Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Success Treating Substance Use Disorder: A Case Study Of Minnesota Adult And Teen Challenge, John Joseph Lenss

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge (MNTC) is an addiction treatment center. The reason for this qualitative case study was to discover why clients of substance use disorder treatment programs believe that they can graduate from their program when 50% of those who start the same long-term program drop out. This case study focused on graduates from MNTC in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This study discovered the graduates' common attributes that may improve MNTC treatment center programs, which could decrease the number of people who walk away from addiction recovery programs prematurely and increase the number of those who graduate. According to MNTC …

Systematic Review And Dosage Analysis: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Efficacy In The Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Susan R. Andrews, Paul G. Harch

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Studies of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment of mild traumatic brain injury persistent postconcussion syndrome in military and civilian subjects have shown simultaneous improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or PTSD symptoms, suggesting that HBOT may be an effective treatment for PTSD. This is a systematic review and dosage analysis of HBOT treatment of patients with PTSD symptoms. Methods: PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Systematic Review Database were searched from September 18 to November 23, 2023, for all adult clinical studies published in English on HBOT and PTSD. Randomized trials and studies with symptomatic outcomes were selected for final …

Toward A Better Criminal Legal System: Improving Prisons, Prosecution, And Criminal Defense, David A. Harris, Created And Presented Jointly By Students From State Correctional Institution - Greene, Waynesburg, Pa, And University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law, Chief Editor: David A. Harris

Articles

During the Fall 2023 semester, 15 law (Outside) students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and 13 incarcerated (Inside) students from the State Correctional Institution – Greene, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, took a full semester class together called Issues in Criminal Justice and Law. The class, occurring each week at the prison, utilized the Inside-Out Prison Exchange pedagogy, and was facilitated by Professor David Harris. Subjects include the purposes of prison, addressing crime, the criminal legal system and race, and issues surrounding victims and survivors of crime. The course culminated in a Group Project; under the heading “improving the …

Pharmacotherapies Targeting Gaba-Glutamate Neurotransmission For Treatment-Resistant Depression, Courtney M Vecera, Alan C Courtes, Gregory Jones, Jair C Soares, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira

Student and Faculty Publications

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a term used to describe a particular type of major depressive disorder (MDD). There is no consensus about what defines TRD, with various studies describing between 1 and 4 failures of antidepressant therapies, with or without electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). That is why TRD is such a growing concern among clinicians and researchers, and it explains the necessity for investigating novel therapeutic targets beyond conventional monoamine pathways. An imbalance between two primary central nervous system (CNS) neurotransmitters, L-glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), has emerged as having a key role in the pathophysiology of TRD. In this …

Studying Borderline Personality Disorder And Childhood Trauma: Exploring Clinicians’ Lived Experiences And Attitudes Toward Treating Bpd Individuals, Tracy F. Coggins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A recurring theme in research on borderline personality disorder (BPD) and childhood trauma was the stigma associated with a BPD diagnosis often resulting in barriers to recovery processes and challenges to treatment for this population. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study focused on the lived experience of licensed clinicians who work with BPD clients, with the aim to find common themes experienced by clinicians regarding clinicians’ BPD clients, what successes and challenges experienced by clinicians led to their attitudes and perspectives toward treating BPD clients, and what perspectives clinicians have regarding what resources (education, training, etc.) are available in …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Strategies And Adult Opioid Abuse: A Phenomenological Study Of Precontemplation To Contemplation Stage In Residential Treatment Programs, Victor White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for drug addiction is an effective treatment strategy, as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies and treatment strategies. This phenomenological qualitative study described the struggles of adults diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their experiences with how CBT strategies moved them to the contemplation stage of change in a residential treatment program. In the contemplation of change stage, the adults acknowledged that their opioid addiction behaviors are problems that need to be addressed, beginning with motivational interviewing. Utilizing the Cycle of Change Model (Prochaska and DiClemente), the Cognitive-Behavioral Theory (Aaron Beck), the Social …

Non-Canonical Pathways In The Pathophysiology And Therapeutics Of Bipolar Disorder, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira, Alan C Courtes, Carlos A Zarate, Ioline D Henter, Husseini K Manji

Student and Faculty Publications

Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from manic/hypomanic to depressive episodes. The severity, duration, and frequency of these episodes can vary widely between individuals, significantly impacting quality of life. Individuals with BD spend almost half their lives experiencing mood symptoms, especially depression, as well as associated clinical dimensions such as anhedonia, fatigue, suicidality, anxiety, and neurovegetative symptoms. Persistent mood symptoms have been associated with premature mortality, accelerated aging, and elevated prevalence of treatment-resistant depression. Recent efforts have expanded our understanding of the neurobiology of BD and the downstream targets that may help track clinical outcomes and …

The Impact Of Mobile Technology-Delivered Interventions On Youth Well-Being: Systematic Review And 3-Level Meta-Analysis, Colleen Conley, Elizabeth B. Raposa, Kate Bartolotta, Sarah E. Broner, Maya Hareli, Nicola Forbes, Kirsten M. Christensen, Mark Assink

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: Rates of mental health problems among youth are high and rising, whereas treatment seeking in this population remains low. Technology-delivered interventions (TDIs) appear to be promising avenues for broadening the reach of evidence-based interventions for youth well-being. However, to date, meta-analytic reviews on youth samples have primarily been limited to computer and internet interventions, whereas meta-analytic evidence on mobile TDIs (mTDIs), largely comprising mobile apps for smartphones and tablets, have primarily focused on adult samples.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mTDIs for a broad range of well-being outcomes in unselected, at-risk, and clinical samples of …

Distress Tolerance: Prospective Associations With Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Outcomes In Adults With Posttraumatic Stress And Substance Use Disorders, Anka A Vujanovic, Heather E Webber, Shelby J Mcgrew, Charles E Green, Scott D Lane, Joy M Schmitz

Student and Faculty Publications

Distress tolerance (DT; perceived or actual ability to tolerate aversive physical or emotional states) is related to both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and substance use disorders (SUD). This investigation evaluates self-report and behavioral measures of DT as potential predictors of PTSD and SUD cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes. Participants included 41 treatment-seeking adults (53.7% women; 73.2% African American; Mage= 44.90, SD = 9.68) who met at least four symptoms of DSM-5 PTSD and DSM-IV substance dependence, assessed via structured interviews. At baseline (pre-treatment), participants completed the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Mirror-Tracing Persistence Task (MTPT), Breath Holding task, and Paced Auditory …

Understanding And Working Through Self-Harm, Maya Wilde

Student Works

Self-harm is a coping strategy used by many adolescents dealing with mental disorders. Fifteen articles from academic journals published between 2012 and 2022 were examined. Those who struggle with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) experience overactivation in the fronto-limbic system of the brain, which includes the amygdala (Kaess et al., 2021). Self-harm decreases activity and stress in the amygdala and increases the amount of dopamine in the brain (Kaess et al., 2021; Reitz et al., 2015). Self-harm may be used as a way to regulate negative affect. Seeing blood might be a significant part of an episode of NSSI, but it is …

Strengthening Adolescents With Anxiety Through Drama Therapy, Jeremy M. Moeller

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Strengthening Adolescents with Anxiety Through Drama Therapy

Jeremy Moeller

In recent years the issues associated with social anxiety have become increasingly common in adolescents. With these issues becoming more common it is important that they continue to be nurtured and helped. With so many forms of therapy though it may be hard for someone to find a practice that suits them. That is where drama therapy comes in. Drama therapy is a fairly new practice that helps these adolescents to become more expressive and engaging in their everyday lives, decrease their social anxieties, and build a new sense of confidence …

Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers And Protect Abusers: A Book Talk With Author Deborah Tuerkheimer, Deborah Tuerkheimer, Emily Sack

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

Flights And Perchings Of The Brainmind: A Temporospatial Approach To Psychotherapy, Aldrich Chan, Georg Northoff, Ryan Karasik, Jason Ouyang, Kathryn Williams

All Faculty Open Access Publications

This article introduces a process-oriented approach for improving present moment conceptualization in psychotherapy that is in alignment with neuroscience: the Temporospatial movements of mind (TSMM) model. We elaborate on seven temporal movements that describe the moment-to-moment morphogenesis of emotional feelings and thoughts from inception to maturity. Temporal refers to the passage of time through which feelings and thoughts develop, and electromagnetic activity, that among other responsibilities, bind information across time. Spatial dynamics extend from an undifferentiated to three dimensional experiences of emotional and cognitive processes. Neurophysiologically, spatial refers to structures within the brain and their varying interactions with one another. …

The Implementation Of A Validated Csec Screening Tool For Youth Age 11 - 17 In A Pediatric Emergency Room, Julie Clark, Josie Doss, Krystal E. Canady, Yameika Head Md

Graduate Research Showcase

Abuse of children is a public health issue covering a range of inflicted harm from neglect to physical to sexual abuse. A severe form of child sexual abuse is the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). This phenomenon involves sexual crimes against children, including exploitation for gain. High-risk indicators are noted throughout the literature to aid in identification, but some children are vulnerable because of their young age. Perpetrators can be family, friends, or acquaintances and choose their potential victims by recognizing a child’s vulnerabilities. Inevitable physical and mental health consequences are associated with CSEC involvement; hence these youth seek …

Teachers’ Impact On Psychosocial Treatment For Latinx Youth With Adhd, Margaret Grace, Theresa Lauer Kapke, Alyson C. Gerdes

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the impact of teacher engagement in a psychosocial treatment for Latinx youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results revealed that teachers were equally engaged in treatment regardless of the source of the referral to treatment, indicating that teachers were motivated to work with students and families. Additionally, results indicated that referral source and teacher engagement in treatment were related to treatment outcomes. These findings indicate that higher-quality teacher intervention implementation is related to enhanced child and parent treatment outcomes in a Latinx sample. Results additionally revealed significant relationships among parental acculturation and treatment outcomes. Clinical implications are discussed.

After The Crime: Rewarding Offenders’ Positive Post-Offense Conduct, Paul H. Robinson, Muhammad Sarahne

All Faculty Scholarship

While an offender’s conduct before and during the crime is the traditional focus of criminal law and sentencing rules, an examination of post-offense conduct can also be important in promoting criminal justice goals. After the crime, different offenders make different choices and have different experiences, and those differences can suggest appropriately different treatment by judges, correctional officials, probation and parole supervisors, and other decision-makers in the criminal justice system.

Positive post-offense conduct ought to be acknowledged and rewarded, not only to encourage it but also as a matter of fair and just treatment. This essay describes four kinds of positive …

Identifying Subtypes Of Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder) And Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder Using Mixture Modeling In A Multicenter Sample, Jon E. Grant, Tara S. Peris, Emily J. Ricketts, Christine Lochner, Dan J. Stein, Jan Stochl, Samuel R. Chamberlain, Jeremiah M. Scharf, Darin D. Dougherty, Douglas W. Woods, John Piacentini, Nancy Keuthen

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Body-focused repetitive behavior disorders (BFRBs) include Trichotillomania (TTM; Hair pulling disorder) and Excoriation (Skin Picking) Disorder (SPD). These conditions are prevalent, highly heterogeneous, under-researched, and under-treated. In order for progress to be made in optimally classifying and treating these conditions, it is necessary to identify meaningful subtypes. 279 adults (100 with TTM, 81 with SPD, 40 with both TTM and SPD, and 58 controls) were recruited for an international, multi-center between-group comparison using mixture modeling, with stringent correction for multiple comparisons. The main outcome measure was to examine distinct subtypes (aka latent classes) across all study participants using item-level data …

Preference Of Inhalants Over Pills/Injections Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients In Western India: A Cross-Sectional Study, Nirmal Ahuja

Harrisburg University Faculty Works

Background:

Presently, pills and injections are the two modes of therapeutic treatment available for tuberculosis (TB) patients. Many researchers have hypothesized inhalation drug delivery for reducing treatment times and possibly limiting the insurgence of drug resistance. This study was aimed at identifying and assessing the preferences of inhalation therapy over injections/pills among pulmonary TB patients.

Method:

Cross-sectional study design was used and a sample of 477 participants were recruited at selected three Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) centers in Bhiwandi city. Data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were reported, and binomial regression models were applied for data …

Law Library Blog (March 2021): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Capacity Of Rural Counties To Address An Hiv Or Hepatitis C Outbreak, Jennifer Lenardson Mhs, Jaclyn Janis Rn, Mph, Amanda Burgess Mppm, Karen Pearson Mlis, Ma, Martha Elbaum Mpa

Population Health

HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) are major public health concerns in the United States and are a focus of significant federal health policy attention. Rural counties may be potentially vulnerable to an HIV or HCV outbreak among persons who inject drugs due to greater prevalence of high-risk injection practices as well as limited public health capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an HIV or HCV outbreak. This study identified states potentially at risk for an HIV or HCV outbreak and used data from the 2016 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Profile Survey, 2016 National Association …

Expanding Public Insurance Eligibility Increases Substance Use Treatment Provider Acceptance Of Public Insurance And Increases Adolescent Access To Treatment, Sarah Hamersma, Catherine Maclean

Population Health Research Brief Series

Expanding eligibility thresholds for Medicaid and CHIP leads to increased access to and use of substance use treatment among adolescents.

Examination Of Initial Evidence For Emdr As A Treatment For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Daniel Talbot

Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychological condition that impacts millions of people globally. The front-line psychological intervention for OCD is exposure/response prevention (ERP), however, many individuals do not respond to this treatment approach. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a new therapeutic option which could be effective in treating OCD. This review examined the initial evidence for the effectiveness of EMDR in reducing OCD symptoms. Nine studies were included in the review, including six case studies and three group studies. Results indicate that EMDR is a promising candidate for treating OCD, with all studies showing EMDR therapy resulted …

Predictors Of The Treatment Retention And Quality Of Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder Using Buprenorphine In Medication-Assisted Treatment: A Pilot Study Of The Effects Of Hope, Grit, And Readiness To Change, John S. Pulliam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Opioid misuse remains at epidemic proportions in the United States and other countries. Buprenorphine has been found effective in treating opioid use disorder (OUD). Understanding the roles of personal characteristics and readiness to change in addiction treatment retention and quality of recovery could be beneficial in office-based medication-assisted treatment for OUD. Researchers have explored OUD treatment methods and outcomes and have examined various predictive factors in treatment results, including demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological variables. However, few characteristics have been found to be consistent indicators of treatment retention and recovery quality. The constructs of hope agency, hope pathways, grit, and readiness …

Wicked Problems: Depression, Sebastian Wendolowski

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Depression is a disorder that can affect anybody and is the leading cause of disability and disorders in the United States. This year, due to COVID-19, it has hit an all time high, affecting many more people. Suicide rates have been steadily growing across all ages, and this year is at a record high too, showing correlation with depression. There are two types of depression, major depressive disorder and chronic depressive disorder. Diagnosis of depression is typically done physically or through a questionnaire, which is compared into a DSM-5. There are many risk factors for depression and other common mental …

Effectiveness Of Treatment Modalities For Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder And Co-Occurring Disorders, Amy Parousis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Substance abuse has always been an issue in society. As time has passed, the adverse consequences of substance abuse have become more evident. These consequences include physical and mental addiction, disruption of purposeful and productive everyday life, disruption of the family unit, spread of diseases, and death. Recently, the rate of overdose has rapidly increased due to the potency and accessibility of illicit opiates. Fentanyl and carfentanyl have been added to many opioid and non-opioid substances to provide a more euphoric experience, to intensify the addiction of the client, and for economic reasons because they are much more potent than …

Availability And Affordability Of Medicines And Cardiovascular Outcomes In 21 High-Income, Middle-Income And Low-Income Countries, Clara Kayei Chow, Tu Ngoc Nguyen, Simone Marschner, Rafael Diaz, Omar Rahman, Alvaro Avezum, Scott A. Lear, Koon Teo, Karen E. Yeates, Khawar Kazmi

Section of Cardiology

Objectives: We aimed to examine the relationship between access to medicine for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among people at high risk of CVD in high-income countries (HICs), upper and lower middle-income countries (UMICs, LMICs) and low-income countries (LICs) participating in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.
Methods: We defined high CVD risk as the presence of any of the following: hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, smoker, diabetes or age >55 years. Availability and affordability of blood pressure lowering drugs, antiplatelets and statins were obtained from pharmacies. Participants were categorised: group 1-all three drug types …

Factors Affecting Hepatitis C Treatment Intentions Among Aboriginal People In Western Australia: A Mixed-Methods Study, Amineh Rashidi, Peter Higgs, Susan Carruthers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the hepatitis C treatment intentions of Aboriginal people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Western Australia. Methods: This study used a mixed-methods design. In the cross-sectional survey, 123 Aboriginal people who inject drugs and self-report as living with hepatitis C completed a purpose-designed questionnaire. In the qualitative phase, 10 participants were interviewed about the factors influencing their future intentions to undertake hepatitis C treatment. Results: Analysis of the survey data revealed significant associations between an intention to undertake hepatitis C treatment and support, community attachment, stable housing and stigma. In …

Reentry Court Judges: The Key To The Court, Christopher Salvatore, Venezia Michalsen, Caitlin Taylor

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Over the last few decades, treatment-oriented court judges have moved away from being neutral arbitrators in an adversarial court process to treatment facilitators. In the problem-solving court model, judges are part of a more therapeutic treatment process with program participants and a courtroom workgroup. The shift from the use of the traditional criminal justice process toward the use of more treatment-oriented models for some populations highlights the need to systematically document key elements of treatment court models. In particular, it is important to clearly document the role of Reentry Court Judges because they are a key component of the Reentry …

Empty Cribs: Infertility Challenges For Orthodox Jewish Couples, Itay Kohane

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation discusses an issue that is of importance to many people throughout their lifetime—infertility. One in every eight couples (12%) is incapable of carrying a pregnancy to term after one year of natural attempts. This paper further examines the prevalence of infertility among couples, bringing into focus more common variables such as gender and age. But, going beyond these, the present study will demonstrate that other variables including stressors such as social factors, interpersonal dynamics, and personal judgment affect couples in a manner which indirectly reduces their chances of conceiving a child. This research will touch on a number …

Developing An Ontology For Representing The Domain Knowledge Specific To Non-Pharmacological Treatment For Agitation In Dementia, Zhenyu Zhang, Ping Yu, H.C. Chang, S K. Lau, Cui Tao, Ning Wang, Mengyang Yin, Chao Deng

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

Introduction: A large volume of clinical care data has been generated for managing agitation in dementia. However, the valuable information in these data has not been used effectively to generate insights for improving the quality of care. Application of artificial intelligence technologies offers us enormous opportunities to reuse these data. For health data science to achieve this, this study focuses on using ontology to coding clinical knowledge for non-pharmacological treatment of agitation in a machine-readable format. Methods: The resultant ontology—Dementia-Related Agitation Non-Pharmacological Treatment Ontology (DRANPTO)—was developed using a method adopted from the NeOn methodology. Results: DRANPTO consisted of 569 concepts …