical health and can contribute to illness, burnout, substance use, and compromise in patient safety. Some degree of stress is necessary for motivation to succeed and perform at high levels, and encountering stress while enrolled in a doctoral nurse anesthesia program is expected and unavoidable. A search …

The Anatomical Embodiment Of Morning Routines In The Reduction Of Anxiety: An Intervention, Natalie Wright

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The topic under investigation is whether physically embodying a morning routine that was designed through the lens of Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis (LBMA) will reduce daily symptoms of individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Since morning routines play a significant part in one’s preparation for the day, I created an individualized LBMA morning routine for a specific client to embody. In addition to the routine, the client documented the process of their anxiety levels on a weekly basis. This client was a white, female, 19-year-old, lesbian college student who was previously diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The movement analysis …

Pediatric Anxiety Disorders And Their Accommodation In The Classrom, Olivia Hobson

Honors Theses

This project is an exploration of the origins, neurology and impacts of pediatric anxiety disorders, as well as the research-backed best practices for their accomodation within the school classroom setting.

Music For Anxiolysis In Primigravida Undergoing Cesarean Delivery Under Neuraxial Anesthesia, Jonathan Garcia

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Primigravida women undergoing cesarean section under neuraxial anesthesia frequently suffer from anxiety in the perioperative period. Literature suggests this population suffers disproportionately due to gender, surgical naiveness, lack of birthing experience, fear of complications, and exposure to the operating theatre’s noxious environment. Despite the high anxiety prevalence and numerous negative consequences, safe treatment options are lacking. Unfortunately, contemporary pharmacologic therapy to treat anxiety threatens the parturient and the fetus. However, the field of medicine has long appreciated music’s physiologically calming effects on the body. This project details a literature search, review, synthesis, and analysis of the available literature supporting and …

Implementation Of Vinyasa Yoga For Adults Experiencing Anxiety, Megan K. Malyuk

Theses and Graduate Projects

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States (US) and holistic treatment approaches, such as vinyasa yoga, are often practiced to alleviate the severity of symptoms (The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). A comprehensive literature review including evidence-based research, Metis-based knowledge, and personal accounts are used to support this scholarly project. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is explicated and synthesized as a theoretical framework. Methodology and evaluation of the scholarly project are described, analyzed, and reflected that vinyasa yoga has a positive impact on individuals who experience anxiety. This scholarly project was implemented …

The Prevalence Of Stress And Stressors Among Pediatric Oncology Nurses Working In Pediatric Oncology Units In Pakistan - An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study, Shenila Anwarali

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Pediatric oncology nurses in Pakistan are at the forefront of caring for young cancer patients. In Pakistan, thousands of children are diagnosed with cancer every year, however the country's healthcare system lacks a comprehensive National cancer registry. Pediatric oncology nurses face high stress levels due to the demanding nature of their work, lack of specialized training, and communication challenges with patients and families. This study aims to explore the prevalence of stress and its predictors among these nurses in Pakistan, addressing a significant research gap.
Purpose: The purpose for the study was to measure stress and identify its predictors …

The Impact Of Brief Electronic Guided Mindfulness Meditation On Anxiety Scores, Sierra King

DNP Scholarly Projects

In the United States, anxiety rates are on the rise for the general population (Goodwin et al., 2020a). Prolonged and frequent anxiety can become unprompted and problematic (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Management of anxiety is crucial for overall wellbeing. Access to treatment and resources for anxiety may be limited in rural geographical locations (Morales et al., n.d.). This DNP project sought to determine whether a brief intervention of electronic guided mindfulness meditation (MM) by Insight Timer is effective in decreasing anxiety in a rural populous. Convenience sampling recruited a final total of 11 rural participants who participated in seven sessions …

The Effects Of Yoga On Anxiety And Sleep Quality Levels Among College Students, Larisa Lucas Mullins

DNP Projects

Background: College students have poor sleep quality due to a newfound sense of freedom, exposure to new influences, or poor sleep hygiene (Dinis & Barganca, 2018). Specifically, evidence supports a correlation between sleep latency in onset or lack of nighttime sleep and increased anxiety (Dinis & Barganca, 2018). Yoga has been shown to decrease anxiety, stress symptoms, and depression (Mullen et al., 2021). Teaching yoga techniques and encouraging routine yoga practice to college students may improve sleep quality and decrease anxiety.

Purpose: This project's purpose was to evaluate the effect of yoga education and videos on sleep quality and …

Utilizing A Structured Music Therapy Program For Adolescents With Anxiety And Depression, Amy Haagen

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues that affect children and adolescents. It has been noted that twenty percent of adolescents will have a depressive episode or be affected by anxiety by the time they are 18 years old. Mental health issues affecting children and adolescents majorly impact all aspects of their lives, most notably academic success, behavior, growth, and development (Porter et al., 2017). Current treatments for mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, include pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. In the adolescent population, there are conflicting opinions on the use of antidepressants due to risks …

Frozen By Worry And Fatigue? A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Freezing Of Gait, Sarah M. Ghose

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a mixed methods emergent, phenomenological approach to (1) understanding the lived experience of freezing of gait for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and (2) determining the role of anxiety and sleep in freezing of gait outcomes. Participants included 13 adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (N=14 for qualitative data, N=13 for quantitative data; 23.1% female-identifying, 76.9% male-identifying) who were predominantly white (92.3%) with an average age of 69 years (SD = 6.73 years). Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews, self-report measures, actigraphic sleep data, and salivary alpha amylase biomarker collection. Results are organized into …

Associations Among Psychosocial Factors, Health-Related Quality Of Life, And Adherence In Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cecelia I. Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a prevalent disorder among youth in the United States. IBD is one of the leading causes of chronic pain in adolescence and symptoms can lead to reduced quality of life, social embarrassment, and lower self-esteem. Adherence to medical regimens for IBD is incredibly important to prevent morbidity, mortality, and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, adolescents struggle generally with adherence and the regimen for IBD can be complicated and include aversive side effects. Psychological factors, such as depressive symptoms, are key factors associated with non-adherence. Nevertheless, gut-specific anxiety (GSA) is a psychological factor that …

Increased Concern Of Suicide Behaviors In The Adolescent Population, Jaime Shareen-Porter Earle

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project focused on addressing the concern for the increase of depression, anxiety, and self-harm behaviors among adolescents, which can lead to suicidal ideation and attempts. Suicide behaviors have increased among adolescents, and research revealed that suicide is the second leading cause of death in this population. An educational PowerPoint was presented to members of the community on suicide behaviors, how to identify the behaviors, and where to get support and resources in the community. Pre- and post-surveys were used to assess the participants' knowledge and confidence levels before and after project implementation. The surveys contained the same …

Introducing Mental Health Resources To Nurse Practitioner Residents, Tiffanie Bailey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This DNP Project identified the increased need for mental health resources after the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies showed the rate of anxiety, depression, and substance use has also been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic began to devastate the country mentally and physically, it became quickly apparent that additional resources to provide support for those suffering from mental illness were essential. This project aimed to introduce a Mental Health First Aid course within the Residency Program at the Center for Family Guidance. Participants were asked to complete a pre-test indicating their …

Community Educational Session On Identifying The Signs Of Depression And Resources Available, Desiree Young

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The DNP Project was designed to educate the community on identifying the signs of depression and the community resources available to them. The intent of the project was to improve the community’s knowledge of depression symptoms and the community resources available that offer assistance to those dealing with these symptoms. There is a great need for education on depression signs, as many in various communities suffer from untreated depression, which often leads to negative outcomes. The impact of the project implementation was measured by using pre- and post-survey data evaluating the participants' overall knowledge of the signs of depression, stigma …

Integrating Behavioral Health Into Family Medicine: Improving Access To Specialty Care Using A Collaborative Care Model, Christina Stephens

DNP Scholarly Projects

Primary care, an extensive of family medicine remains a key access point for patients entering the healthcare system. Accessing medical care and specialty psychiatric services is limited in rural communities. Patients often find exhaustive wait times, untimely referrals, and reliance on emergency services for crisis management. The primary care provider is able to help their community improve access to behavioral health care by using a collaborative approach. This quality improvement initiative used the framework produced by the AIMS Center at the University of Washington and adopted for use creating an 8-week intensive program in a family medical practice located in …

Nutrition Counseling Practices Among Psychologists, Wibecke Stromsnes

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of treatment guidelines for how to address the impact of nutrition on clients’ mental health. Prior research is limited regarding psychologists’ practices of nutrition counseling and has mostly focused on practices of dieticians and medical doctors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychologists’ beliefs and attitudes about nutrition counseling, amount of training and use of nutrition counseling, self-rated knowledge in the use of nutrition counseling and perceived benefits and barriers to using nutrition counseling. Data was collected using an online survey of 76 licensed psychologists’ training in nutrition and use of nutrition counseling. Findings …

Nurse Suicide: Examining Depression And Anxiety In Critical Care Settings, Arianna Bernardine Barata

Nursing | Senior Theses

Nurses play a critical role in healthcare, yet the demanding work environment often exposes them to stressors, leading to the development of depression and anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) (2021), 50.8% of nurses have stress, 74% have anxiety, 70.8% have depression, and 79.1% have at least one of them. Burnout, understaffing, COVID fatigue, alarm fatigue, patient ratios, and disrupted sleep patterns are some of the stressors nurses contend with in every shift. While some nurses may cope and overcome these challenges, many face more severe issues, such as suicide. Nurse suicide is an issue that has …

Befriending Your Anxiety Through The Polyvagal Lens By Utilizing Embodied Imagery, Cassandra Lacroix

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Many individuals experience anxiety disorders, which can significantly impact their well-being if not properly addressed. Recognizing the need for effective tools to support people with anxiety, this research aligns the key pillars of self-control and present focus awareness of physiological responses through art to harness emotional regulation. This research uses the lens of the polyvagal theory, and looking at embodied imagery, breathwork, and transitional objects to conceptualize ways to help decrease anxiety and enhance body perception and autonomic awareness will be witnessed in participants. The aim of this study was also to establish a strategy that individuals could turn to …

The Effect Of Presenting Concerns On Providers’ Assessment Of Patients’ Suicide Risk, Alexandria Brunkow

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Objective: Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the U.S. with nearly 50,000 people per year dying by suicide. Public health approaches to suicide prevention focus on screening people in primary and mental health care settings and offering treatment to those who screen positive. Research shows that mental health providers may not recognize risk factors for suicide and miss opportunities to screen patients who may be at risk. Providers’ mental representations of suicide risk may be influencing their perception of patient risk and contributing to low screening rates. This study used an experimental vignette case design to …

My Secret Struggle: Starving, Purging, And Numbing My Emotions. An Autoethnographic Analysis Of My Lifelong Battle With Anxiety, Depression, And Eating Disorders, Hasmek G. Siwajian

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent females and young adult women between the ages of 12 and 25 are at a higher risk of engaging in self-destructive and life-threatening behaviors linked to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when they do not have access to suitable treatment options or coping mechanisms (Garcia et al., 2020). This study highlights the heightened vulnerability of adolescent females and young adult women aged 12 to 25 who engage in self-destructive behaviors associated with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders when adequate treatment options or coping mechanisms are lacking. Through an autoethnographic approach, the researcher delves into her daily struggles and breakthroughs …

Traumatic Brain Injury Severity In Older Adults: Impact On Anxiety And Depression Symptoms And Community Engagement, Ashley Tomford

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of physical and cognitive disability worldwide. TBI can negatively impact cognitive, physical, social, and psychological functioning.

Objective: This study investigated interactions between TBI severity, mental health symptom severity, and community engagement among older adults. Specific aims included investigating 1) the relationship between TBI severity at the time of injury and psychiatric symptom severity at one-year post-TBI; 2) the relationship between TBI severity and community engagement at one-year post-TBI; and 3) whether mental health symptom severity moderated the relationship between TBI and post-injury community engagement.

Methods: Archival data was analyzed …

A Quality Improvement Project On Anxiety Management Before Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Kiera Paulo

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: This Quality Improvement project sought to determine if a brief progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) session could decrease patient anxiety before receiving intramuscular (IM) injections for ketamine-assisted therapy. Problem: The Kerstin Helgason, NP clinic does ketamine-assisted therapy, and many patients express anxiety beforehand, either due to a fear of needles or nerves surrounding the medication treatment. Intervention: This project implemented a brief progressive muscle relaxation therapy for patients with anxiety before receiving their IM injection. Measures: The patient’s anxiety levels were measured before and after the PMR therapy using a five-point Likert scale ranging from none to very severe. Results: …

Anxiety Screening At A Psychiatric Inpatient Facility: A Quality Improvement Project, Irene Akwitti

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry occurring more days than not for a minimum of 6 months (Patriquin & Mathew, 2017). Presently, anxiety screening and evidence-based practice treatment for adults are suboptimal. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in patients. Purpose. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool, a validated, evidence-based instrument, in a psychiatric inpatient facility to improve early detection and treatment of anxiety disorders in patients. Methods. Staff members were educated …