Digital Commons Network^™

Pedaling Through Discomfort: A Feasibility Study Of Faculty-Led Spin Classes And Their Impact On Student Engagement, Resilience, And Faculty-Student Relationships, Gabriela Baza, Elizabeth Hathaway

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

This study explored the feasibility and impact of faculty-led Spin classes on college students’ engagement, well-being, and connection with faculty. Offered twice weekly at 7 AM during Fall 2024, the classes aimed to promote physical activity, resilience, and faculty-student relationships. Twenty-six students attended at least one class, with a median attendance of 4.5 sessions. Post-semester surveys (88% response rate) assessed perceived exertion, interest, enjoyment, challenge, improvement, and instructor encouragement. Students reported high levels of engagement and positive challenge (RPE = 15.3; challenge = 6.4/7). Those attending 7 or more sessions reported significantly greater perceived improvement than those attending fewer sessions …

Rates And Predictors Of Intention To Get Preventive Screenings Among Individuals In Recovery From Substance Use Disorders, Afsha Hossain, Ban A. Majeed, Lia Pierson Bruner

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at greater risk for chronic disease but often face barriers to access and uptake of preventive screenings, so the aim of this study was to identify rates and predictors for intention to get preventive screenings among residents at two recovery centers.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey (N=95, response rate 51%) to determine previous screening rates and the intention to get recommended preventive screenings among residents of two long-term recovery programs in Athens, GA, using bivariate analysis with chi-square to look for associations with intention.

Results: Prior use of preventive health services …

The Effectiveness Of Mode Deactivation Model Group Counseling In Improving The Emotional Wellness Of Junior High School Students, Ananda Dwi Rahmadanti, Muya Barida, Sri Hartini, Aprilia Setyowati

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study was motivated by the low level of emotional wellness among some junior high school students, characterized by difficulties in recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions adaptively, thereby impacting social behavior and learning processes at school. Previous studies have shown that emotion regulation-based interventions are effective in improving adolescents' emotional well-being. However, counseling interventions in schools that specifically target emotional regulation patterns to improve students' emotional wellness are still relatively limited in guidance and counseling services. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effectiveness of group counseling using the Mode Deactivation Counseling (MDC) model in improving the emotional wellness of …

The Phoenix Trauma Response Model (Ptrm): An Integrative And Innovative Approach To Trauma Recovery And Growth, Latesha S. Holloman, Lauren B. Robins, Tammie Willis, Courtney V. Morris

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Trauma is increasingly understood as a developmentally consequential experience that shapes identity, regulation, and relational functioning across the lifespan. Although trauma-informed care, resilience theory, posttraumatic growth, and narrative approaches have expanded understanding of recovery, few frameworks articulate a structured developmental progression that integrates prevention, intervention, and intergenerational transformation within a unified model. The Phoenix Trauma Response Model (PTRM) addresses this gap by introducing a cyclical, phase-based framework organized around four interrelated processes: Recognition, Reframing, Reclamation, and Replication of Strength. Central to the model is the construct of conversion potential, defined as the structured capacity to translate distress into purposeful …

Depression Due To Combined Dexamethasone And Cyproheptadine Abuse For Weight Gain, Sanjana Sateesh, Jatin Kumar, Dhananjay Ardawatia, Kishor M, Shashidhara Kc, Srikanth Ms

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Cyproheptadine, an H1 antihistamine, and Dexamethasone, a long-acting steroid, are often misused in combination for addressing self-perceived body image issues and have become a popular but dangerous ‘weight gain cocktail’, often available over the counter without any prescription. This case describes a 25-year-old man who had self-prescribed the above-mentioned drugs in combination to address his self-perceived lean physique. This resulted in a significant weight gain, followed by an abnormal increase in appetite, which affected his daily life. Upon cessation, it resulted in rebound weight changes, depressive features, along with features of corticosteroid withdrawal, which required multidisciplinary management.

This case highlights …

Exploring Adolescent Hearing Aid Usage And Appearance Of Psychiatric Symptoms In Adolescents Using Hearql-28 Surveys, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Approximately 2% of DHH people in need of mental health services actually receive these services. Among pediatric hearing loss populations, co-occurring cognitive and physical impairments are risk factors for poor mental health status. Due to language barriers and isolation, more children with hearing loss do not have access to mental health services. Cochlear implants have been shown to improve mental health status among the DHH population. Current literature focuses on the mental health status of children with cochlear implants, with little focus on hearing aid users. Using HEAR28 data and surveys, we can quantify the incidence of psychiatric symptoms among …

Emergency Department Boarding For Psychiatric Care: The Effect Of Pointclickcare Integration., Chris Rowan

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Emergency Department Boarding for Psychiatric Care: The Effect of PointClickCare Integration

Abstract

For many individuals in psychiatric crisis, the emergency department has become the first place to seek help, highlighting gaps in how behavioral health care is accessed and coordinated. In Massachusetts, PointClickCare's Behavioral Health Treatment and Referral Platform (BH TRP) was implemented to centralize and streamline referrals between emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric facilities. This capstone evaluates whether implementation of the BH TRP was associated with changes in psychiatric boarding time at a community hospital emergency department. Using a mixed-methods program evaluation design, this study analyzed de-identified electronic medical …

The Unexplored Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Burnout, And Resiliency Among Hospital Staff., Elizabeth Davis

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

This study addresses the critical issue of staff turnover at Baptist Health Floyd, where rates exceed national hospital averages. While prior research connects burnout to workplace stressors, less is known about the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and resilience among hospital staff. Understanding these relationships is essential for improving workforce stability and patient care outcomes. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with convenience sampling of hospital employees and providers (n=207). Data were collected via a Qualtrics survey using validated instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach et al., 2016), the ACE questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998), and the Brief Resilience …

Morphea With Seronegative Inflammatory Arthritis And Normal Acute Phase Reactants: A Case Report, Balakrishnan Navaneethakrishnan, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Localised scleroderma, also known as morphea, is an immune-mediated fibrosing disorder that primarily affects the skin and subcutaneous tissues. While traditionally considered purely a cutaneous disease, extracutaneous manifestations (especially inflammatory arthritis) are increasingly being appreciated. The combined presence of morphea and inflammatory arthritis is rare and can be difficult to diagnose, particularly when inflammatory markers and serological testing are non-contributory.

Case Summary : We describe a 41-year-old woman with long-standing biopsy-proven morphea who over 2 years developed chronic, asymmetric inflammatory arthritis of the left wrist and hand small joints. On examination, she had active synovitis with restricted movements of her …

Pseudo-Hallucinations: A Diagnostic Conundrum, Dr Sankram Nayak, Manju Aswath, Vathsalya S. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background:

Pseudohallucinations are vivid, hallucination-like experiences that are internal, recognized as unreal. Distinguishing from true hallucinations remains a diagnostic challenge.

Case-report

33-year-old female with family history of psychosis presented with 10-year duration of delusion of infidelity and auditory experiences, with normal Biopsychosocial functioning. She had multiple psychiatric consultations, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, treated with  various antipsychotics, ECT, current prescription of clozapine(350mg) with clozapine induced seizure.  Reported that her husband was emotionally unavailable. She described the voices in her head which were non-threatening, praising her for having qualities of an ideal-wife.  They were constant companions giving her solace and hence refrained …

High-Frequency Functional Trajectories Predict Depressive Worsening In Singapore's Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Kaung Htet Tun Salai, Yi Wen Tan, Grace Cheong, Paulin T. Straughan

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

Background/Objectives: Functional difficulty and depression often coexist in older adults, yet local Singapore-based research often lacks detailed temporal resolution due to heterogeneity in ageing. This study employs non-parametric, data-driven longitudinal clustering to analyse functional trajectories and their association with depression, using high-frequency data to pinpoint key intervention periods. Methods: Data were drawn from 4273 community-dwelling older adults from Singapore Life Panel^® (2020–2024). Participants completed quarterly self-reported assessments of ADL, IADL and depressive symptoms (8-item CES-D). We employed k-means longitudinal clustering (kml) to identify functional trajectory groups and Cox regression to evaluate the hazard of increased depression (≥5-point increase in …

Diagnostic Trends And Service Enhancements In Deaf Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis, Kent Schafer, Steve Hamerdinger, Frank Wu, Rie Sakai Bizmark, Charlene Crump

JADARA

A longitudinal study investigated mental health diagnostic trends and patterns among Deaf and Hearing individuals using a comprehensive dataset from Alabama Department of Mental Health spanning 2004-2024 (Deaf=4,547; Hearing=2,056,188). Chi-square analysis revealed significant proportional differences in diagnoses between the groups. Deaf individuals showed significantly higher proportions of psychotic (12.93% vs. 8.33% Hearing), mood (20.76% vs. 18.84% Hearing), and personality (0.58% vs. 0.43% Hearing) disorders. These findings suggest that increased access to specialized and competent mental health services for individuals who are Deaf, particularly following the increase of staffing patterns for the Office of Deaf Services in 2015,contributed to more accurate …

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

Association Between Children’S Secondhand Co-Exposure To Tobacco And Cannabis Smoke And Elevated Urinary Cotinine Levels: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Bradley N. Collins, Stephen J. Lepore, Vincent Berardi, Renee D. Goodwin, Karen Wilson, Mona Baishya

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background Cannabis use is far more common among adults who smoke tobacco than adults who do not, and its use is increasing among people who smoke tobacco with children living in the home. Given the well-established evidence that caregiver smoking is the primary source of children’s secondhand exposures to these products, the increasing trend in caregiver co-use is raising public health concerns about children’s co-exposure. Emerging data indicates that adult co-use is linked to additive health consequences, such as elevated nicotine and other tobacco-related toxicant blood levels, relative to use of only tobacco. It is unknown whether children’s co-exposure leads …

Roles And Strengths Of Therapeutic Recreation Professionals In Service Provision: A Strengths-Based Approach, M. Rebecca Genoe, Linda Ostryzniuk, Kathy Park, Sherri Nelson, Douglas G. Cripps, Donna Boser

The Qualitative Report

Therapeutic Recreation professionals work in healthcare and community-based settings where they utilize recreation and leisure to improve quality of life. Despite their contributions, Therapeutic Recreation often goes unrecognized as an important component of the healthcare team. The purpose of this study was to explore the strengths and successes of Therapeutic Recreation professionals. We aimed to explore how Therapeutic Recreation professionals identify and perceive their roles, and what strengths they use within their roles. Data was collected through 19 individual interviews and eight focus groups with Therapeutic Recreation professionals and analyzed thematically. The theme of “nurturing well-being through leisure” was generated …

Assessment Perception: Delivery Matters, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Chelsey Simmons

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Perception shapes how individuals experience the world and guides their actions toward personal goals. In counseling, clients’ accurate understanding of assessment results is essential for informed decision-making and effective treatment engagement. Mental health clinicians have an ethical responsibility to communicate findings in ways that safeguard client welfare and empower both clients and stakeholders to collaborate in care. This conceptual manuscript introduces the BRIEF (Brief, Relevant, Interpretive, Empathetic, and Factual) Feedback Integration Framework, a structured model for delivering assessment feedback ethically and accessibly. Integrating cognitive, developmental, and cultural considerations. BRIEF provides counselors, supervisors, and educators with a practical strategy for improving …

Addressing Saintly Corrections: An Integrative, Developmental Approach To Counselor Bias Management, Travis Walker, Jennifer M. Cook

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

No person is without biases, even the most culturally adept among us. Managing biases is critical to counselors’ continued journey of understanding clients contextually and holistically. In this article, we describe two novel bias management concepts: A specific type of bias called saintly corrections and the more clinically fruitful approach of realistic corrections. We define and illustrate saintly and realistic corrections, outline a multifold approach (i.e., cognitive complexity, cultural identity development, and the multicultural orientation model) for remediating saintly corrections, and offer recommendations counselor educators can use during planned and contextual learning opportunities, including an example of a contextual …

Teaching Multicultural Counseling: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Counselor Educators’ Voices, Cameka Hazel, Paul Leheste, Raymond Blanchard

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the perceptions of counselor educators who taught the graduate level multicultural counseling course. Six participants shared experiences, leading to four themes: personal and professional rewards, who is fit to teach? dealing with resistance and difficult conversations and limited time and class size. Implications for counselor education are discussed.

Competencies And Preparation For Addressing Poverty In Counselor Education: A Q Methodological Study, Seneka Rachel Gainer

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the competencies needed to prepare counselors to address the systemic and relational impacts of poverty within counselor education. Using Q methodology, expert participants identified critical knowledge, skills, and awareness factors required for effective practice. Two distinct factors emerged: (1) the centrality of relational competencies such as empathy, cultural humility, and trust-building, and (2) the necessity for curriculum-wide integration of poverty-specific training and systemic advocacy. Findings highlight the need for counselor education programs to embed poverty-related competencies across curricula, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop experiential and advocacy-based training models. Implications for counselor education, accreditation standards, and professional development …

Dismantling Racism In The Classroom: Recommendations For White Male Counselor Educators, Jason L. Vannest, Rebecca J. Vannest, Lorise D. Grey

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

In response to the historical tradition of Eurocentrism and Whiteness in counseling programs in the United States, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) have challenged their members to confront implicit bias, become allies with Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and commit to challenging racism and implicit bias. Despite these robust calls to disrupt racism and implicit bias, counselor educators - specifically White male counselor educators (WMCEs) - may wonder how to effectively take action due to their own racial identity. Several factors may contribute to WMCEs' reticence to deconstruct racism and …

The Feminist Impostor Phenomenon Approach (Fipa): A Feminist Approach To Addressing Impostor Phenomenon In Novice Counselors, Isabel Springer, Kelly Emelianchik-Key

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is known to affect new professionals in health professions, yet there is little to no academic literature available on how it affects early career counselors and how it can be addressed. Novice counselors (NC) frequently experience extreme anxiety and feelings of fraudulence around their professional performance. Feminist mentorship and interventions can help alleviate IP and foster self-efficacy and confidence in new counseling professionals. The Feminist Impostor Phenomenon Approach (FIPA) consists of a three-hour workshop educating participants through a feminist lens about IP and relevant coping strategies, and subsequent weekly consciousness-raising groups where coping strategies are reinforced, and …

Artificial Intelligence Literacy In Counselor Education: The Developmental Ai Literacy Framework, Leo Gonzalez Jr.

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming counselor education, yet frameworks for preparing counselors-in-training (CITs) to use AI remain limited. This article introduces the developmental AI literacy framework (DALF), a conceptual model integrating developmental theory, professional identity formation, and AI literacy. The DALF reframes AI literacy as a developmental competency comprising intentional AI use, critical evaluation, ethical engagement, and awareness of professional identity. The framework outlines three stages, including foundational awareness, reflective application, and integrated professionalization, that parallel CITs’ growth from dependence to autonomy. Pedagogical, developmental, and research implications are provided to guide ethical and reflective AI integration in counselor education.

Evaluating Website Resources Shared Online Amongst Women With Intimate Partner Violence Experiences: Analysis Of An Online Health Community, Vivian Hui, Lidan Tian, Malavika Eby, Bohan Zhang, Rose E. Constantino

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects around one in four women globally, posing substantial health risks. IPV survivors often consult online health communities for anonymous assistance rather than formal services. Though online health community members frequently share websites to answer questions, no studies have investigated the characteristics and relevance of websites shared in IPV online health communities. This study aims to identify the categories of websites shared in IPV online health communities and evaluate associations between post characteristics and website relevance to survivors' help-seeking needs.

METHODS: Data were extracted from posts and comments on the r/domesticviolence, a subreddit (topic-specific community) …

Facebook Interaction As A Potential Marker Of Cognitive Decline: Pilot Study, Esraa M. Qansuwa

Theses and Dissertations

One of the critical challenges in brain disorder research is the early identification of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who may later develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other dementias. MCI in older adults is frequently associated with diminished social engagement and observable behavioral changes. With the rapid expansion of social media platforms and advances in Machine Learning (ML), digital traces from online activity present a novel and scalable avenue for mental health screening. In particular, predictive ML approaches have demonstrated strong potential in building reliable classifiers for early detection of neurocognitive decline. This study introduces an innovative framework that …

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, 2025, Cason Noll, Anirudh Polagani, Taylor Volk, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on the mental health of youth and adults, as well as the availability of mental health care, across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in 2025. The data are derived from "The State of Mental Health in America 2025,” originally published by Mental Health America (MHA).

Adolescent Drug Use Prevention Programs Published 2013-2023: A Systematic Review Of Literature Reviews And Meta-Analyses, Marilyn A. Rhames, Jon Eckert, William L. Sterrett, Grant Morgan

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Background: This systematic review of reviews and meta-analyses provides education leaders with ten years of evidence-based strategies for effective adolescent substance use prevention. Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 protocol for systematic reviews, we searched the PubMed and PsychINFO databases on October 19, 2023, and identified 96 systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses involving adolescent drug use prevention from 2103-2023. Twenty-four papers met the criteria for final inclusion. Results: Educational leaders should know three areas to deliver effective evidence-based adolescent substance prevention: 1) foundational understanding of risk and protective factors, 2) components of effective prevention programs, and 3) drug-specific …

Integrating Music Therapy Into Dental Clinics For Whole Person Care, Dana Osterling Benoit Mba, Mt-Bc, Nisreen Al Jallad Dds, Ms2, Shasha Cui Ed.D. Mba, Mandy Fraser, Gaelen Mccormick Mm1, Rosemary Oliva Obi Ms, Lcat, Mtbc1, Adela Planerova Dds, Ms2, Madeline Vinolus Mt-Bc1, Angela Valeria Perez Pita Dds, Ms2

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This case study describes the integration of a board-certified music therapist into two specialty dental clinics at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health. Initiated in collaboration with the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center, the effort reflects a humanistic and biopsychosocial approach to dentistry that leverages music therapy to reduce anxiety, improve patient experience, and support better clinical outcomes.

Before implementation, monthly interdisciplinary planning meetings were held, bringing together dental faculty, research and administrative staff, and the music therapy team. These meetings built a shared understanding of each clinic’s unique patient population, workflow, and clinical priorities, …

Experiences Of Stigma And Barriers To Care Among Transgender And Gender Expansive Populations Seeking Mental Healthcare, Amanda Veldorale-Griffin, Elizabeth Banks, Elizabeth Patrick, Judith Cannon, Caidan Thomas Smith

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Transgender and gender expansive (TGGE) people experience increased risk for mental health issues and suicidality, as well as significant barriers to mental healthcare, due to stigma and discrimination, including from mental healthcare providers. A sample of 945 TGGE participants completed self-report surveys, measuring experiences of stigma and barriers to care, and counselor competence. Data were divided into two groups by age and analyzed through linear regressions and one-way ANOVAs. Across groups, participants (approximately 58% of younger participants and 49% of older participants) reported experiencing stigma from a healthcare provider, and all reported some barriers to care, with more than half …

Mom Is Developing Too: Preliminary Evidence For The Reciprocal Effects Of Infant Sensory Reactivity And Maternal Behavior, Emily C. Sweiss, Vincent Berardi, Elysia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Caregiver sensitivity to infant cues is well-established as a predictor of child development. Infants also actively influence their social environment, especially their caregivers, even from their earliest days. Sensory reactivity, characterized as hypo- (under) and hyper- (over) responding to environmental stimuli, is one domain of development that is likely to influence caregiver-infant interaction, due to its role in regulating emotions and responses to both physical and social stimuli. Although sensory reactivity could be an important target for improving caregiver-child interaction, the longitudinal, reciprocal relations between infant sensory reactivity and caregiver behaviors are currently unknown. In the present proof-of-concept study, we …

Neuroinflammation And Its Role In Depression– A Review Of Emerging Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets, Sophia M. Valerino

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating mental illness that affects millions globally. Traditionally, the pathophysiology of MDD was thought to be due primarily neurotransmitter imbalances. However, emerging research highlights the role of neuroinflammation in MDD pathogenesis. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglial activation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction have been implicated in the etiology of MDD. Additionally, biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and neuroimaging findings further support the neuroinflammatory hypothesis. This growing body of evidence has led to increased interest in novel treatment approaches, including anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle interventions, as potential therapeutic strategies. While selective serotonin reuptake …