Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Just Say No: The Case Against The Reclassification Of Buprenorphine, Ameet Sarpatwari

University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class

No abstract provided.

Dark Days: For College Students, Depression Can Intrude On "The Best Four Years", Alicia Nemiccolo Macleay

Colby Magazine

For some college students, depression can steal “the best four years.” Stigma and guilt are obstacles, but treatment is available.

Stress, Coping And Suicide Ideation In Chinese College Students, Xiaoyun Zhang, Haiping Wang, Yan Xia, Xiaohong Liu, Eunju Jung

Faculty Publications, Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies

The study was to examine 1) whether stress and coping styles could significantly predict the probability of suicide ideation; 2) and whether coping styles were mediators or moderators on the association between life stress and suicide ideation. The survey was conducted in a sample of 671 Chinese college students. Approximately twenty percent students reported having suicide ideation. Life stress, active coping styles, and passive coping styles all had independent effect on the probability of suicide ideation. Passive coping styles, especially fantasizing, mediated the relation between life stress and suicide ideation. Moderation hypotheses were not supported. Implications of the findings and ...

Suffering In Silence? The Effects Of The Stigmatization Of Mental Illness On Life Satisfaction, Jennifer A. Codlin Miss.

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

The term ‘stigma’ is formally defined as the assignment of negative perceptions to an individual because of perceived difference from the population at large (The Free Online Dictionary by Farlex). Stigma, pervasive on a micro, mezzo and macro level serves to devalue individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness and the support systems that are designed to assist them. Although efforts have been made in public awareness campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, stigma continues to limit opportunities and restrain individuals from living full and enriching lives. Many individuals “suffer in silence” often resorting to maladaptive ...

Art As A Cure: Analyzing Healthcare Treatment For The Mentally Ill Through The Lens Of Art Therapy Programs In Dakar, Senegal, Sofia Porter-Castro

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mental illness is a malady that affects roughly 2.3 million people in Senegal ("Statistics by Country” 2012), but the wide and sometimes opposing range of healing practices suggests that the attitudes surrounding mental illness are still largely contested. This is especially true in Senegal’s capital, where advances in medicine in big city hospitals are growing while ties to traditional beliefs and practices remain strong. Alternative therapies, such as art therapy, provide an opportunity for practitioners to explore different techniques for treating the mentally ill while still integrating elements of the local culture. It is precisely this integration that ...

Risk Assessment In Juvenile Justice: A Guidebook For Implementation, Gina M. Vincent, Laura S. Guy, Thomas Grisso

Center for Mental Health Services Research Publications and Presentations

Juvenile court decision-makers often must decide whether youth need certain interventions to reduce the risk of harm to others. Is the risk sufficiently great that some sort of protective intervention is necessary? Risk assessment can assist with these decisions. The primary purpose of this Guide is to provide a structure for jurisdictions, juvenile probation or centralized statewide agencies striving to implement risk assessment or to improve their current risk assessment practices.

Empirical support for aspects of the manual can be found in the following publications:

• Vincent, G. M., Guy, L. E., Fusco, S.L., & Gershenson, B.G. (2012). Field reliability of the SAVRY with probation officers: Implications for training. Law Hum Behav. 2012 Jun;36(3):225-36. doi: 10.1007 ...

Modelling Stress Constructs With Biomarkers: The Importance Of The Measurment Model, Joanne Bradbury

Joanne Bradbury

Background The transactional model of stress describes a psychological and physiological stress response that is elicited when an environmental demand is perceived to out-weigh the ability to cope with the demand. With perception at its core, this theory explains large variances in human stress responses. A frequently cited measure of stress perception is the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). A two-step approach to structural equation modelling (SEM) necessitates that a valid measurement model for stress be first established through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and then the impact of stress on the biomarkers be assessed. Methods The aims of this study were ...

Screening For Adult Adhd In Ontario: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Sex Differences, Mental Health Correlates And Substance Use, Deanne Daigle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The vast majority of studies on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are based on samples with inherent age, sex, and referral biases. Therefore, the current study used population-based data to 1) estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD (as well as previous diagnosis and medication use using an ADHD screener) and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use in Ontario 2) examine the sex differences in ADHD screening status and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use and 3) model ADHD screening status as a risk factor for psychiatric distress using the 2011 cycle of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor. A ...

The Effects Of A Summer Camp Experience On Factors Of Resilience In At-Risk Youth, Marybeth Merryman Ph.D., Otr/L, Amanda Mezei B.S., Ots, Jill A. Bush Ph.D., Marcie Weinstein Ph.D., Ot/L, Faota

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This pilot study addressed the impact of a summer camp experience on at-risk middle school youth by exploring self-reported growth in skill development and resilience. Campers who attended a five-week summer day camp were compared to a control group who maintained typical activities throughout the summer. Results showed statistically significant differences in the campers’ belief of a good future for themselves (U = 179.40, P = 0.05). Campers reported sustained or positive growth in domains of social skills and positive values from the baseline to a six-month follow up. Three significant themes emerged from individual in-depth interviews including: (a) engagement ...

Taking The Perspective That A Depressive State Reflects Inflammation: Implications For The Use Of Antidepressants, Jill Littrell

Social Work Faculty Publications

This paper reviews both the evidence that supports the characterization of depression as an inflammatory disorder and the different biochemical mechanisms that have been postulated for the connection between inflammation and depression. This association offers credible explanation for the short term efficacy of antidepressants, which have short term anti-inflammatory effects. Evidence for those anti-inflammatory effects is discussed. Evidence of the contrary long-term effects of antidepressants, which increase rather than decrease inflammation, is also reviewed. It is argued that this increase in inflammation would predict an increase in chronicity among depressed patients that have been treated with antidepressants drugs, which has ...

The Fractal Nature And Functional Connectivity Of Brain Function As Measured By Bold Mri In Alzheimer’S Disease, Mohammed A. Warsi

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disease with progressive deterioration of neural networks in the brain. Fractal dimension analysis (FD) of resting state blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals acquired using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) allows us to quantify complex signalling in the brain and may offer a window into the network erosion. This novel approach can provide a sensitive tool to examine early stages of AD. As AD progresses, we expect to see a reduction in brain connectivity and signal complexity concurrent with biochemical changes (e.g. altered levels of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), myoinositol (mI) and glutamate ...

The Social Experiences Of Spouses Of Persons With Young-Onset Dementia, Stacey A. Hawkins

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Spousal caregivers of persons with young-onset dementia (YOD) are known to experience significant social impacts, including family conflict, social avoidance, and marginalization. However, no qualitative study has examined the social experiences of YOD spousal caregivers within the Canadian context. This thesis examined the described social experiences of these caregivers. A descriptive, qualitative approach was used to study the nature of these social experiences using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Ten YOD spousal caregivers living in Ontario completed the study. Four themes emerged from the analysis: sources of social support, giving up activities in favour of new activities, adapting and maintaining in social ...

Path Tortuosity In Everyday Movements Of Elderly Persons Increases Fall Prediction Beyond Knowledge Of Fall History, Medication Use, And Standardized Gait And Balance Assessments., William D. Kearns Phd, James L. Fozard Phd, Marion Becker Rn/Phd, Jan M. Jasiewicz Phd, Jeffrey D. Craighead Phd, Lori Holtsclaw Ba, Charles Dion Ma

William D. Kearns, PhD

Abstract Objectives: We hypothesized that variability in voluntary movement paths of assisted living facility (ALF) residents would be greater in the week preceding a fall compared with residents who did not fall. Design: Prospective, observational study using telesurveillance technology. Setting: Two ALFs. Participants: The sample consisted of 69 older ALF residents (53 female) aged 76.9 (SD=11.9 years). Measurement: Daytime movement in ALF common use areas was automatically tracked using a commercially available ultra-wideband radio real-time location sensor network with a spatial resolution of approximately 20 cm. Movement path variability (tortuosity) was gauged using fractal dimension (fractal D ...

Knowledge Of And Perceived Need For Evidence-Based Educational Materials About Antipsychotic Medication Safety By Nursing Home Staff, Celeste A. Lemay, Sarah Foy, Kathleen M. Mazor, Leslie R. Harrold, Jennifer L. Donovan, Abir O. Kanaan, Becky A. Briesacher, Jerry H. Gurwitz, Jennifer Tjia

Clinical and Translational Science Research Retreat

Background: Given the widespread overuse of antipsychotic medications among US nursing home (NH) residents, we sought to identify knowledge of and perceived need for the AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Research Summary Guide (CERSG) “Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs”.

Methods: We conducted a baseline needs assessment with 12 NHs participating in a randomized controlled trail evaluating evidence dissemination strategies. Using a mixed method approach, we conducted in-depth assessments of knowledge, attitudes, and practice behavior using telephone interviews with NH leadership (administrators, directors of nursing [DON], and medical directors), and questionnaires with NH leadership, consultant pharmacists and direct care staff. Interviews were ...

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index, Macrosomia, And Mental Health In Children And Adolescents, Ryan J. Van Lieshout Md, Phd, Frcp(C)

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Objectives: To examine associations between macrosomia, maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy, and psychopathology in youth, and to determine if these are due to prenatal environmental exposures or confounding variables.

Methods: Study 1 reviewed studies examining associations between macrosomia and mental health. Data from the Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS) were then used to explore these links in youth (Study 2). A second review summarized studies assessing associations between maternal pregnancy BMI and psychopathology in offspring (Study 3). Data from the Western Australia Pregnancy Cohort were then used to quantify associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and child behaviour at ...