Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons^™

Exploring The Role Of Pain On Physical Activity Among Youth With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using The Biopsychosocial Model, Anna E. Van Asselt, Renee Gilbert, Meghan Tokala, Jacee Weber, Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Robert C. Gibler, Carolyn R. Bates, Keith August

Research Days

The Role of Pain on Physical Activity in Pediatric ALL

Keywords: Biopsychosocial model, pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, pain, physical activity

Introduction: Engaging in physical activity (PA) during cancer treatment benefits a child’s physical and mental well-being (McLaughlin et al., 2021). However, engaging in PA may be challenging due to treatment and disease-related pain (Uhl et al., 2020). Pediatric cancer research has primarily focused on management of procedural and chronic pain, with fewer studies examining how pain may interfere with PA during treatment (Clews et al., 2022). The current study qualitatively investigated the impact of pain on PA using a …

Brain Connectivity Pattern Changes Associated With Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, Prince Patel, Samrat Gollapudi, Brian Joseph Mathew, Bhaumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has shown promising therapeutic benefits for various psychiatric disorders, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of psychedelics on brain connectivity patterns using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar databases using relevant keywords related to psychedelics, connectivity, therapy, and fMRI. Only studies involving major psychedelic compounds (LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca) and measuring outcomes via fMRI were included.

The findings from the reviewed studies suggest that psychedelics induce acute disruptions in normal large-scale brain network patterns, leading to a compromised modular but …

Factors Affecting Caregiver Burden In Informal Caregivers Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brian Joseph Mathew, Maduka Gunasinghe, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Samrat Gollapudi, Prince Patel, Maithri Goud

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often require lifelong care to meet their daily needs, which is typically provided by informal sources like family members as well as formal caregivers from home health agencies. The persistent stress of raising a child with ASD can potentially lead to parental burnout, highlighting the importance of understanding the struggles faced by these caregivers. Clinicians must prioritize the well-being of both the individuals with ASD and their dedicated caregivers by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the challenges they encounter.

Our research aims to investigate and comprehend the specific challenges faced by caregivers of individuals …

Association Between Cultural Factors And Postpartum Depression, Usha Modukuru

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Postpartum depression (PPD) is present in 17.22% of the world population. The negative physical and psychological impacts of PPD impact not only the mother, but also those around her. This raises the importance of identifying factors contributing to its onset. Studies have shown that PPD prevalence rates vary between non-Western and Western regions of the world. Cultural postpartum practices differed significantly region to region. Search terms including postpartum depression and cultures were used to find peer-reviewed articles, primary surveys, and patient interviews between 2013-2023. Qualitative analyses were performed on the results. Ethnokinship cultures, commonly present in non-Western countries, prioritized social …

Doxazosin Immediate Release As Alternative Treatment For Nightmares In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report, Danyaal Khan, Christie Richardson, Martin Forsberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nightmares and flashbacks are common debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can disrupt daily functioning in patients. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used off-label for the treatment of PTSD intrusion symptoms, although its short half-life is limiting. Doxazosin, another alpha-1 antagonist, is starting to be investigated in the treatment of PTSD-related nightmares due to its smaller side effect profile and longer half-life. In our case report, we present a case of a patient with PTSD-related nightmares who was successfully treated with doxazosin following relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of prazosin. The success of doxazosin immediate …

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 …

Exploring The Connection Between Diabetes Distress And Diabulimia, Stephen Poos, Misha Faerovitch, Celeste Pinto, Nima Jamalkhani, Fahad Chaudhri, Satara Khan, David F. Lo, Kaitlin Mcgowan, Ashaki Martin, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Diabulimia is a disordered eating behavior that involves an individual with type 1 DM withholding insulin injection to lose weight. Diabetes distress, a term used to describe the psychological stress associated with managing diabetes, is believed to be the cause of this condition. This review aims to assess whether individuals with diabulimia have measurable evidence of diabetes distress. Studies that described patients qualitative experiences with Diabulimia were matched and compared to the criteria in the Diabetes Distress Scale. Over 40 of the 185 individuals across twelve studies were found to meet one or more criteria from the Diabetes Distress Scale. …

Determinants Of Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents And Caregivers, Priya Srivastava

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

•Vaccination efforts in the United States and globally are one of the largest contributors to pediatric preventative health

•Routine immunizations in the U.S for children ≤ 10 years old cover 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. As a result, an estimated 732,000 deaths, 21 million hospitalizations, and 322 diagnosed cases of diseases have been prevented between 1993 and 2013.

•Vaccines remain a point of contention with pediatricians and their patients' caregivers

•Many parents maintain hesitancy to give vaccines; to a number of reasons. Perceived risk and fear of side effects from vaccines more than the disease itself, can cause out-of-proportion concern

•Misinformation spread …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Youth Depression Prevention Program In Improving Life Satisfaction, Roshani Patel, Steven M. Brunwasser, Alissa Hochman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, known as the global burden of disease. Incident cases from 1990 to 2017 have increased by 49.86%. Additionally, rates have been seen to dramatically rise in adolescents aged 18-25 (17%) compared to rates in individuals aged 10-14 (1.1%). This makes it beneficial to have prevention programs for middle school aged children. The Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) is a youth depression prevention program focused on cultivating healthy thinking styles and behavioral coping skills. In our study, we used archival data from a randomized control trial of PRP to evaluate whether the program led …

Standardization Of Discharge Instructions For Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion In Children Presenting To Ed: A Qi Project, Niralee K. Rana, Nicole Gerber Md, Michael Alfonzo Md, Snezana Osorio Md, Deborah Levine Md

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) or concussions account for high rates of emergency department (ED) visits. Concussion diagnoses are used less often in young children leading to a variability in parental education and discharge instructions. Lack of discharge guidance may increase parental anxiety, impact recovery, and increase ED visits.

Objectives: To increase the proportion of ED patients discharged with age-appropriate instructions for mTBI by 50% by June 1, 2024, and to determine the impact age-appropriate instructions have on decreasing parental anxiety.

Methods: This observational time series with planned sequential experimentation is in progress at a Pediatric ED affiliated with …

A Review Of Risk Factors, Adverse Outcomes, And Counseling Strategies Among Pregnant Individuals With Eating Disorders, Alexandra Fontaine, Emily Meale

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) among women of childbearing age have become more prevalent on the global level. Identifying at-risk populations of women having EDs before, during, or after pregnancy is essential for clinicians to improve treatment and decrease the likelihood of negative maternal and/or fetal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose is to determine risk factors for women who have EDs throughout pregnancy, to identify negative pregnancy outcomes of women suffering from EDs, and to explore treatment and counseling options through the postpartum period. Methods: This literature review mainly utilizes sources from PubMed and the National Institute of Health databases. An expansive …

Relationship Between Caregiver Burden And Socioeconomic Status, Nikitha Pappachen, Maithri Goud

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In this study, caregiver burden measures the psychosocial strain a caregiver experiences as a result of caring for a person with autism. In addition, this study focuses on the effect of socioeconomic status on caregiver burden. A previous study found an association between lower primary caregiver education level and more sleep problems for children with autism³. Thus, the finding focuses on the child with autism as opposed to the caregiver burden. Other studies focus on elements that affect caregiver burden such as sleep quality, mental health, and cultural aspects. If it is known that socioeconomic status significantly affects …

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.

Unplanned Pregnancy As An Independent Risk Factor For Antepartum Si In A Post Roe Vs. Wade World, Rianna Mcnamee

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Abstract: The objective of this literature review is to determine whether unplanned pregnancy is an independent risk factor for developing antepartum SI. Background: The Supreme Court of the United States of America recently ruled that the constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion to its citizens. As of October 2023, twenty-one states had developed full or partial bans on abortion, resulting in millions of Americans residing in areas where terminating unplanned pregnancy is not a viable option. There is evidence that indicates antepartum suicidal ideation (SI) is higher than that of the general population, however …

Biopsychosocial Impacts Of Social Distancing Due To Covid-19 In People Over 65: A Literature Review, Nicole Lacap

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020, elderly populations aged 65+ have been deemed at-risk for severe symptoms and poor prognosis. Because it is important to protect this vulnerable population, policies such as social distancing and shelter-in-place orders have been implemented in the United States in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. However, many older citizens may live alone or may not have access to technology, and therefore may be limited in their ability to maintain important relationships and social interactions throughout shelter-in-place orders and social distancing. Therefore, it is important to understand the cost …

The Effect Of Perceived Weight Status And Bmi On Food Attitudes And Food Relationships, Sahil Patel, Ryan Gericke, Jaime Dougherty, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The findings of this study have shed light on the intricate relationship that exists between perceived weight status from a “non-obese/obese” perspective and attitudes towards food and the overconsumption of particular food items. Participants who perceived their weight status as “obese” despite having a calculated BMI below the CDC threshold and classification for “obesity” had poorer relationships with food, consumption behaviors, and on average consumed food items that were detrimental to overall health. Comprehending a patient’s weight status perception and conducting a thorough history of their food intake could play a crucial role in addressing the patient’s overall health and …

Analysis Of Implementing Best Practices For Co-Prescribing Naloxone In Your Agency Online Cme Training Module Via Pre- And Post- Knowledge Assessment., Alicia Podwojniak, Arvind Venkataraman, Richard Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The opioid epidemic poses substantial risk to society. Providers must ensure that their patients understand the uses and risks of both opioids and naloxone. One way to analyze this concept is via metacognition. This refers to a person’s knowledge about cognitive phenomena, and thus it regulates self-awareness abilities in decision making, such as planning and evaluating. It is not only important for providers to have knowledge on best practices, but also to have self-awareness, and confidence in their decision making to ensure optimal patient outcomes. True-false confidence weighted scoring can be utilized, whereby various levels of confidence are assessed from …

Awareness & Prevention Of Health Hazards For Americans Embarking In Space Tourism, Krzysztof Zembrzuski

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Since the beginning of spaceflight, keeping humans healthy has been a serious concern. Prior to 2021, astronauts had to undergo an elite selection process to embark in space travel. Now that commercial spaceflight is a reality, the criteria to experience space has been significantly loosened, raising health concerns to a larger and unhealthier pool of travelers. Most commercial spaceflight clients are anticipated to be middle-aged adults, which implies many will suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease, both of which are frequent ailments in this age group. Because of the massive compression the body undergoes during takeoff and return, …

Caretaker Burnout In Nj In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study Focusing On Quality Of Life, Challenges And Coping Strategies., Abdullah Junayed, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

There is a scarcity of literature regarding caretaker burnout in response to Covid-19, however one cross section survey study in Italy explored the perceived burden of caretakers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease during the pandemic.1 Maria G. Maggio et al showed that an increase in caregiver burden allowed for a deterioration in personal health conditions causing an increase in perceived stress levels. 1 Along with impaired management of stress and low quality of life, many caretakers were found to utilize avoidance strategies.1 However, the authors pointed out that the dysfunctional coping strategies did not affect stress levels and this study …

Seizure To Drug Induced Schizophrenia: A Rare Case Of Keppra-Induced Psychosis, Shadi Shams, Riddhima Issar, Nardin El-Shammaa, Munaza Khan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Levetiracetam is a broad-spectrum antiseizure medication and is approved as adjunctive therapy to treat focal-onset seizures in children and adults with epilepsy. Levetiracetam has a wide margin of safety and patient-friendly pharmacokinetics that distinguish it from other currently available antiepileptic drugs.

Most common side effects are fatigue, somnolence, dizziness, and upper respiratory infection. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are reported. Psychotic symptoms, paranoid ideation, hallucinations, and behavioral problems may occur in adult and pediatric patients. Among all adverse effects, the rate of psychosis is very low and ranges from less than 1% to 1.4%. A retrospective study showed that this rate is higher …

The Effects Of Wearing A Mask On An Exercise Regimen, Ryan Gericke, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Implementation of masks has impacted everyone worldwide

Properly wearing a mask requires covering both mouth and nose, putting a barrier between air and lungs

Exercise relies on cardiopulmonary function, so this barrier could potentially exacerbate the already altered physiology due to exercise alone

It is predicted that the addition of a mask will have negative implications on physiology

If there is evidence that people do not work out as effectively while wearing a mask, it would be important to find other ways to keep people physically active

An Interesting Case Of Factitious Disorder Superimposed On Self: Factitious Disorder Vs Somatic Symptom Disorder, Michaela Margolis, Logan Noone, Jessica Baaklini

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Factitious disorder superimposed on self (FDIS) was first described in 1951by Richard Asher, who associated the disorder with Baron Munchhausen, who narrated unrealistic and exaggerated stories about his life.

Suspicion for FDIS should be raised when patients with atypical presentations of medical disorders seek excessive use of healthcare services despite ongoing lack of clinical evidence. Patients with FDIS often demand hospitalization for their symptoms, leading to unnecessary tests and treatments. These patients show signs of pathological lying, deceitfulness, are obstinate with medical staff, and display erratic behavior. When medical investigation does not support their symptoms, patients often develop new “symptoms” …

The Program To Reduce Implicit Bias In Carroll Hospital Center Using The Implicit Association Test, Katherine E. Traynor

Capstone Showcase

Natural brain processes make all individuals susceptible to unconscious bias; however, stressful, fearful, or anger-evoking situations as well as the negative influence of media and social surroundings increase the risk of holding obstructive bias, and there is a greater risk of being negatively impacted by this phenomenon when belonging to a minority population (Rose & Flores, 2020). As a result, high rates of infant mortality (10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births for the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 4.1 in the White population) and cardiovascular related diseases (190.0 cases per 1,000 in the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 161.3 in …

Investigating Gene-Environment Interaction In A Double-Hit Model For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melvin Maroon

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

With the exponential advancements seen in the field of sequencing technology, the science community has come to identify hundreds of potential genetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite our knowledge that such risk factors exist, we have yet to understand their specific influences on the behavioral profile of an individual. In addition, maternal infection during pregnancy can have longstanding detrimental outcomes on a child’s development. This is especially impactful with the present threat of viral infection during the pandemic. Our study aims to understand the influence of a specific genetic and environmental factor on a preclinical rodent model’s behavioral development. …

Depression & Anxiety In Brain Vs. Body Trauma Patients, Olivia Mercier

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Prevalence Of Postpartum Depression In Black And Hispanic Women In New Jersey, Courtney Chineme, Rachel Shmuts, Chris Canlas

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) within one month of giving birth with the prevalence in the United States being 10-15%. There are well documented instances of racial differences and their effects on maternal outcomes including infant, maternal mortality and postpartum mood disorders. In New Jersey, there are monitoring systems that explore the relationships between maternal characteristics such as race, age, education level, insurance status, and racial bias and how they may correlate with higher incidences of Postpartum Depression (PPD) in these communities of women. The purpose of this comparative study is to analyze …

Case Of New Onset Alice In Wonderland Syndrome In Adolescent After Prolonged Hospitalization, Michaela Margolis, Timothy Wong, Richard Hadi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Alice in wonderland syndrome (AIWS) has been described as body image illusions involving distortions of the size, mass, or shape of the patient’s own body or its position in space, often occurring with depersonalization and derealization. Most cases typically affect young children.

Common distortions are micropsia, macropsia, metamorphopsia, and pelopsia.

The term was adopted from the book by Lewis Carroll, wherein the main character perceived her size and shape to change in different scenarios.

These distortions are often expressed as sensory perceptions rather than illusions or hallucinations, and are often distressing to the patient.

AIWS onset has been found to …

Do You K Now D.O.?: Pre Medical Students’ Knowledge Of Osteopathic Medicine And Its Relation To Burnout, Philip Collins, Laura Collins, Gianna Bowler Darrow, Jennifer C Sepede

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

It is estimated that in the near future there will be a shortage of physicians available to keep up with the needs of a growing older population. To try to account for this, medical schools are expanding class sizes and new schools are being created. While both allopathic and osteopathic schools are expanding, osteopathic schools are doing so a much faster rate. Unfortunately, it seems many students enter their undergraduate careers unaware of osteopathic medicine despite having an interest in medical school. Undergraduate student interest in becoming a medical doctor continues to rise, but so too does the difficulty of …

The Efficacy Of Yoga As An Adjunctive Therapy To Standard Multidisciplinary Care In The Treatment Of Female Patients Presenting With Cognitive Eating Disorder Symptoms, Cassidy Nagle

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: Current treatment of patients exhibiting cognitive eating disorder symptoms is standard multidisciplinary care (SMDC) involving behavioral therapy, medical management and dietetics. Because these symptoms often persist or relapse despite treatment, research has begun to explore adjunctive therapies like yoga for this population. This review will explore seven studies in order to analyze the effect of yoga (I) on cognitive eating disorder symptoms (O) in teenage and adult females (P) when added to SMDC compared to symptom reduction with SMDC alone (C).

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate and Google Scholar starting November 2018. Seven …