Psychology Commons^™

Beneficial Roles The Sacred Can Play In Mental Illness, Katelyn Harper

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Religion and Spirituality are prevalent in and essential to one’s identity. This thesis seeks to answer the question what beneficial roles can the sacred play in mental illness? Believing in the sacred can provide additional support to those with a mental illness through a process called sacred coping. One’s sacred beliefs can be incorporated into previously established interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to provide a more tailored treatment option. In some cases, these interventions are more beneficial than traditional interventions. Barriers to the topic of acknowledging the sacred in relation to one’s mental illness include the decline in having …

The Effects Of Sexual Advertisements On Women’S Mental Health And Marketing, Kaitlyn Jones

Capstone Showcase

The following study analyzed the effects of sexually objectifying advertisements on self esteem, self objectification, affect, and restrictive eating behaviors. Previous literature supports the claim that sexual media can negatively impact the mental health of women, which includes variables such as lowered self esteem, higher levels of self objectification and higher levels of restrictive eating behaviors. Purchase intent was also analyzed in regards to objectifying advertisements and neutral advertisements. Forty-two female undergraduate students were recruited and were asked to answer purchase intent questions about six advertisements (either objectifying or neutral). After the advertisement section, questionnaires and an ice cream “taste …

Treatment Of Comorbid Anxiety Disorders In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa Trout

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The research question under investigation in this paper is in regard to the treatment of comorbid anxiety disorders in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The investigation focuses on which treatment method is most effective in the treatment of the anxiety symptoms. While there are many methods to choose from, from psychosocial therapies to pharmacological therapies to alternative therapies, but the focus of this paper was on psychosocial therapy options. The research has shown that a modified version of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment program is the most effective in treating anxiety in children with ASD. Much of the …

The Efficacy Of Ketamine In Adult Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder With Symptoms Refractory To Standard Of Care Treatment., Brooke Thornton

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First line pharmacologic treatments for adult patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involve selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRIs). These drug classes often fail to deliver timely relief of symptoms as well as maintain longevity of symptom recurrence. This research analyzed the use of ketamine in adult patients suffering with OCD for the purposes of more efficacious management of symptoms. Although ketamine demonstrated a timelier relief of symptoms in some small clinical studies, its effects were ultimately unable to be sustained long term. Additionally, a wide range of adverse effects including dissociation, and rebound symptoms were observed. As a result, large …

Depression In Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, And Intervention - An Argument For Trauma-Informed Care In The Community, Beauty Davis

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BEAUTY DAVIS

Depression in Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Intervention - An argument for trauma-informed care in the community

Depression is an unfortunately common mental illness that can lead to negative life outcomes such as substance abuse, suicide, lower quality of life, and anxiety. The stage of adolescence is known as a pivotal, transitional time of life as there are many changes in an individual’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. The research reviewed throughout this paper discusses risk factors that contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in adolescence. Observing how genetic, physiological, environmental, and social components contribute to …

Factors And Alleviation Of Learned Helplessness In The Elderly, Ashley Eckett

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Learned helplessness is a condition caused by maladaptive thinking related to a sense of powerlessness. It can result from lack of control in the face of life challenges leading to a loss of hope, motivation, and an inability to take action. Learned helplessness can have negative effects on an individual both mentally and physically. In regards to the elderly population, it can cause premature death. Gaining a better understanding of learned helplessness can play a lead role in preventing it and its negative effects in the geriatric population. The aim of the literature review was to answer how to recognize …

Associations Between Childhood Adversity, Adhd, And Negative Parenting, Melissa Schuler

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Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience higher rates of childhood adversity than children without the disorder. Parents of children with ADHD report greater stress levels, especially when their child exhibits severe ADHD symptoms. Children with ADHD are at a high risk for comorbid behavioral disorders like conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), which compound relationship problems within the family context. The aim of this thesis is to examine how increased adversity for children with ADHD relates to the relationship between children with the disorder and their parents and parenting practices, and how these relationships differ from typical families. …