Digital Commons Network^™

Thought-Action Fusion: Comparative Relationship With Symptoms Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder And Eating Disorders, Samuel Cares

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There are many similarities between the presentations of individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and individuals with eating pathology. These include similar obsessive thoughts, repetitive actions, and shared personality characteristics, such as perfectionism. However, similarities may extend beyond that of DSM-based symptomatology to include an important cognitive process called thought-action fusion (TAF). Thought-action fusion is a construct derived from the OCD literature wherein individuals feel that there may be a connection between their thoughts and real-world outcomes. There has been considerable research illustrating the impact TAF has on individuals with OCD, both in terms of development and maintenance of obsessions and …

The Gut-Brain Axis: Treating Depression Through Microbiome Alterations, Alexandria Bachman-Williams

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• The purpose of this study is to explore the role of gut microbiome alterations in the treatment of anxiety and depression. • There are multiple pathological pathways that lead to the development of anxiety and depression. • Research shows a link between pathologic bacteria and low grade inflammation. This causes a disruption of neurotransmitters that are current targets of pharmacological treatment of depression and anxiety. • Transfer of “pathogenic” bacteria caused increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. • Treatment with probiotics and “protective” bacteria showed decreased BDI scores and improved symptoms. • Studies were small but show need for …

Use Of Marijuana In Those With Anxiety And Depression, Heather Flaa

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

The purpose of this research and literature review was to compare the use of marijuana to SSRIs in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms.

• This literature review searched databases Cochrane, PubMed, Clinical Key, PsycINFO, and DynaMed Plus from the year 1990 and on. Keywords: cannabis, marijuana, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

• Many meta-analyses show SSRIs continue to be first line treatment in those with anxiety and depression in reducing symptoms.

• Patients with marijuana use showed an increased odds ratio of developing anxiety and depression or increasing symptoms in several studies.

• No studies …

Does How One Uses Mindfulness Meditation Matter? : An Experimental Evaluation Of The Acute Impact Of Mindfulness In A Control Vs. Acceptance Context On Anxious Arousal In A Non-Clinical Sample, Eric Daniel Tifft

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Mindfulness meditation has existed in Eastern cultures for thousands of years; nonetheless, its introduction to Western society and psychological science is a recent development. Numerous psychosocial interventions now include mindfulness practice as a core therapeutic intervention. Increasingly, mindfulness and other meditative practices are being promoted within popular culture as strategies to regulate stress, anxiety, and other unpleasant emotional or psychological events. Yet, using mindfulness to regulate and control unwanted private experiences is antithetical to the original intended purpose of such strategies, namely, to observe, welcome and accept private experiences just as they are. Research in emotion regulation and thought suppression …

Alterations In Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 1 In The Hypothalamus And Preoptic Area During The Postpartum Period, Rose Ann M. De Guzman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Despite the apparent sex difference in prevalence of anxiety in humans, pre-clinical studies that have led to anxiolytic drug discoveries between 1960 and 2012 used male animals and approximately 6% of 10,000 studies used female animals. The generalizability of the efficacy of these drugs to both sexes may be limited if data derived are predominantly based on the male brain. The purpose of this dissertation, therefore, was to investigate potential underlying neuronal mechanisms that could be contributing to the sex differences in stress-related mood disorder prevalence and to focus on shedding light on female brains.

Youth With Adhd : The Impact Of The Clinical Anxiety On Neuropsychological Functioning, Elisabeth Jeanne O'Rourke

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Children with ADHD demonstrate significant deficits in certain executive functions (EFs), including visual and verbal working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and sustained attention. Similar deficits have been observed in children with anxiety, however there is less evidence that inhibitory control is worse in these youth. More recently, research has examined the EF of children with comorbid ADHD and anxiety (ADHD + ANX). There is evidence that suggests that anxiety can play both a protective as well as harmful role for EF in these children. The current study sought to explore whether the performance of children with ADHD + ANX …

Image Acquisition And Quality Assurance In The Boston Adolescent Neuroimaging Of Depression And Anxiety Study, Viviana Siless, N. A. Hubbard, Robert Jones, Jonathan Wang, Nicole Lo, Clemens C. C. Bauer, Mathias Goncalves, Isabelle Frosch, Daniel Norton, Genesis Vergara, Kristina Conroy, Flavia Vaz De Souza, Isabelle M. Rosso, Aleena Hay Wickham, Elizabeth Ann Cosby, Megan Pinaire, Dina Hirshfeld-Becker, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Aude Henin, Stefan G. Hofmann, Randy P. Auerbach, Satrajit Ghosh, John Gabrieli, Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli, Anastasia Yendiki

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The Connectomes Related to Human Diseases (CRHD) initiative was developed with the Human Connectome Project (HCP) to provide high-resolution, open-access, multi-modal MRI data to better understand the neural correlates of human disease. Here, we present an introduction to a CRHD project, the Boston Adolescent Neuroimaging of Depression and Anxiety (BANDA) study, which is collecting multimodal neuroimaging, clinical, and neuropsychological data from 225 adolescents (ages 14–17), 150 of whom are expected to have a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety. Our transdiagnostic recruitment approach samples the full spectrum of depressed/anxious symptoms and their comorbidity, consistent with NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). We …

Benefits Of Exercise On Mental Health: Literature Review, Angela Ristau

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Providers diligently educate patients on exercise to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. However, in recent years, providers judiciously educate patients on exercise and its correlation to improving or impacting mental health disorders. Physical activity has been steadily shown to relate to improved physical health, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning, and psychological well-being. A large body of literature examines the impact of physical activity and exercise on mental health. There is a growing interest in the use of exercise in the treatment of depression and anxiety, as a primary option or as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment. …

Is Psilocybin An Effective Treatment To Reduce Depression And Anxiety In Cancer Patients With A Diagnosis Of An Anxiety Disorder, Mood Disorder, And/Or Stress Disorder?, Brooke Reichenbach

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not psilocybin is an effective treatment to reduce depression and anxiety in cancer patients with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or stress disorder.

Study design: Systematic review of three cross-over randomized placebo-controlled trials published in peer reviewed journals between 2010-2016.

Data sources: All articles were published in English and were selected from Cochrane Collaboration and PubMed based on if they were relevant to my clinical question and included patient-oriented outcomes (POEMs).

Outcomes measured: Outcomes measured included self-reported anxiety and depression via the State-Trait Anxiety …

Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Effective In Decreasing Symptoms Of Anxiety For Individuals With Anxiety Disorder?, Ezinne Ifi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is mindfulness-based stress reduction effective in decreasing symptoms of anxiety for individuals with anxiety disorder?”

STUDY DESIGN: A selective review of three peer-reviewed, randomized control trials published after 2008.

DATA SOURCES: All three randomized control trials were published in the English language and were selected from peer-reviewed journals via the PubMed Database based on their relevance to the clinical question posed above and if they included patient-oriented outcomes (POEM).

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All articles analyzed the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in decreasing symptoms of anxiety …

Sleep Behaviors And Thoughts As Links Between Social Rhythmicity And Mental Health Outcomes, Sahar Sabet

Theses and Dissertations

Social rhythmicity refers to the regularity with which one engages in social and lifestyle activities. Considerable research has recognized that social rhythms have important implications for health and well-being. For example, disturbances in social rhythms are one potential factor that may contribute to the development of anxiety and depressive disorders. Existing research on social rhythm irregularity has heavily focused on its link with bipolar disorder and, to a lesser extent, with depression. Less is known about the association of social rhythms with anxiety or with subclinical levels of depression. Furthermore, it is unclear how social rhythms are tied to mental …

Confronting Students’ Personal And Interpersonal Communication Anxieties And Needs Through Constitutive, Experiential Communication Pedagogy, Lawrence R. Frey, Emily Loker

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Today’s college students are experiencing unprecedented high levels of anxiety, resulting in devastating effects. This essay challenges communication educators to respond directly to this significant issue by employing an experiential pedagogy that offers students constitutive opportunities to initiate, experiment with, and receive feedback about new communicative behaviors that will enable them to interact well and achieve positive outcomes in high anxiety-inducing interactions. The essay explicates how that constitutive, experiential pedagogy informs the course “Communication and Human Relations,” enabling students to acquire communication competencies to reduce their anxiety about and to manage effectively their personal and interpersonal communication difficulties.

Predictors Of Employee Engagement In Institutions Of Higher Education, Jessica Marie O'Day

Education

This study investigated predictors of employee engagement at a large public research university. Generally speaking, the typical employee is disengaged at work (Adkins, 2015), and previous research has identified burnout as a contributor to employee disengagement (Maslach et al., 2001). Full-time staff employees volunteered to participate in a four-part survey regarding their levels of employee engagement, burnout, anxiety, and physical activity. Burnout was found to be the most significant predictor of employee engagement or disengagement, however, the results of all four surveys used in the study further exposed the complicated nature of successful employee engagement strategy.

A Qualitative Investigation Into The Influence Of A Mental Health Physical Activity Intervention On University Students, Heather M. Tunks

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Among the university student population, mental illnesses are highly prevalent. Adults aged 20-30 years have the highest rates of mood and anxiety disorders than any other age group, with approximately 12.0% diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and 7.0 to 9.0% experiencing clinical depression (Nunes et al., 2014; Pedrelli, Nyer, Yeung, Zulauf, & Wilens, 2015). Reducing or preventing the effects of mental illness among this population may have lifelong implications including improvements in coping and management of mental illness throughout the lifespan(Jaworska, DeSomma, Fonseka, Heck, & MacQueen, 2016). This research examines the lived experiences of volunteers and participants in a …

Does Overweight/Obesity Moderate The Association Between Adhd And Internalizing Difficulties In Young Adults?, Breanna Badripersaud

Dissertations and Theses

This study’s objective was to investigate if ADHD symptoms and BMI are associated with internalizing impairments of depression, anxiety, stress and lower self-esteem in college students. It was predicted that higher ADHD symptoms would be associated with elevated depression, anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem, especially if BMI fell in the overweight/obese range. Undergraduate students [N= 580; Mean (SD) age= 20.7 (3.10)] from an urban campus completed an online survey comprising self-report measures of demographics, height/weight, attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity (Barkley Deficits Executive Functioning Scale ADHD- Executive Function Index), depression, anxiety, stress (all using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale) and self- …

Does Resilience Moderate The Impact Of Children’S Experiences Of Racial And Ethnic Discrimination On Internalizing Problems?, Dahlia Abbas

Dissertations and Theses

This study’s objectives were to investigate how children’s experiences of discrimination impact the severity of their internalizing symptoms, and whether the relation between discrimination and internalizing symptom severity is moderated by resilience. It was predicted that children who had experienced more discrimination would have more severe internalizing symptoms, especially when they have low levels of resilience. Children [N=20; Mean (SD) age= 11.83 (2.50)] receiving low-cost music lessons in northern Manhattan were recruited into a larger study examining how learning music affects cognitive and emotional development. Children were interviewed in-person about experiences of discrimination because of their race/ethnicity using the Perceptions …

Societal Impacts Of Sports Betting In Colorado, Lawerence Wall Jr.

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Sports betting has become legal in many states across the Unites States after the Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association United States Supreme Court case was ruled in favor of the former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on May 14, 2018. This case overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), allowing state-sponsored sports betting. PASPA was passed by Congress in 1992 to prohibit state-sanctioned sports gambling, except in four states: Delaware, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon, which already established legal sports betting regulations. New Jersey failed to apply in 1991 to be added to the list of exempt states …

Association Between Stigma, Psychological Distress, And Quality Of Life Among People Living With Hiv In Federal Territory Of Kuala Lumpur, Ibrahim Khairiah

Student Works (2020-2029)

Quality of life is an important component in the evaluation of the well-being of PLHIV. However, HIV stigma and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) continue to be a barrier to obtain a good quality of life among PLHIV globally. This study assesses the level of QOL, stigma and psychological distress among PLHIV in Kuala Lumpur by determining the association between QOL, stigma and psychological distress. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 305 PLHIV attendees of the infectious disease clinic in a teaching hospital, primary health clinic and three Community-Based Organisations (CBOs). The sampled respondents completed face to face interviews …

The Fog Of Blackacre: Exploring Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Of The American Law Student, Amanda Carey

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress among first-year law students and the U.S. News and World Report rankings. Surveys using the DASS–21, DREEM questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life scale and qualitative questions were administered to first-year law students at 44 randomly selected law schools across the United States. In the largest modern mental health study to date, responses totaled 5% of the first-year law student population. Results showed no significant relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress of first-year law students and the U.S. News and World Report rankings. Substantial depression, anxiety, and stress of first-year law students …

Construct Validity Of The Teate Depression Inventory: Convergent And Discriminant Validity And Equivalence For Black/African American And White/Caucasian Samples, Dylin Coons

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to replicate the construct validity of a new measure of depression, the Teate Depression Inventory (TDI; Balsamo & Saggino, 2013), with the primary focus on Black/African American participants. Research has purported that Black/African Americans experience inequality in obtaining mental health care for internalizing disorders. This may partially be caused by errors in diagnosing these individuals with symptoms. Correctly diagnosing internalizing disorders is a critical step in obtaining appropriate treatment. More research on depression and anxiety is needed to enhance mental health practices by addressing the need for professionals to be culturally competent and conscious …

The Process Of Therapeutic Change In The Attention Training Technique, Benjamin J. Laman-Maharg

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: An unacceptably large proportion of individuals remain symptomatic after receiving first-line interventions. The attention training technique (ATT) is a potentially effective treatment augmentation and standalone treatment that may help improve the treatment of psychological disorders. The machanisms of therapuetic change of ATT remain understudied. This study is a randomized controlled trial of ATT compared to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) that examined mindfulness and attentional control as potential mechisms of therapeutic change.

Method: A convenience sample of 64 participants (Mage = 20.13, SD = 3.65; 42.2% Male; 64.1% non-Hispanic White; 23.4% Black; 9.4% Hispanic/Latino; 3.1% Other) were randomly assigned to …

Childhood Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And/Or Pharmacological Treatment, Jennifer S. Mccarthy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: Evaluate best practice in managing anxiety in the pediatric population, including both school age children and adolescents. This literature review compared pharmacological treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)’s effectiveness on the management of anxiety within the pediatric population.

Background: Up to 25% of children in the United States are affected by a mental health disorder, anxiety being the most prevalent. Childhood anxiety can have a distressing impact on social, family, and academic functioning. If persisting into adulthood it increases the risk of developing other co-occurring mental health conditions, substance abuse issues, and contributes to impaired employment retention and socioeconomic …

High School Math And Language Arts Teachers’ Experience Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of Anxious Students In High-Poverty, Rural Schools: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Cory W. Strasser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Mental health, and specifically anxiety, is a growing problem significantly impacting the well-being of adolescents in the United States. Thirteen percent of adolescent’s experience anxiety-related disorders annually (Hill, Waite & Creswell, 2016; Peterson, 2018). School districts are critical settings in which to provide the prevention and intervention of anxiety (DeKruyf, Auger & Trice-Black, 2013; Domitrovich, Durlak, Staley & Weissberg, 2017; Lendrum, Humphrey, & Wigelsworth, 2013; Warner et al., 2016). Using transcendental phenomenology, this study drew on the lived experiences of math and language arts teachers to show their perceptions of their role with students experiencing anxiety along with their background …

Fatherhood Too Soon. Anxiety, Depression And Quality Of Life In Fathers Of Preterm And Term Babies: A Longitudinal Study, Ingrid Beatrice Petersen, Julie Anne Quinlivan

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Fathers are increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in the family unit and emotional development of children. The birth of a preterm baby can be confronting, yet there is limited research that explores how preterm birth might impact on father’s emotional wellbeing and quality of life. The aim of the study was to monitor quality of life and psychological wellbeing in a group of fathers to explore if a preterm birth altered outcomes in these two domains.

Methods: Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. Australian men (N = 1000) were recruited in the antenatal period via their …

The Association Between Temperament Features And Childhood Traumas In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, Ali̇şan Burak Yaşar, Ceyhun Sayman, Serap Erdoğan Taycan, Yilmaz Çeti̇nkaya, Anil Gündüz, Hülya Ti̇reli̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological problem that impairs daily activities, functionality, and quality of life. Childhood traumas (CTs) are known to be critical factors in the onset or development of many psychiatric and medical disorders. They also play a critical role in the development of temperament and personality. This study aimed to investigate the association between CTs and common temperament patterns and features seen in epilepsy patients. Materials and methods: The study included 38 patients who were diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and volunteered to participate in the study. In addition to the sociodemographic form and questions …

Covid-19-Related Anxiety In People Living With Hiv: An Online Cross-Sectional Study, Özlem Kuman Tunçel, Hüsnü Pullukçu, Hüseyi̇n Aytaç Erdem, Behi̇ce Kurtaran, Seli̇n Ece Taşbakan, Meltem Taşbakan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had an enormous emotional impact on some vulnerable groups, such as people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV). This study was planned with the aim of assessing the anxiety levels of PLHIV and the sources of their anxiety. Materials and methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent to PLHIV using the virtual snowball sampling method. The questionnaire included questions about sociodemographic status, information about HIV infection, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Additionally, some opinions of the participants about COVID-19 were asked. Results: A total of 307 respondents, with …

Understanding The Comorbidity Of Asthma And Anxiety In Childhood: Characteristics, Vulnerabilities, And Treatment Implications, Nicole Fleischer

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study examined potential differences in youth (aged 7-17 years, 76% Caucasian, 52% female) with comorbid asthma and anxiety compared to youth with anxiety without asthma who received cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alone, pharmacotherapy alone, the combination of pharmacotherapy or placebo pill in the Child/Adolescent Multimodal Study. Two groups were compared on negative self-talk; number of physical symptoms; parental anxiety; content of their worries; and presence of panic, generalized anxiety, and separation anxiety disorders across treatment conditions. Findings indicated that youth with asthma and anxiety were more likely to exhibit higher rates of negative self-talk than youth without asthma, possibly related …

Utilizing Act Daily As A Self-Guided App For Clients Waiting For Services At A College Counseling Center: A Pilot Study, Jack Haegar, Carter H. Davis, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: Considering increasing demands for mental health services at college counseling centers (CCCs), there is a need for cost-effective solutions that avoid depleting stressed CCC resources. This study examined if ACT Daily, a mobile application based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), could serve as an effective self-guided intervention.

Participants: 11 individuals on a CCC waitlist suffering from anxiety/depression participated in the study over 2 weeks.

Methods: This study implemented a pre-post, open trial design of ACT Daily. Assessments were completed at baseline and 2-week post assessment.

Results: Results indicated that ACT Daily was acceptable and that participants improved on …

The Impact Of Cognitive Style, Affectivity, And Mental Toughness On Non-Clinical Symptoms Of Stress, Anxiety, And Depression In College Students, Cristina M. CabañAs Garcia

Theses

The current study aimed to determine whether cognitive style, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and mental toughness (MT) were distinct but related constructs as well as to study the nature of the relationships between the three constructs, and their impact on non-clinical symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Participants completed a paper-pencil version of a measure that assessed cognitive style as well as three self-report questionnaires via Qualtrics that assessed positive and negative affect, individual’s MT, and symptoms of non-clinical depression, anxiety, and life stress. Results indicated that MT was positively related to PA and negatively related to NA. …

Self-Reactive Influences On Simulation Anxiety In Graduate Occupational Therapy Students, Kendal Lee Booker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This pragmatic multiple case, single site research explored the sources and manifestations of simulation anxiety in Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students at a health sciences institution in the Southeastern United States. The study involved five, second-year MOT students who reported experiencing very much simulation anxiety following their first year within their occupational therapy program. Self-reactive influences of challenge, feedback, and self-efficacy were examined. The challenge levels of simulations, the provision of feedback, and the levels of self-efficacy were perceived as acceptable. Sources of simulation anxiety were identified; internal sources included having high personal expectations and external sources involved experiencing …