Digital Commons Network^™

To Heal A Mind: A Comparison Of Functional And Conventional Treatments In Major Depressive Disorder, Gillian Chambers

Senior Honors Theses

Incidence of major depressive disorder is increasing year over year, with little able to be done to halt the spread of the condition. However, there are many treatment possibilities considered unconventional by the healthcare system. This thesis examines the respective benefits and risks, in comparison to one another, between conventional pharmacological treatment and functional, holistic treatment of depression. This was done via integrative review of available clinical literature, synthesizing evidence on both conventional and functional treatments for depression, as dictated by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). Exploratory search methods revealed 758 records fulfilling inclusion criteria, which were screened and narrowed down …

Bibliography For "Mindfulness Reference Display", Isabella Piechota, Arianna Tillman, Annikah Carpio

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to support a display about mindfulness in May 2025 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Kansas City, Kansas, Vida Davidović

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS is a thesis that operates in the tradition of expressionist dramaturgy and playwriting, taking up themes of abuse, imperialism, war, trauma, womanhood, Balkan identities, history of the Balkans, as well as the discourses of psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory. The use of different theoretical frameworks related to both international and personal politics, which are shown to be intertwined, suggests a strong relationship between political processes in the Second World Countries that had experienced many occupations throughout their history and the way women in those countries relate to the questions of body, authority, feminity, and interpersonal relationships. The play …

“Re-Storying” Anne Shirley And The Adhd Child: A Crip Genealogy Of Anne Of Green Gables, Darian Aleyna Wilson

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the contested nature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), focusing on its cultural and historical constructions. While ADHD has been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders since 1980, its legitimacy remains a subject of debate across medical, disability studies, and historical scholarship. Using Eli Clare’s critique of diagnosis as a tool rather than a fact, this project examines how ADHD is both pathologized and re-storied within societal and medical discourses. It highlights the tension between medical classifications and lived experiences of those diagnosed with ADHD, particularly in the context of girlhood.

The central …

The Association Between Economic Outcomes And Abortion: A Scoping Review, Larisa Nicole Stephenson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Abortion access is not just an issue of autonomy, but an economic issue as well. Evidence of the intersectionality of abortion health care and economics has endured due to the financial cascading effects a denial of an abortion, or the inability to access an abortion, has on one’s personal, professional, and economic upward mobility. A change in recent policies impacting access to abortion warrants an updated synthesis examining the relationships between economic outcomes and abortion access for people of reproductive age in the United States (U.S.).

Aim: This scoping review summarizes evidence pertaining to the association …

Unbridled Healing: Identifying The Barriers Of Equine-Assisted Therapy, Sally A. Hamm

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the documented benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for mental health conditions, this complementary approach remains underutilized. This qualitative study investigated barriers preventing wider EAT implementation by examining challenges faced by clients, facilities, and volunteers. Data collected through open-ended surveys from 33 participants and the researcher's autoethnographic observations revealed eight common barriers: Accessibility (48 mentions), Money (43), Time (30), Awareness (23), Physical Factors (13), Relationships (13), Risk (13), and Weather (7). Clients identified financial constraints as their primary barrier, particularly insurance limitations. Facilitators struggled most with accessibility challenges, including lack of resources, trained staff, suitable horses, and appropriate facilities. Volunteers …

Parental Expectations On Pediatric Care For Children, Brenan Cash

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Childhood pediatrics is a major factor for a full and healthy childhood for all children from adolescence to adulthood. However, the physical health aspect has been the main focus through most primary care clinics and hardly focuses on the mental health side. Mental health issues which involve anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are more prominent than they have ever been, as up to 30% of children have experienced mental health issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, especially in recent pandemic years (Meherali et al., 2021). This study employed a non-experimental, quantitative analysis utilizing online close-ended survey questions. The type of …

Exercise As An Intervention For Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Kylie P. Mistretta

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To illustrate the applications of exercise for preventing the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and addressing associated risk factors identified in the literature. Data Sources: PubMed and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier were accessed using the search terms exercise OR physical activity OR yoga AND postpartum depression OR postnatal depression. A secondary search of PubMed was conducted using the search terms exercise AND pregnancy AND depression OR gestational diabetes OR weight gain OR sleep quality.

Study Selection: Studies selected for inclusion were peer-reviewed, published after January 2012, written in English, and relevant to the PPD risk factors examined. Only clinical …

Maternal Dysbiosis Produces Long-Lasting Behavioral Changes In Offspring, Jacob Hudobenko, Claudia M Di Gesù, Patrick R Mooz, Joseph Petrosino, Nagireddy Putluri, Bhanu P Ganesh, Kristen Rebeles, Frank W Blixt, Venugopal R Venna, Louise D Mccullough

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advanced maternal age (AMA) is defined as a pregnancy in a woman older than 35 years of age. AMA increases the risk for both maternal and neonatal complications, including miscarriage and stillbirth. AMA has also been linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders in the offspring. Recent studies have found that age-associated compositional shifts in the gut microbiota contribute to altered microbial metabolism and enhanced inflammation in the host. We investigated the specific contribution of the maternal microbiome on pregnancy outcomes and offspring behavior by recolonizing young female mice with aged female microbiome prior to pregnancy. We discovered that pre-pregnancy colonization …

Perception Of Mental Health Among Students In Higher Education, Kasibah Baig, Leia Aguilar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health in higher education environments is a topic that has the need for exploration and discussion. Students with poor mental health face additional stressors and challenges in their academic and personal areas of life. It is critical for colleges and universities to address the topic of mental health and understand how it can affect students, as well as to be able to provide the proper support and services. By having more conversations about mental health on campus and providing easily accessible and inclusive resources for students, it can create a comfortable environment on campus for students to be able …

The Impact Of Attachment Education On Families With Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Proposed Workshop, Sabrina S. Stone-Smith

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

For young children with autism spectrum disorder, one important determinant of later social and emotional functioning is the development of a secure attachment. While there is extensive literature outlining the benefits of attachment security, there is a limited number of studies specifically examining programs intended to increase attachment security in this population. This project aims to create a four-session workshop designed to provide caregivers of children in this population with information about attachment theory and parental sensitivity in order to increase the amount of positive and emotionally validating experiences in child-caregiver interactions while reducing parental stress. Future research is necessary …

Adolescent Identity And Belongingness: Using Arts-Based Participatory Action Research, Vivian Boyer, Kam Brooks, Emily Camp, Hannah Checkwicz-Grosberg, Jenna Newman, Renee O’Connor, Jacqueline Tardie

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the concepts of empathy and belonging through the collaborative creative arts process among high school-aged girls at an all-girls Catholic school in Los Angeles County, California. Employing a Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework, researchers and participants collaborated as co-researchers, founded on the principles of cross-cultural art therapy and in the hope of fostering youth advocacy. In partnership with the school community and institution, as well as supported by an Anti-Hate grant from The Jenesse Center, this study examines the intersectional identities of participants and how empathy and belonging can be affected through the art-making process. The project …

The Role Of Self Esteem Upon The Recovery Of Eating Disordered Patients, Samanta Flores Velazquez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Eating disorders such as anorexia-nervosa, bulimia-nervosa, and binge-eating disorders are detrimental to overall health and well-being. The demands of beauty ideals and attitudes impact young adults negatively as they attempt to meet societal beauty standards. The need for approval, fitting in with the community, and confidence drive the behaviors of people in negative ways. In recent years, the modernization of social media has contributed to dieting cultures, the thin ideal, harmful weight-loss practices, and the cycle to use the body as a means to control or repent. External factors affect the risk of eating disorders which contribute to the challenge …

Investigating Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Signatures Of Opioid-Induced Risk-Taking Behavior, Cana Quave

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder occurs alongside impaired risk-related decision-making, but the underlying neural correlates are unclear. We developed an approach-avoidance conflict task using a modified conditioned place preference procedure to study neural signals of risky opioid seeking in the prefrontal cortex, a region implicated in executive decision-making. Following morphine conditioned place preference, rats underwent a conflict test in which fear-inducing cat odor was introduced in the previously drug-paired side of the apparatus. While the saline-exposed control group avoided cat odor, the morphine group included two subsets of rats that either maintained a preference for the paired side despite the presence of …

Investigating The Role Of The Hypocretin/Orexin System In A Novel Model Of Polysubstance Dependence, Tyler Zarin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUD) in the United States are steadily increasing. Potent and dangerous substances such as methamphetamine (MA) and fentanyl (FEN) are often co-used as a polysubstance (POLY), either intentionally or unknowingly as FEN is a common adulterant. SUD is characterized by physiological and psychological dependence involving the negative reinforcement of anhedonia and withdrawal which drive hypermotivated drug-taking behaviors. Current theory suggests that recruitment of hypocretin/orexin (HCRT) neuropeptide in reward and stress associated brain regions contributes to drug dependence. Despite strong evidence for HCRT’s role in mono-drug dependence, a relevant model for POLY dependence has yet to be developed, …

#Helpplz: Mental Health Representation In Theatre For Young Audiences, Kate Elizabeth Dirrigl

Theses and Dissertations

#HELPPLZ is a play for young theater audiences that depicts four teenagers with various mental health challenges. It’s target audience is for children ages ten to fifteen and should be performed by actors of similar ages. #HELPPLZ is an immersive theatre experience, as a audience members watch four actors perform from four different lifestyles and point of views, all while broadcast on screens behind the actors. Every seat is a good seat in the house. This play follows a shift in trends of mental health depiction in contemporary theatre. No longer demonized and much more accessible, plays such as Dear …

Beyond Opioids: The Role Of Polysubstance Exposure In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment And Hospitalization, Caelyn Harrison

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the impact of prenatal polysubstance exposure, specifically focusing on the need for pharmacological treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the duration of their hospital stay. A retrospective analysis of 462 infants, including 121 exposed to polysubstances during pregnancy, showed significant associations between polysubstance exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure were more likely to require pharmacological treatment for NAS (52.8%) compared to non-exposed infants (38.7%), as determined by chi-square analysis (χ²(1, N = 462) = 7.36, p = .007). Additionally, infants exposed to polysubstances experienced longer hospital stays on average (M = 14.88 …

Addiction In The Prison System: Recidivism And Alternatives, Daniel R. Bowers

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States criminal justice system has the highest number of incarcerated individuals in the world, with nearly 2 million people currently being behind bars, and around 7.5 million arrests per year according to the most recent available statistics. A key factor in this is addiction, specifically substance use disorders. Between 58% to 68% of adults arrested are addicted to one or more substances, with 68% of drug involved individuals being rearrested within three years of being released. This recidivism rate is incredibly high, and when combined with current prison and jail overcrowding, has created massive problems for the United …

#Toomuchcontent: A Quantitative Analysis On Social Media Time Usage And Its Impact On Young Adult Anxiety And/Or Depression In The United States, Sarah Juarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As technology continues to advance and grow, society has seen a surge in popularity of various social media sites. Social media has become increasingly popular among young adults, with some spending over 10 hours each day on social media. Social media can be utilized for community building, fostering relationships, providing safe spaces, inspiration, creative expression, and may even provide users with acceptance, validation, and a sense of belonging. Considering these factors, social media may also affect individuals negatively— specifically mental health-wise, in terms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to identify whether a correlation exists between time spent on …

An Examination Of The Role Of Recreational Therapy In Forensic And Correctional Settings, Sarah R. Fischer

All Dissertations

The estimated prevalence of adults, age 18 and older, with serious mental illness (SMI) in the United States is approximately 6% (NIMH, 2022a). Having a mental illness places individuals at higher risk for arrest and incarceration (NAMI, n.d.b) where they receive treatment, including recreational therapy (RT) in state hospitals, jails or prisons. The purpose of this multi-method study was to gain a better understanding of the role of RT in treating adults with SMI in forensic and correctional settings. A non-standardized 122-item cross-sectional survey (n=49) was used to identify what interventions recreational therapists are using, for what intended outcomes; and …

A Comprehensive Literature Review Of Barriers And Facilitators To Alcohol Use Disorder Screening And Treatment, Lizette M. Orihuela

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) remains a significant public health issue with extensive personal, societal, and economic impacts. Recent studies indicate that no amount of alcohol consumption is entirely safe, linking it directly to increased chronic disease risks, including cancer. Despite well-documented negative health outcomes, clear guidance on what constitutes AUD through diagnostic criteria provided by the DSM-5, AUD continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Objectives: This comprehensive literature review explores the key barriers and facilitators influencing AUD screening and treatment engagement.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, gathering from various databases including, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Google Scholar, and …

"Alone I Can't, But Together We Can": A Photovoice Study To Explore Insights Of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Aot) From Providers Working With Individuals With Serious Mental Illness (Smi)., Monica G. Urquieta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a court-ordered mental health treatment program for individuals with SMI (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia) who have a history of noncompliance with treatment and are at risk of deteriorating or causing harm to themselves or others. This dissertation examined the perceptions and experiences of thirteen providers (lawyers, judges, case managers, psychiatrists, housing navigators, treatment guardians, nurse practitioners, therapists and peer support specialists with lived experience) on the AOT program for clients with SMI; and the environments that shape these perceptions, taking into account a system and community-based approach focusing on how the unique …

The Relationships Between Behavioral And Sociocultural Constructs And Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends) And Cannabis Patterns In Hispanic Young Adult University Students, Kevin Sandoval Medina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of both electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cannabis has contributed to a concerning trend of dual usage, posing a greater public health risk, particularly pronounced among at-risk populations of increased substance use, such as Hispanic young adult college students. This study utilized the socioecological framework and social cognitive theory to observe behavioral and sociocultural constructs associated with dual use and identify potential risk and protective factors. Four hundred and twenty-one Hispanic young adult university students completed a cross-sectional survey assessing sociodemographics, depression, anxiety, stress, familism, acculturation, self-efficacy, and past month dual use and dual use recency of …

Neuroimaging-Based Variability In Subtyping Biomarkers For Psychiatric Heterogeneity, Zhenfu Wen, Mira Z Hammoud, Carole E Siegel, Eugene M Laska, Duna Abu-Amara, Amit Etkin, Mohammed R Milad, Charles R Marmar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroimaging-based subtyping is increasingly used to explain heterogeneity in psychiatric disorders. However, the clinical utility of these subtyping efforts remains unclear, and replication has been challenging. Here we examined how the choice of neuroimaging measures influences the derivation of neuro-subtypes and the consequences for clinical delineation. On a clinically heterogeneous dataset (total n = 566) that included controls (n = 268) and cases (n = 298) of psychiatric conditions, including individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and comorbidity of both (PTSD&TBI), we identified neuro-subtypes among the cases using either structural, resting-state, or task-based measures. The …

The Efficacy Of Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Chatbots In Brief Gratitude And Self-Affirmation Interventions: Evidence From Two Exploratory Experiments, Jing Wen Hung, Andree Hartanto, Adalia Y.H. Goh, Zoey K.Y. Eun, K. T. A. Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Zhi Xuan Lee, Nadyanna M. Majeed

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Numerous studies have demonstrated that positive psychology interventions, including brief interventions, can significantly improve well-being outcomes. These findings are particularly important given that many of these interventions are brief and self-administered, making them both accessible and scalable for large populations. However, the efficacy of positive psychology interventions is often constrained by small effect sizes. In light of advancements in generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), this study explored whether integrating AI chatbots into positive psychology interventions could enhance their efficacy compared to traditional self-administered approaches. Study 1 examined the efficacy of a gratitude intervention delivered through Snapchat's My AI, while Study 2 …

Misconceptions Among Mental Health Treatment Providers About Ocd And Ptsd, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Gabriella T Ponzini, Gianna M Colombo, Carmen P Mclean, Terri L Fletcher, Natalie E Hundt, Lauren P Wadsworth, Nathaniel Van Kirk, Stephanie Y Wells, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share overlapping features for which similar cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) strategies can be employed. However, the comorbid presence of these conditions poses unique clinical considerations, and a nuanced approach to assessment, conceptualization, and treatment is needed when working with individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD. Treatment providers may not be aware of these nuances and may hold misconceptions about co-occurring OCD and PTSD, impacting their approach to assessment, conceptualization, and treatment. The current study sought to examine possible misconceptions among mental health treatment providers of differing specializations. Among 146 primarily CBT-oriented treatment …

Circulating Epstein-Barr Virus Antibody Levels As A Biomarker Of Socioecological Adversity In Amazonian Ecuador, Tyler M Barrett, Melissa A Liebert, Geeta N Eick, Julia G Ridgeway-Diaz, Felicia C Madimenos, Aaron D Blackwell, Tara J Cepon-Robins, Samuel S Urlacher, Lawrence S Sugiyama, J Josh Snodgrass

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Circulating Epstein-Barr virus antibodies (EBV-Ab) are used as a biomarker of chronic stress in high-income settings, but their relevance in environments with a high burden of infectious disease, nutritional constraints, and limited resources is less clear. We investigated EBV-Ab as a biomarker of adversity in a setting where local ecology and economy may affect immune development differently than in wealthy countries.

Methods: We measured EBV-Ab in finger-prick dried blood spots collected from Indigenous Shuar (n = 433) and non-Indigenous Colonos (n = 84) ranging from < 1 to 87 years old in Amazonian Ecuador. For a subset of adults (≥ 15 years, n = 210), we collected socioeconomic information (income, education, and occupation) and assessed household-level market integration. We determined the most important predictors of EBV-Ab for adults and children using multi-model averaging of linear regression models.

Results: Male children (< 15 years) had lower EBV-Ab than female children (model averaged β [SE]: -0.238 [0.066]). For adults, Shuar had higher EBV-Ab than Colonos (model averaged β [SE]: 0.235 [0.113]), and high systolic blood pressure was an important predictor of elevated EBV-Ab (model averaged β [SE]: 0.088 [0.047]). Individuals who reported unpaid domestic work as their primary occupation had higher EBV-Ab than agricultural workers (model averaged β [SE]: 0.302 [0.113]). Individuals living in houses with more market-sourced infrastructure had lower EBV-Ab (model averaged β [SE]: -0.088 [0.068]).

Conclusions: Circulating EBV-Ab may capture context-specific aspects of socioecological adversity …

A Co-Design Approach To Develop A Motivational Intervention To Promote Physical Activity Engagement And Maintenance Among Individuals In Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings, Sascha Thal, Stephen Bright, Nikos Ntoumanis, Bronwyn Myers, Jocelyn Jones, Eleanor Quested

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Substance use disorders (SUDs) pose a significant public health concern. Preliminary research suggests benefits of physical activity (PA) for individuals receiving SUD treatment. However, current PA interventions have limitations, particularly regarding PA maintenance, due to motivational issues among people with SUDs. Our co-designed intervention is the first to target PA motivation for sustaining PA in individuals with SUDs. We employed the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to co-design an intervention to increase PA motivation and support PA maintenance among people in residential SUD treatment. The BCW process involved semi-structured interviews with people with lived or living experience (n = 5) and …

Healthy Food, Healthy Future: Equitable Nutrition Access, Daisy Paredes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

While homelessness is a major global health issue, those without a place to live should have easy access to nutritional foods and medical care; otherwise, they risk developing long-term physical and mental health effects caused by circumstances beyond their control. The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz builds bridges to ensure everyone has access to resources and opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, identity, immigration status, and other aspects of one’s identity. The capstone project enhances physical health by coordinating a weekly food distribution event for unhoused individuals in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. This allows us to reduce …

Navacaprant, A Novel And Highly Selective Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist, In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Phase 2 Clinical Trial, Sanjay J Mathew, Andrew J Cutler, Nicole C Visitacion, Michael Gold, Jason Yuan, Bill Aurora

Staff and Researcher Publications

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: This phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trial assessed the efficacy and safety of navacaprant, a highly selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist, in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODS/PROCEDURES: Participants with 17-Item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores of 14 to 30 were randomized 1:1 to once-daily navacaprant 80 mg or placebo (n = 102 each). The primary endpoint was HAMD-17 change from baseline (CFB) to week 8. Secondary endpoints included CFB in Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). No adjustment for multiple comparisons was made.

FINDINGS/RESULTS: At week 8, HAMD-17 CFB was not statistically significantly improved with navacaprant vs …