Digital Commons Network^™

Who Cares? Suicide And Christian Pastoral Intervention, Debra Kay Averitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The fallen world we live in presents challenges that often seem too much to bear. How we view those challenges depends not only on our worldview but also on our interpretation of it. These same beliefs help determine if, when, and to whom we go for help. Beliefs and worldviews also drive those who provide help, making the decision of who to see that much more important. This study addresses the dispute between pastoral and secular counseling—Who is better prepared to treat individuals presenting with severe distress? In essence, this quantitative survey is a letter to the churches asking pastors …

Do Support Groups Mitigate The Effects Of Imposter Syndrome?, Tyler Barnes, Meranda Mayer

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills. Small support groups utilized in an academic environment could prove to be effective in mitigating the effects of imposter syndrome. A total of 4 articles were individually reviewed and included for meta-analysis. Each study was conducted on students studying medicine and utilized support groups at the core of their intervention for combating imposter syndrome and improving overall psychological wellness. Results were based on surveys and yielded an overall positive response from …

Depression And Parenting: A Mixed Method Analysis Of Some Protective Factors For Depression Among African American Fathers Using A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach, Tatiana Tchouankam

Theses & Dissertations

In the United States (US), African American (AA) men often face oppression, discrimination, negative interactions with the justice system, and significant economic, neighborhood, and social hardships over their life course. These challenges increase the risk of chronic exposure to stressful events with negative mental health outcomes, such as depression. Most of the research on parenting and parental depression has focused on mothers based on the premise that women are more often primary caregivers for their children, especially during early childhood. However, a growing number of fathers take on childcare responsibilities. Despite dealing with different life stressors and negative circumstances, AA …

Empowering Nurses To Recognize Post-Stroke Depression In The African American Community, Deidra Frisbie, Robin Simon

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

African Americans (AA) have the highest prevalence of stroke and death compared to other racial groups in the United States. Post-stroke depression (PSD) affects approximately 1/3 of all stroke patients and is underdiagnosed in the African American community.

Aim: By using a mHealth mobile app and a Psychiatry provider list at discharge, PSD can be identified, and interventions initiated, thus decreasing the sequela of PSD in AA.

Methods: Nurses were provided education on PSD, expressions of depression in African-Americans, cultural humility, implicit bias, and the importance of the nurse's role in developing a therapeutic relationship.

Results: Quantitative analysis revealed the …

The Association Between Physical Pain, Depression, Anxiety, And Nervios Among Latinx Agricultural Workers, Iveth Cuellar Celallos

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical pain, chronic pain, socio-cultural factors and mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and nervios among Latinx agricultural workers. Survey data were collected in Northern California (N = 104). The sample of Latinx agricultural workers consisted of 47 (45.2%) female and 57 (54.8%) male respondents. The average age of participants was 43.13 years (SD = 14.37). Over half of participants were married (60.6%). The majority of participants (95.2%) reported Mexico as their country of origin. Most (85.6%) participants reported currently working in agriculture. Two hierarchical multiple linear regressions …

Masculinity And Depression: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Counseling Literature’S Recommendations On Caring For Men From 2012-2021, Jean Taylor

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study examined how the counseling literature between the years of 2012-2021 addressed the diagnosis and treatment for men with depression. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was used to examine four publications of the American Counseling Association: Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD), Journal of Humanistic Counseling (JHC), Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development (JMCD), and Counselor Education and Supervision (CES). Four research questions guided the study: 1. How many articles in the selected counseling journals focus on men and depression between 2012 and 2021, and what percentage of the total articles do they represent? 2. What specific types of studies …

Tiam1-Mediated Synaptic Plasticity Underlies Comorbid Depression-Like And Ketamine Antidepressant-Like Actions In Chronic Pain, Qin Ru, Yungang Lu, Ali Bin Saifullah, Francisco A Blanco, Changqun Yao, Juan P Cata, De-Pei Li, Kimberley F Tolias, Lingyong Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chronic pain often leads to depression, increasing patient suffering and worsening prognosis. While hyperactivity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) appears to be critically involved, the molecular mechanisms underlying comorbid depressive symptoms in chronic pain remain elusive. T cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) is a Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that promotes dendrite, spine, and synapse development during brain development. Here, we show that Tiam1 orchestrates synaptic structural and functional plasticity in ACC neurons via actin cytoskeleton reorganization and synaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) stabilization. This Tiam1-coordinated synaptic plasticity underpins ACC hyperactivity and drives chronic pain-induced depressive-like behaviors. …

The Mediating Effect Of Caregiving Relationship Quality On The Association Between Caregiving Stressors And Mental Health Problems Among Older Spousal Caregivers, Fei Wang, Elliane Irani

Faculty Scholarship

Providing care to a spouse can be especially challenging for older adults given their compounding stressors resulting from aging and caregiving. This cross-sectional study examines the relationships between caregiving stressors and caregiver mental health problems and the potential mediator (i.e., caregiving relationship quality) of these associations. A total of 431 Americans (≥65 years) were selected from the National Study of Caregiving. Path analysis shows that care assistance was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, and this association was mediated by negative relationship quality (Indirect effect =.14, p =.016). Moreover, role overload was positively associated with caregiver mental health problems, …

Depression Secondary To Isotretinoin – A Case Report, Rohan Karkra, Megha Sadashiv, Kishor M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Depression is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the world and significantly affects the lives of people suffering from it. The exact cause of depression has not been established and it is believed to be a complex play between various social, biological, environmental, personal factors. A relatively rare but distinct cause includes pharmacological agents.

In this case report, we describe the case of a 17-year-old girl who developed depression with psychotic symptoms on two occasions, both preceded by a history of Isotretinoin use. She was admitted and treated with anti-psychotics and psychotherapy with significant improvement in her mental …

A Novel Test Of Emotion Recognition Bias Using Dynamic Facial Morphing, Michael R. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

Depressed persons have demonstrated emotion based cognitive biases, specifically surrounding vigilance of negative information and avoidance of positivity. These biases are sometimes operationalized through emotion recognition tasks. However, previous emotion recognition tasks lack in their ability to accurately measure and decompose positivity avoidance with enhanced negativity, while accounting for basic cognitive processes that can drive the results. Therefore, we developed a novel emotion recognition task that examines emotional intensity thresholds, while accounting for general response bias. Linear mixed effects modeling revealed substantial individual differences on all conditions in the task, using both frequentist and Bayesian approaches. Additionally, the findings suggest …

Body Image Dissatisfaction In Correlation With Self-Efficacy And Depression, Nate Burden

Student Works

This literature review focuses on the topic of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and self efficacy/esteem. I aimed to review the association between the two. Multiple databases were included, primarily utilizing terms such as “self-esteem” “Body image dissatisfaction” “depression” and “Self-efficacy”. Results review the various factors of body image dissatisfaction. These factors included aspects of appearance in various regions of the body, but primarily through weight and body shape. I reviewed the association and comparison of depression with body image dissatisfaction. The goal was in identifying the cause effect relationship between the two leading to the next part of the study. …

The Effects Of Social Media On Internalizing Disorders In Adolescents, Deziree Wiegmann

Counselor Education Capstones

This platforms capstone project paper is about the effects that social media or advanced technology platforms has on young individuals. Many articles were reviewed, which included research studies on the prevalence of social media usage by adolescents, along with its negative and positive effects on their development. This topic is important for counselors to review in order to treat young clients that struggle with depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, etc. For counselors and other professionals who work with adolescents, it would be important to look at the data, which has helped derive what treatment approaches may be the most effective and …

Retrospective Evaluation Of Depression Screening Process Among Older Adult Patients In Primary Care For Quality Improvement., Ashley Dru Larson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Depression is not a normal process of aging; it is a diagnosable and treatable medical condition. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that older adults be screened for depression annually.

Aim: The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to evaluate the depression screening process for older adults (age 65+) in a primary health care setting and provide recommendations to the primary health care clinic for improving it.

Methods: This EBP project involved collecting retrospective data from August to October 2022, including aggregate data (demographics), from all older adults who were seen in …

Sleep To Reduce Incident Depression Effectively (Stride): Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Stepped-Care Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia Versus Sleep Education Control To Prevent Major Depression, Christopher L. Drake, David A. Kalmbach, Philip Cheng, Brian K. Ahmedani, Edward L. Peterson, Christine L. M. Joseph, Thomas Roth, Kelley M. Kidwell, Chaewon Sagong

Sleep Medicine Articles

BACKGROUND: Prevention of major depressive disorder (MDD) is a public health priority. Strategies targeting individuals at elevated risk for MDD may guide effective preventive care. Insomnia is a reliable precursor to depression, preceding half of all incident and relapse cases. Thus, insomnia may serve as a useful entry point for preventing MDD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as the first-line treatment for insomnia, but widespread implementation is limited by a shortage of trained specialists. Innovative stepped-care approaches rooted in primary care can increase access to CBT-I and reduce rates of MDD.

METHODS/DESIGN: We propose a large-scale stepped-care clinical …

Changes In Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Stres, And Food Security Among Study Participants With Metabolic Syndrome During A Covid-19-Mandated Research Pause, Barbara A. Lohse, Anahi Ramirez, Jenna Hickey, Lisa Bailey-Davis, Betty Drees, Kevin S. Masters, Elizabeth H. Ruder, Nicole Trabold

Articles

Introduction: This study explored how food security, perceived stress and mental health of persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS) changed in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online survey was administered to persons enrolled in a 2-year lifestyle intervention trial to reverse metabolic syndrome at baseline; the survey was repeated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes were a change in depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and food security as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-8, Cohen Stress Scale, and USDA 10-item Food Security Screener. Changes in outcomes were analyzed with measures of association, paired t-test, repeated measures and independent t-test.

Results: Participants (n = …

Assessing Cognitive Flexibility With The Id/Ed Set-Shifting Task In Rats Modeling Depression, Hannah Orndorff, Rachael Arnold, Caroline Gheen, Grace Gray, Christopher Toepfer, Ivy Heusmann

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Previous research has shown cognitive capabilities either increase or decrease risk factors of depression, there is a gap in research on the effects depression has on cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility controls the appropriate way to respond to changing thoughts, behaviors, and environmental signals. Higher performing cognitive flexibility is associated with positive life outcomes (Dajani & Uddin, 2015). Therefore, there is a need to further understand the impacts depression can have on cognitive flexibility. The intra-dimensional extra-dimensional (ID/ED) set-shifting task is utilized in the present study to measure cognitive flexibility in rats modeling depression due to unlimited sucrose consumption in adolescence. …

Implementing The Depression Screening Tool Phq-9 In The Annual Wellness Exam Of Concierge Family Medicine, Eric Iglesias

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Abstract

Background: Depression has been one of the most common mental health disorders that our population fact but is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Primary care providers are often the first line of defense in detecting depression. Because of this, implementing a depression screening tool in a primary care setting will improve holistic management of care and improve quality of life.

Project Aim: The aim of this project was to increase the number of clients who are evaluated for depression by using the PHQ-9 screening tool during their annual wellness exam and initiate treatment according to the Veteran’s Affairs/Department of Defense Depression …

Interpersonal Psychotherapy’S Problem Areas As An Organizing Framework To Understand Depression And Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Kenyan Pregnant And Parenting Adolescents: A Qualitative Study, Manasi Kumar, Obadia Yator, Vincent Nyongesa, Martha Kagoya, Shillah Mwaniga, Joseph Kathono, Isaiah Gitonga, Nancy Grote, Helena Verdeli, Keng Yen Huang

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Peripartum adolescents experience signifcant interpersonal transitions in their lives. Depression and emotional distress are often exacerbated by adolescents’ responses to these interpersonal changes. Improved understanding of pregnancy-related social changes and maladaptive responses to these shifts may inform novel approaches to addressing the mental health needs of adolescents during the perinatal period. The paper aims to understand the sources of psychological distress in peripartum adolescents and map these to Interpersonal Psychotherapy’s (IPT) problem areas as a framework to understand depression.

Method: We conducted interviews in two Nairobi primary care clinics with peripartum adolescents ages 16–18 years (n=23) with …

Implementing Screening For Depression And Anxiety For Patients With Thyroid Disease, Sarah Maria Drake

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Thyroid dysfunctions are the most common endocrine-specific disorders found in the clinic setting. Symptoms of hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism overlap with anxiety/depression symptoms. Research shows a relationship between individuals with thyroid disorders and people with anxiety/depression. Mental health disorders are typically managed in the primary care setting. However, screening for depression and anxiety are low in primary care settings and often go unidentified. Purpose: To implement validated, evidence-based depression and anxiety screening tools in a Texas endocrine clinic to improve the management of patients with concomitant thyroid and mental health disorders. Objectives: The project objectives include initiating screening for anxiety/depression and referral …

Innate Lymphoid Cells In Depression: Current Status And Perspectives, Amit Kumar Madeshiya, Anilkumar Pillai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The recent discovery of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has provided new insights into our understanding of the pathogenesis of many disease conditions with immune dysregulation. Type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) induce type I immunity and are characterized by the expression of signature cytokine IFN-γ and the master transcription factor T-bet; ILC2s stimulate type II immune responses and are defined by the expression of signature cytokines IL-5 and IL-13, and transcription factors ROR-α and GATA3; ILC3s requires the transcription factor RORγt and produce IL-22 and IL-17. ILCs are largely tissue-resident and are enriched at barrier surfaces of the mammalian body. …

International Pooled Patient-Level Meta-Analysis Of Ketamine Infusion For Depression: In Search Of Clinical Moderators, Rebecca B Price, Nicholas Kissel, Andrew Baumeister, Rebecca Rohac, Mary L Woody, Elizabeth D Ballard, Carlos A Zarate, William Deakin, Chadi G Abdallah, Adriana Feder, Dennis S Charney, Michael F Grunebaum, J John Mann, Sanjay J Mathew, Bronagh Gallagher, Declan M Mcloughlin, James W Murrough, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Rebecca Mcmillan, Rachael Sumner, George Papakostas, Maurizio Fava, Rebecca Hock, Jennifer L Phillips, Pierre Blier, Paulo Shiroma, Peter Šóš, Tung-Ping Su, Mu-Hong Chen, Mikael Tiger, Johan Lundberg, Samuel T Wilkinson, Meredith L Wallace

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Depression is disabling and highly prevalent. Intravenous (IV) ketamine displays rapid-onset antidepressant properties, but little is known regarding which patients are most likely to benefit, limiting personalized prescriptions. We identified randomized controlled trials of IV ketamine that recruited individuals with a relevant psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., unipolar or bipolar depression; post-traumatic stress disorder), included one or more control arms, did not provide any other study-administered treatment in conjunction with ketamine (although clinically prescribed concurrent treatments were allowable), and assessed outcome using either the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale or the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17). Individual patient-level data for at least …

Hispanic/Latino Mothers Of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Identifying Factors Associated With Practicing Self-Care And Mental Health Outcomes, Jessica Gutierrez

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Caring for a child with developmental disabilities can be challenging, exhausting, and overwhelming for many parents. The level of care that a child with disabilities requires can be intense, resulting in stress and negatively impacting caregivers' mental health. Many Hispanic/Latino mothers of children with developmental disabilities are not practicing self-care or using support services; thus, the mothers may experience high stress, depression, and anxiety. Previous research studies have found adverse psychological effects such as high levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. This quantitative study sought to identify the gaps and barriers Hispanic/Latino mothers of children with developmental disabilities encounter when …

Storytelling To Promote Mental Health: A Conceptual Analysis And Application With Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Depression, Carter H. Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mental health treatments can be delivered in many ways. One approach is to use storytelling to communicate healthy practices. While societies across the world have engaged in storytelling for thousands of years, these practices have been used less in the mental health field. The aim of this project was to study the overlap between the areas of mental health and storytelling. We also tested how a storytelling-based mental health treatment could help solve a particular clinical problem. In this case, the problem of people who receive inadequate help for managing depression through medication alone.

We examined one particular mental health …

Assessment Of Disease Severity And Quality Of Life In Patients With Atopic Dermatitis From South Korea, Sang Wook Son, Ji Hyun Lee, Jiyoung Ahn, Sung Eun Chang, Eung Ho Choi, Tae Young Han, Yong Hyun Jang, Hye One Kim, Moon-Bum Kim, You Chan Kim, Hyun Chang Ko, Joo Yeon Ko, Sang Eun Lee, Yang Won Lee, Bark-Lynn Lew, Chan Ho Na, Chang Ook Park, Chun Wook Park, Kui Young Park, Kun Park, Young Lip Park, Joo Young Roh, Young-Joon Seo, Min Kyung Shin, Sujin Lee, Sang Hyun Cho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Data illustrating the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on lives of adults with AD in South Korea are limited.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the AD disease severity and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients with AD from South Korea.

METHODS: Patients with AD utilizing the specialist dermatology services of major hospitals in South Korea were assessed for disease severity using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, for QoL using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (for QoL), and for comorbidities and treatment experience via retrospective review of 12-month medical records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also measured. …

Dysregulation Of Complement System In Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Mini Review, Danny Perez Sierra, Ashutosh Tripathi, Anilkumar Pillai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Complement system is one of the most important defense mechanisms of the innate immune system. In addition to their roles in immune regulation, complement proteins are also involved in neurodevelopment and adult brain plasticity. Complement dysregulation has been shown in neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder as well as in mood disorders. A number of clinical as well as genetic studies suggest the role of complement proteins in the cortical thinning and excessive synaptic pruning frequently associated with schizophrenia. The changes in complement proteins are also associated with the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder, major depressive disorder and …

Association Between Depression, Happiness, And Sleep Duration: Data From The Uae Healthy Future Pilot Study, Mitha Al Balushi, Sara Al Balushi, Syed Javaid, Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, Fatma Al-Maskari, Mohammed Al-Houqani, Ayesha Al Dhaheri, Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Abdullah Al Junaibi, Naima Oumeziane, Marina Kazim, Aisha Al Hamiz, Muna Haji, Ayesha Al Hosani, Leila Abdel Wareth, Wael Almahmeed, Habiba Alsafar, Fatme Alanouti, Eiman Al Zaabi, Claire K. Inman, Omar El Shahawy, Michael Weitzman, Ann Marie Schmidt, Scott Sherman, Abdishakur Abdulle, Amar Ahmad, Raghib Ali

All Works

Background: The United Arab Emirates Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) is one of the first large prospective cohort studies and one of the few studies in the region which examines causes and risk factors for chronic diseases among the nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim of this study is to investigate the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) as a screening instrument for depression among the UAEHFS pilot participants. Methods: The UAEHFS pilot data were analyzed to examine the relationship between the PHQ-8 and possible confounding factors, such as self-reported happiness, and self-reported sleep duration (hours) after adjusting for …

Representations Of Depression And Schizophrenia In The Community: The Role Of Illness And Risk Perceptions On Help-Seeking Intentions, David Dias Neto, Maria João Figueiras, Rita Sebastião

All Works

Illness perceptions (IPs) are important in understanding human reactions to illnesses, including mental health disorders. They influence risk perceptions and several variables relevant to the adjustment to a disorder, treatment seeking, and health outcomes. This study sought to compare IP, risk perception, and help-seeking intention for depression and schizophrenia in a community sample and to assess the mediating role of risk perception in the relationship between IP and help-seeking intention. A total of 380 adults participated in this study and filled out self-report measures of IPs, risk perceptions, and help-seeking intention. The previous diagnosis of depression was used to control …

The Effectiveness Of A Counseling Program Based On Positive Psychology In Reducing Depression Among Orphan Students, Sahar Al-Menshawi

Jerash for Research and Studies Journal مجلة جرش للبحوث والدراسات

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a counseling program based on positive psychology strategies in reducing depression among secondary school students. The sample consisted of (30) students who obtained the lowest marks in the study scale (depression). And distributing them randomly into two groups: a pilot on which the extension program was applied, and a control who was not exposed to the extension program As each group included (15), and the study also relied on the quasi-experimental approach.

To get acquainted with the effectiveness of the counseling program among the students of the study sample, the researcher used …

Effect Of A University Physical Activity Challenge On Levels Of Anxiety, Depression, Stress, And Perceived Dependency Of Wearing A Physical Activity Tracker, Emily M. Jackson, Sarah M. Camhi, Stephanie L. Cooper

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Many studies have researched the benefits of physical activity (PA) and well-being, leading many universities to promote PA on campus. There is limited research on how university-based PA promotion impacts mental health, as well as the impact of wearing a physical activity tracker (PAT) and its potential to create dependency on wearing the device. PURPOSE: To understand the effects of a 4-week campus-wide PA challenge on levels of anxiety, depression, and stress in college students, and the potential dependency effects of wearing a PAT. METHODS: For the duration of the 4-week challenge, 44 undergraduate and 6 graduate students …

Psychometric Properties Of The Sindhi Version Of The Mood And Feelings Questionnaire (Mfq) In A Sample Of Early Adolescents Living In Rural Pakistan, Janavi Shetty, Florence Perquier, Susan C. Campisi, Yaqub Wasan, Madison Aitken, Daphne J. Korczak, Suneeta Monga, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Peter Szatmari, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

There is a need for reliable and valid screening tools that assess depressive symptoms in adolescents in Pakistan. To address this need, the present study examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of a Sindhi-translated and adapted version of the child-report Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-C) and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ-C) in a community sample of adolescents living in Matiari, Pakistan. Questionnaires were translated into Sindhi and administered by study psychologists to 1350 participants (52.3% female) 9.0 to 15.9 years old. Measurement structure was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was estimated, and convergent and divergent …