Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Biopsychosocial Case Report, David F. Lo, Gaurav Kumar, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Ms. R, a 32-year-old Hispanic female, suffers from severe anxiety exacerbated by a car accident and past struggles with depression and substance use. Evaluation reveals hypothyroidism, mild anemia, and GAD as the primary diagnosis. Factors contributing to her condition include genetic predispositions, medical issues, and social stressors. Treatment involves pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and monitoring her physiological health. Research on wearable data for GAD severity offers potential insights for her treatment. A holistic approach, considering biological, psychological, and social factors, guides her tailored treatment plan for overall well-being.

Trichotillomania Case Report, Kimberly Kluglein, David F. Lo, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Trichotillomania is a psycho-dermatologic disorder involving self-inflicted hair loss through pulling. Often complicated by anxiety and depression. Multifactorial etiology and limited evidence-based treatment options makes management difficult. Treatment approaches include a combination of pharmacotherapy, CBT, HRT, and ACT. Case presentation involves a 24-year-old female, diagnosed with treatment-resistant trichotillomania who achieved remission and hair regrowth through mindset reframing, physical barriers, and community support. Novel approaches focusing on mindset and community support can yield positive outcomes.

The Effects Of Psychedelic Microdosing On Mental Health: A Systematic Review, David F. Lo, Hasan Zia, Adarsh Thakur, Praneetha Rajkumar, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This poster explores the effects of psychedelic microdosing on mental health conditions. Roughly 5.5 million individuals in the U.S. utilize psychedelics to treat their mental health issues. The primary substances used for microdosing currently include LSD and psilocybin, but mescaline, DMT, and amphetamines are used less commonly. This systematic review included 16 unique articles. The types of articles included: observational, placebo, self-reported, motivational, literature review, and comparative studies. The studies indicated lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among those that microdose. However, drawbacks such as difficulty sleeping and headaches were reported. Various studies have been published on the effects …

Social Media Addiction Affecting Mental Health Of College Women, Praneetha Rajkumar, Don D. Shamilov, David F. Lo

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In our digital society, many teenagers and young adults use the many forms of social media, which are applications that enable users to create, share, and view content. Addiction to sites such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat is a rising concern due to the impact it has on the mental health of young women, particularly those aged 18-25. Addiction can result in spending an unreasonable amount of time on social media, being overly preoccupied with social media content, or having day-to-day activities that revolve around social media usage. Different sources of data were reviewed to understand why mental health concerns …

Interactive Distraction Techniques Versus Midazolam In Anxiolysis In Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Uzay Cagatay, Jon Elias, Alexander King

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Many pediatric patients experience high levels of anxiety prior to undergoing surgery. Midazolam is currently one of the most commonly used sedative drugs in the pediatric preoperative environment. A number of studies have evaluated the use of non-pharmacological methods of relaxing pediatric patients prior to surgery, known as ‘Interactive Distraction’. These techniques involve using various methods of distracting the child from the preoperative anesthetic procedures. Some examples of these methods involve giving the patient an iPad with which they can play video games. There have yet to be any systematic reviews comparing the usage of Midazolam alone against utilizing …

The Efficacy Of Baricitinib As A Treatment Option For Alopecia, In Terms Of Promoting Hair Regrowth And Improving Patient Reported Outcomes, Bhaumik Patel, Abhiram Gollapudi, Samrat Gollapudi, Srinidhi Banala, Brian Joseph Mathew, Prince Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Alopecia, an autoimmune condition characterized by hair loss, significantly impacts millions globally, often leading to psychological distress such as anxiety and depression. Current treatments are variably effective and frequently associated with adverse effects that restrict long-term use. This study evaluates the efficacy of Baricitinib, a Janus Kinase inhibitor, in treating severe alopecia, focusing on hair regrowth and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: This research synthesized data from recent publications (2018-2023) including clinical trials, reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, sourced from databases such as PubMed, Springer, and Elsevier. The inclusion criteria focused on recent studies in English evaluating Baricitinib's effectiveness in severe …

The Effect Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Sanitation Practices And Anxiety In The General Population, Leah Cliatt, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Illness anxiety and fear of contracting coronavirus increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. The media, being in lockdown, and cyberchondria had the largest impact on the population’s anxiety surrounding illness. While this kind of reaction to illness is expected during the pandemic, there is limited data on post-pandemic illness anxiety levels in the general population. Patients’ perception of disease impacts medicine at every level; medical professionals need to understand the concerns and fears of their patients in order to treat the post-pandemic patient. We hypothesized that sanitation practices and anxiety surrounding illness have not returned to baseline pre-COVID-19 …

Review Of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures And Patient-Centered Approaches To Care, Rabeel Ahmad, Rebekah Dietrich, Munaza Khan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are defined as involuntary experiential and behavioral responses to internal or external stimuli. They are behaviors, not associated with pathological alterations in the physiology of the brain. Although some of them mimic syncope, they have historically been regarded to clinically resemble epileptic episodes.

There is a multiplicity of different names for this condition. PNES is the most widely used term, though the term "functional seizures" is increasingly used. Alternatives such as "psychogenic seizures," "dissociative seizures," "psychogenic nonepileptic attacks" (PNEA), and "nonepileptic seizures" are also used.

Comparisons Of Using Alcohol, Coping Strategies, Anxiety, And Depression Between Usa And Taiwanese College Students, Pi-Ming Yeh Associate Professor, Cheng-Huei Chiao Professor, Jennchang Liou Professor

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: In this study, we compared United States (US) and Taiwanese college students’ using alcohol, coping strategies, anxiety, and depression.

Research Questions:

1. What were the differences in demographic characteristics, using alcohol, coping strategies, anxiety, and depression between US and Taiwanese college students?

2. What were the relationships between US and Taiwanese college students’ using alcohol, coping strategies, anxiety, and depression?

3. How much of US and Taiwanese college students’ anxiety and depression were predicted by their use of alcohol, coping strategies?

Methods: Four hundred and one US and 180 Taiwanese college students were recruited in this study. This was …

Barriers To Mental Health Seeking Among Army Aviation Personnel: A Preliminary Report, Aric J. Raus

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

This research explores barriers to mental health seeking, self-reported symptoms, and perspectives on self-help mental-wellness options among U.S. Army Aviation Personnel. Safe aviation operations require constant focus and mental clarity. These requirements expand when considering the implications and added stress of military operations, especially in combat scenarios. Yet, recent studies demonstrate that aviation personnel avoid seeking healthcare due to fears of losing their medical certification. This report provides preliminary results from the first known study on barriers to mental health seeking among U.S. Army aviation personnel. Utilizing an anonymous survey instrument, facilitated primarily through Social Media recruiting of current and …

The Eyes Beyond The Screen: Digital Media Policy And Child Health, Yahia Al-Qudah

Research Symposium

Background: Modern communication technology and digital media have provided society with a foundation for instant messaging. Pictures, videos, and texts connect individuals with families, friends, and the world. Consequently, digital media has accelerated exposure to risk in which children and adolescents are most vulnerable. This project’s objective is to 1) congregate and highlight current knowledge about the impact of digital media on child health, and 2) underline deficiencies in related laws and regulations as well as offer solutions in digital media policy.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted through the JAMA Pediatrics database with keywords such as “digital media,” …

Bitten To The Bone: A Case Of Anxiety-Induced Osteomyelitis, Jose A. Rivera, Daniel Aragon, Daniela Hernandez

Research Symposium

Background: Onychophagia is a habitual nail-biting disorder, usually associated with mental or emotional diseases. It affects 20–30% of the population in all age groups. Human bites have the potential to become serious injuries due to high virulence in the human oral flora and may often require hospital admission, antibiotics and even debridement in the operating room. Thus, repetitive nail biting has the potential to be limb-threatening if not treated early and appropriately.

Case Presentation: Patient is a 49-year-old gentleman with a past medical history of severe refractory anxiety treated with hydroxyzine and scheduled alprazolam, after failing multiple other treatments, …

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, Presentation As A Cardiac Arrest In A 67 Year Old Female With Depression And Anxiety History, Blesset Alexander, Joseph Caporusso, Priyasha Suri, Brandon Cantazaro

Research Symposium

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as broken heart syndrome or stress induced cardiomyopathy is a sudden transient reversible dramatic left ventricular apical akinesis mimicking acute coronary syndrome, making it a diagnostic challenge. Most common mechanism for Taktosubo is stress induced catecholamine release causing sympathetic activation leading to microvascular dysfunction or direct toxicity. Mayo Clinic Criteria for making diagnosis at the time of presentation requires 1) transient hypokinesis, dyskinesis, or akinesis of the LV midsegments with or without apical involvement, and a stressful trigger is often but not always present. 2) absence of obstructive coronary disease or angiographic evidence of acute …

The Influence Of Nutrition On The Gut Microbiota And Psychiatric Disorders: A Review, Megha Bhagavan, Francis Jenney

Research Day

The symbiotic harboring of gut microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract has a profound influence on host physiology, well-being, and disease pathology. More specifically, the gut bacteria are able to interact with dietary components from foods chosen by the host and consequently relay their beneficial or precarious effects locally and systemically. The gut bacteria have the capacity to maintain a healthy gut microbiome or perpetuate intestinal imbalance, known as gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis has both local effects in gastrointestinal pathologies, such as intestinal bowel syndrome (IBS) and intestinal bowel disorder (IBD), as well as systemic pathologies, such as type II diabetes, …

Mental Health In Pilots Ages 19-26: What Are The New Pilots Telling Us?, Jason T. Lorenzon, Diana Semilia

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

Mental Health is stigma that reaches all professional pilots. After spending a considerable amount of money, a pilot is always afraid of losing his/her medical certification. This leads many pilots to not be honest and forthcoming about his/her own health situation or if he/she is forthcoming with any medical deficiency, the regulatory framework at the Federal Aviation Administration may put a further burden on the pilot to provide additional medical documentation, or the FAA may even amend, revoke, or suspend a pilot's medical certificate.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations,14 CFR Parts 61 and 67 and internal protocols creates a …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On Depression In Hispanic Vs. Non-Hispanic Populations In South Jersey, Rana Cheikhali, Daniel Casal

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for Americans and the world as a whole. It has especially taken a toll on mental health. Studies show that the incidence of depression in the United States was three times greater during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. One specific community in the United States that has been greatly affected by the pandemic is the Hispanic American community. Many Americans across the country have received federal surveys that aim to determine the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Results revealed that the Hispanic population had the greatest rise in mental illness, with 40% …

Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 On Individuals With Prior Trauma, Marzena Podkalicka, Susan Panichelli Mindel

Research Day

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first recognized in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The World Health Organization Emergency Committee declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global health emergency and a pandemic in early 2020. Due to the lack of unequivocally effective methods of treatment for the coronavirus disease, governments enforced nonpharmacological interventions to decrease the transmission of the coronavirus including social distancing, isolation, and shelter in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. The scale of the pandemic, the speed of the spread, and high mortality rate created a sense of panic, stress, and helplessness among …

Alzheimer's Patients’ Mental Health During The Covid 19 Pandemic, Maryanna Schweininger, Yvonne Maduka, Ajh'shana Collins

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease caused by β Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which results in memory loss and cognitive decline. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 50% of those with AD experience some degree of depression during the course of the disease, which has been shown to accelerate functional decline, institutionalization, and even mortality.

Many who cannot care for themselves live in an assisted living facility or retirement home. Since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, people have been urged to social distance in order to decrease the …

Urbanization And Mental Health: The Power Of Green Space, Emma Rosenthal

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

In this presentation, I will review the negative impacts of urbanization on mental health and the positive role of green space on mental well-being. Moreover, I will provide examples of projects being conducted to increase the amount of green space in urban communities.

Understanding The Comorbidity Of Asthma And Anxiety In Childhood: Characteristics, Vulnerabilities, And Treatment Implications, Nicole Fleischer, Elizabeth Gosch, Phil Kendall

Research Day

Introduction: Given the high incidence of asthma and anxiety comorbidity, clinicians should be informed of the unique presentation of these clients in clinical practice. Although much is known about the development and characteristics of childhood anxiety, less is known about children with anxiety and comorbid asthma.

Methods: This study, using archival data, examined the potential differences in children with comorbid asthma and anxiety compared to children with anxiety from a random controlled trial. These two groups were compared on negative self-talk, number of physical symptoms, parent anxiety, content of their worries, and presence of panic, generalized anxiety, and …

The Correlation Between Obesity, Food Addiction, Anxiety & Depression, Ayham Khrais, Adarsh K. Gupta D.O.

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obesity is a multifaceted disease with physiological, psychological and social influences. While physiological factors, such as basal metabolic rate, can influence an individual’s BMI (Body Mass Index), obesity is primarily determined by behavior: excess food intake and a sedentary lifestyle greatly contribute to weight gain. An individual’s behavior is influenced by many factors, including their desires, perceptions, and social pressures. Therefore, psychological conditions can greatly impact an individual’s eating habits, thereby affecting that person’s BMI. This endeavor involved exploration of the potential effects of food addiction, anxiety, and depression on obesity. A survey consisting of an amalgamation of the Yale …

Affective Disturbance In Mild Cognitive Impairment, Jason Greenhagen, Emily Matusz, Sheina Emrani, David Libon, Sherry Pomerantz

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an identifiable, prodromal stage of cognitive impairment and has been further defined into subtypes: amnestic, language, executive functioning, and multi domain/mixed MCI (Jak et al. 2009 ). The purpose of this study is to (1) examine the differences in depression, anxiety, and apathy between MCI subtypes; and (2) assess the relationship between the neurocognitive domains (executive functioning, language, and memory and affective symptoms. We hypothesize that apathy will be greater in dysexecutive/mixed MCI (dys/mixed MCI) and be more highly correlated to neurocognitive deficits compared to depression or anxiety. This is a retrospective study of 113 …

Radiation Therapy And Patient Fear, Robert C. Rados, Katelyn Sternberg

ASA Multidisciplinary Research Symposium

Radiation therapy and the fears that patients may experience.

Gambling Problems In The General Danish Population: Survey Evidence, Morten Lau, Don Ross

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

We develop surveys of gambling problems in the general Danish population. We compare several popular survey instruments of gambling behavior and gambling propensity to assess if they differ in their classification of individuals. We also examine correlations with standard survey instruments for alcohol use, anxiety, depression and impulsiveness. A feature of our design is that nobody was excluded on the basis of their response to a “trigger,” “gateway” or “diagnostic item” question about previous gambling history, allowing us to check for sample selection bias. Our sample consists of 8,405 adult Danes, which is 12.8% of the sample frame of 65,592 …

Narcissism, Sensation Seeking, Depression, Anxiety, And Cognitive Distortions: Comparative Analysis Between Poker And Video Lottery Terminal Players, David Levesque B.A., Serge Sevigny Ph.D., Christian Jacques M.Ps., Isabelle Giroux Ph.D.

International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

According to the psycho-structural interaction model, the interaction between structural characteristics of a gambling game and player’s characteristics could foster the development of gambling problems. Those interactions may vary according to the types of game played. This study aims to compare poker and video lottery terminals players (VLTs) on six psychological characteristics (narcissism, sensation seeking, depression, anxiety, cognitive distortions and problem gambling severity) and to examine cognitive distortions as a mediator between personality/mood disturbance and problem gambling severity. The sample consisted of 191 poker players and 81 VLT players. Standard assessments were completed online and by phone within a cross-sectional …