Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of A Collaborative Care For Depression Intervention On Health Service Utilization And Depression Severity, Girlyn Arganza Cachaper

Health Services Research Dissertations

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, disproportionately affecting the Medicaid population. Collaborative care programs for depression are transforming primary care to increase access and coordinate physical and behavioral health services. Understanding the relationships between components of collaborative care programs, characteristics of participants, and their effect on outcomes can maximize program effectiveness. A pilot collaborative care for depression program within a Medicaid managed care organization was evaluated using administrative claims and case management data. Participants (n=444) included adults with prior Medicaid coverage and a comparison group identified using one-to-one propensity score-matching. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated the odds of …

A Social-Ecological Framework Of Theory, Assessment, And Prevention Of Suicide, Robert J. Cramer, Nester D, Kapusta

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The juxtaposition of increasing suicide rates with continued calls for suicide prevention efforts begs for new approaches. Grounded in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) framework for tackling health issues, this personal views work integrates relevant suicide risk/protective factor, assessment, and intervention/prevention literatures. Based on these components of suicide risk, we articulate a Social-Ecological Suicide Prevention Model (SESPM) which provides an integration of general and population-specific risk and protective factors. We also use this multi-level perspective to provide a structured approach to understanding current theories and intervention/prevention efforts concerning suicide. Following similar multi-level prevention efforts in interpersonal violence …

Predictive Value Of Adhd Symptomatology On Motives And Outcomes Of Stimulant Misuse, Alexander Laszlo Peterkin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

ADHD stimulant misuse is defined as taking a stimulant used to treat ADHD either without having a prescription for that stimulant or in a manner that deviates from the prescription’s instructions. This has been a growing trend among undergraduate students over recent years. Prior research has found that misusers are likely to have severe symptoms of ADHD, misuse for primarily academic reasons, and display problems associated with substance abuse. The current study aimed to determine the predictive value of ADHD symptomatology on frequency of ADHD stimulant misuse, mediated by academic motives for misuse and substance abuse problems. The survey for …

Alcohol And Substance Use Knowledge, Attitudes, Subjective Norms, Self-Efficacy, Perceived Behavioral Control, And Behavioral Intentions Among Omani College Students, Muna S. Bait Ajzoon

Health Services Research Dissertations

Alcohol and/or substance use among college students is a serious public health issue. In Oman, studies addressing college student’s alcohol and/or substance use are limited. The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control associated with alcohol and/or substance usage patterns among Omani college students (OCSs); identify behavioral intentions for alcohol and/or substance use among OCSs; and facilitate the development of culturally relevant evidenced-based interventions for Omani young people by communicating study findings to policymakers and healthcare program leaders.

A cross-sectional design used an online survey completed by college students from Oman …

Breaking The Silence: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Secondary Traumatic Stress In U.S. College Student Affairs Professionals, Robert Jason Lynch

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Breaking the Silence: A Phenomenological Exploration of Secondary Traumatic Stress in U.S. College Student Affairs Professionals is a qualitative-intensive mixed methods study using phenomenology and art-based research techniques to uncover the essence of secondary traumatic stress in U.S. college student affairs professionals. Researchers in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work and other helping professions suggest that repeated exposure to individuals experiencing trauma, or hearing repeated details of an individual’s trauma, have negative outcomes on professional helpers. Coined secondary traumatic stress, this phenomenon may be defined as “the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering …

Sexual Orientation Differences In Treatment Expectation, Alliance, And Outcome Among Patients At Risk For Suicide In A Public Psychiatric Hospital, Martin Plöderl, Sabine Kunrath, Robert J. Cramer, Jen Wang, Larissa Hauer, Clemens Fartacek

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority (SM) individuals (gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise nonheterosexual) are at increased risk for mental disorders and suicide and adequate mental healthcare may be life-saving. However, SM patients experience barriers in mental healthcare that have been attributed to the lack of SM-specific competencies and heterosexist attitudes and behaviors on the part of mental health professionals. Such barriers could have a negative impact on common treatment factors such as treatment expectancy or therapeutic alliance, culminating in poorer treatment outcomes for SM versus heterosexual patients. Actual empirical data from general psychiatric settings is lacking, however. Thus, comparing the treatment outcome …

Depression In Low-Income Adolescents: Guidelines For School-Based Depression Intervention Programs, Gopika Hari

Virginias Collegiate Honors Council Conference

Studies reveal that low income is a significant risk factor for depression and only roughly 25% of children with mental illnesses receive adequate help, the majority of which comes from schools. This study establishes guidelines for depression intervention programs in low-income high schools through a literature review of current practices. This study found that a multi-layered approach with screening, universal education, and high-risk intervention is most effective. Screening should be conducted with a modified PHQ-a test and timely clinical interviews by school psychologists. All students and teachers should receive universal depression education curriculum consisting of principles like depression literacy and …

Personality, Motivation, And Internet Gaming Disorder: Understanding The Addiction, Kristy L. Carlisle

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examined the relationships among personality traits, motivation for play, and Internet gaming disorder in a diverse sample of Internet gamers, using a group correlational design and path analysis. The researcher sampled participants who self-identify as Internet gamers by posting invitations to participate in the study on Internet forums, as well as by accessing the gaming population at Pokémon Go hotspots. The study used valid and reliable instruments: The Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-10), the abbreviated form of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), and the Motivation to Play Online Games Questionnaire (MPOGQ). Data analysis included descriptive statistics related …

An Exploratory Factor Analysis Examining Experiences And Perceptions Of Campus Safety For International Students, Sonia H. Ramrakhiani

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Although international students make up a significant percentage of the college population and contribute to higher education institutions in multiple ways, a lack of attention is paid to their safety needs. This dissertation examined the experiences and perceptions of campus safety among international college/university students in the United States. The researcher sampled participants from different institutions around the country, who self-identified as international students. A researcher-developed 53-item Likert scale questionnaire, International Students’ Safety Questionnaire (ISSQ), was administered to the sample. Findings from the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) provided evidence for the four-factor solution for the 26-item ISSQ accounting for 48.65% …

The Role Of Self-Care And Hardiness In Moderating Burnout In Mental Health Counselors, Traci Danielle Richards

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between self-care, hardiness, and burnout in a sample of mental health counselors using a hierarchical multiple regression. Additionally, the relationship between hardiness, identity characteristics, and job factors was explored using a Pearson’s correlation and MANOVA. The study used valid and reliable instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout and the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS) to assess hardiness. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression indicated that hardiness accounts for more of the variance in predicting burnout than self-care. Significant predictors of burnout include age, job satisfaction, self-care frequency, and hardiness. Data collected for this …

Understanding The Experiences Of Women With Anorexia Nervosa Who Complete An Exposure Therapy Protocol In A Naturalistic Setting, Gina B. Polychronopoulos

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a serious mental health concern in the United States, with the highest mortality rate of all mental disorders. Females comprise the vast majority of people with AN, although the number of males with the condition is rising. Anorexia Nervosa has a high relapse rate and is often enduring, which makes it challenging to treat successfully; therefore, the mental health profession is in need of innovative therapeutic approaches. Exposure therapy has a growing evidence base for the treatment of eating disorders, including AN; however, there are very few studies that explore body image/mirror exposure specifically in patients …

Establishing The Psychometric Properties Of The Understanding Mental Health Scale: A Dissertation Study, Michael Thomas Kalkbrenner

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation study was to validate the Understanding Mental Health Scale (UMHS). The UMHS is a 50-item questionnaire that was designed to measure college students’ awareness of mental health issues. To test the psychometric properties of the UHMS, a principal axis factor (PAF) analysis with an oblique rotation was conducted using an existing data set of 350 college students. Results revealed a two-factor structure underlying college students’ understanding of mental health issues. The factors were named risk-factor awareness (familiarity with warning signs of mental health issues) and resource awareness (knowledge of resources for mental health issues). A …

Exploring The Relationship Between Depression And Resilience In Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Marquis A. Norton

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Although experiences of trauma are common, reactions vary due to a host of biopsychosocial and cultural factors that influence the individual reaction to the trauma (Nakai et al., 2015). One such factor is resiliency, the capability to adapt in adverse environmental circumstances (Basim & Cetin, 2011). This study used hierarchical multiple regression to examine the relationships between childhood trauma, recent experiences of depression, and resilience in adult university students. This study also examined the possible moderating effects on depression by resilience. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, and PROMIS Depression survey. Small significant relationships were found for …

The Relationship Between Trauma Exposure And College Student Adjustment: Factors Of Resilience As A Mediator, Amber Leih Jolley

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Adjustment to college is an important developmental task for students entering institutions of higher education. More than half of students who enter college report exposure to a potentially traumatic event (PTE), with many students reporting multiple event exposure (Banyard & Cantor, 2004). Many students adjust well to college despite experiencing PTEs, suggesting that certain factors may mitigate the effects of exposure. This study utilized archival data to explore the relationship between the type of PTE, accumulation of PTEs, underlying factors of resilience, and adjustment to college in a national sample of treatment-seeking college students. The data were analyzed using hierarchical …

Effects Of Peer Support Group On Rates Of Suicide Attempts, Suicidal Thoughts, And Incidences Of Self-Harm For Sexual-Minority High School Students, Samantha Fleming, Rebecca O'Neill, Allyson Jett, Haley Mann, Ashlee Peters, Deja Dixon

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The torment sexual minority youth experience can take a psychological toll without access to a support system. The purpose of this proposal is to determine whether an after-school peer support group for sexual minority youth could decrease incidences of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and/or self-inflicted injuries.

Research Proposal: The Effects Of Therapeutic Interventions On Illicit Drug Abuse Among Homeless Adolescents, Alice Baillio, Meghan Stanley, Sarah Kroupa, Rania Ajaj, Paige Rabidoux

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: To compare case management versus community-based therapy on illicit drug abuse among homeless adolescents

Background: Homeless adolescents are at high risk for illicit drug abuse.

Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, multiple baseline time series design

• 52 sessions over a 12-month period

• Baseline assessment and survey on demographics

• Follow-up: closed-ended questionnaire (every four months)

Analysis: Repeated ANOVA test and dependent t-test

Limitations: Lack of recent evidence-based research, a small sample size, self-report data, and length of the study.

The Effect Of An Interprofessional Registered Nurse-Physical Therapist Team On Reducing Prescribed Opioid Dependence In Patients With Chronic Lower Back Pain, Amber Chesney, Stephanie Jan, Amanda Pedrazoli, Brandon Simmons, Kaylene Woods, Nicole Yeats

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Long-term prescribed opioid use for chronic pain is shown to reduce recovery potential and increase risk for dependence, which is contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis. There is a need for an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to address prescription opioid dependence. We propose implementation of a community-based interprofessional registered nurse-physical therapist team (IRNPTT) focused on reduction of opioid dependence in adult patients with chronic lower back pain.

Drug Court Versus Incarceration: Which Is More Effective?, Erin Alexander, Kathryn Apperson, Megan Flannigan, Sarah Jean, Lintag Rosalina, Jennifer Lynch, Ethan Schwartz

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: This study explores the affect drug court treatment programs have on the sobriety and employment status of the participants.

Background: Drug addiction has been an ongoing issue nationwide, and with addiction comes drug related crimes. Currently the preferred solution to this epidemic is to impose longer and longer lengths of incarceration for every incurred infraction. Methods: A descriptive correlational design will be used for this research study to evaluate the effectiveness of drug court compared to incarceration. The participants will be chosen by a random sampling of 100 residents of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia--50 …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #2: Police, Race Relations And Attitudes Regarding The Homeless And Mentally Ill In Hampton Roads, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[Introductory paragraph]

This report examines regional and sub-regional perceptions of crime and police from the 2017 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2017) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center. Data from prior years is also provided when available to show comparisons in responses over time. Responses were weighted by city population, race, age, gender, and phone usage (cell versus land-line) to be representative of the Hampton Roads region.

Protective Behavioral Strategies As A Context-Specific Mediator: A Multilevel Examination Of Within- And Between-Person Associations Of Daily Drinking, Abby L. Braitman, Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael, James M. Henson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research indicates that a drinker’s environmental and social context can be differentially associated with drinking outcomes. Further, although many researchers have identified that more frequent use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) is associated with lower alcohol consumption and negative consequences, scant research has examined how one’s drinking context may promote or hinder PBS use. The present study examined how the context of drinking each day (i.e., where and with whom) is associated with level of consumption and reported alcohol-related problems among n = 284 college drinkers (69.0% female) directly, as well as indirectly through the use of PBS. Two different …

Drinking To Cope With Depressive Symptoms And Ruminative Thinking: A Multiple Mediation Model Among College Students, Adrian J. Bravo, Matthew R. Pearson, James M. Henson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Understanding the potential psychosocial mechanisms that explain (i.e., mediate) the associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol-related problems can improve interventions targeting college students.

Objectives: The current research examined four distinct facets of rumination (e.g., problem-focused thoughts, counterfactual thinking, repetitive thoughts, and anticipatory thoughts) and drinking to cope motives as potential explanatory mechanisms by which depressive symptoms are associated with increased alcohol-related problems.

Method: Participants were undergraduate students from a large, southeastern university in the United States that consumed at least one drink per typical week in the previous month (n = 403). The majority of participants were female ( …

Self-Reported Pain In Male And Female Iraq/Afghanistan-Era Veterans: Associations With Psychiatric Symptoms And Functioning, Jennifer C. Naylor, H. Ryan Wagner, Mira Brancu, Megan Shepherd-Banigan, Eric Elbogen, Michelle Kelley, Teresa Fecteau, Karen Goldstein, Nathan A. Kimbrel, Christine E. Marx

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective. To examine pain symptoms and co-occurring psychiatric and functional indices in male and female Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans.

Design. Self-reported data collection and interviews of Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans who participated in a multisite study of postdeployment mental health.

Setting. Veterans were enrolled at one of four participating VA sites.

Subjects. Two thousand five hundred eighty-seven male and 662 female Iraq/Afghanistan-era veterans.

Methods. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank tests examined differences in pain scores between male and female veterans. Chi-square tests assessed differences between male and female veterans in the proportion of respondents endorsing moderate to high levels of pain vs no pain. Multilevel …