Digital Commons Network^™

Predictors Of Sleep Quality: Depression, Anxiety, And Sleep Self-Efficacy, Rayanna Johnson

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between depression, anxiety, sleep self-efficacy and sleep quality in college students by using both objective measures and self-report data. Participants included undergraduate students from a small liberal arts college who wore an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT wristband for a period of seven nights. At the end of the seven nights, participants also completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Sleep Self-Efficacy Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results indicated that higher sleep self-efficacy scores were associated with lower anxiety and depression scores. Higher self-reported sleep quality, …

The Influence Of Yoga On Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury Related To Sleep And Mood, Charity Hubbard

All Theses

Sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has a significant effect on an individual’s physical and mental abilities, resulting in decreased independence. Residual effects of TBI often include sleep and mood disorders. Sleep disorders include any disturbance in an individual’s quality of sleep and daytime functioning as a result; while mood disorders include depression, anxiety, and adjustment to injury. Rehabilitation after TBI involves a wide range of therapeutic services of which recreational therapy can serve as a holistic therapy, addressing both the mind and the body. Yoga as a recreational therapy intervention may be used to improve functioning for individuals with …

Multimodal Depression Detection: An Investigation Of Features And Fusion Techniques For Automated Systems, Michelle Renee Morales

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Depression is a serious illness that affects a large portion of the world’s population. Given the large effect it has on society, it is evident that depression is a serious health issue. This thesis evaluates, at length, how technology may aid in assessing depression. We present an in-depth investigation of features and fusion techniques for depression detection systems. We also present OpenMM: a novel tool for multimodal feature extraction. Lastly, we present novel techniques for multimodal fusion. The contributions of this work add considerably to our knowledge of depression detection systems and have the potential to improve future systems by …

Assessing The Ordinality Of Response Bias With Item Response Models: A Case Study Using The Phq-9, Venessa N. Singhroy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Improper scale usage in psychological and clinical assessment is an important problem. If respondents do not use the scales in a consistent manner, the reliability of a composite is likely to be attenuated. This is particularly problematic when particular items are singled out for special treatment or when subscales are of interest, not just a total score. This study used both non-parametric and parametric item response theory (IRT) methods to gain further insight into the validity of the PHQ-9, a dual purpose instrument that assesses the severity of depressive symptoms using nine Likert-scale items and allows the investigator to establish …

Differences In The Role Of Acculturation On The Correlates Of Suicidal Ideation Among Asian Subgroups, Khadijah Ahmad

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Ethnic and racial differences have been acknowledged in the relationship between culture and psychopathology, and acculturation has been associated with risk for suicidal ideation. The present paper examined the relation between acculturation and the correlates of suicide (i.e., hopelessness, depression) among Asian subgroups. Because an emphasis on Asians as a homogenous group obfuscates important ethnic differences that may influence risk for suicide, the present paper sought to highlight differences in risk for suicide among different Asian subgroups. This paper is divided into seven sections that address the role of acculturation and cultural values, norms, and beliefs on the correlates of …

Couple-Based Stress Management Intervention And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Cfs) Biopsychological Processes, Sara F. Milrad

Open Access Dissertations

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that is characterized by heterogeneous, systemic symptoms that impact patients’ and their caregiving partners’ quality of life. Extant literature has found hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and neuroimmune biomarkers associated with the disorder, but the impact of relationship satisfaction and patients’ communication satisfaction about symptoms on these CFS-relevant biological markers and on CFS patients’ CFS symptom severity has not been examined. Like others suffering from incapacitating chronic illnesses, CFS patients are often homebound, on disability, and/or face unemployment; however, people suffering from CFS report significantly less social support and more stigma from society, as …

The Influence Of Visibility On Mental Health Amongst The Muslim Female Population In The United States, Sarika Antora

Theses and Dissertations

Analyses of self reported data of a sample of 222 Muslim American women show that women who are more visibly Muslim have increased symptoms of anxiety and depression because the Hijab makes them more vulnerable to anti-Muslim discrimination and prejudice.

Comparison Of Rates Of Psychotic Experiences, Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety Symptoms, And Common Mental Health Risk Factors Of People Living In Urban And Non-Urban Areas In Indonesia, Edo S. Jaya, Sri Wulandari

Psychological Research on Urban Society

The prevalence of risk factors and symptoms of mental-health problems has been found to be higher in urban than non-urban areas. However, most studies are conducted in developed countries, and we are unsure whether a similar pattern can be observed in a developing country. In the present study, we compared rates of common mental health risk-factors and symptoms of psychosis, depression, and anxiety between urban and non-urban residents. A community sample of 844 participants completed an anonymous cross-sectional online survey. T-tests and Mann-Whitney U Test were used to compare participants’ scores on mental health-risk factors and symptoms based on their …

Thinking Outside The Checkbox: Examining The Benefits Of Depression In The Workplace, Tyler Jensen

Student Works

It is illegal for equal-opportunity employers to ask potential hires about history and status of mental health. To allow employers to provide reasonable accommodation for mental and emotional health concerns, voluntary self-disclosure is permitted by the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), so long as it does not affect the decision to hire. However, as it is in the employer’s best interest to hire strong candidates, the erroneous connection between emotional suffering and inherent weakness has greatly contributed to the stigma against those who experience depressive symptoms. Individuals who experience depressive symptoms are colloquially understood to be incapable of …

Humor And Dance Movement Therapy (Dmt) With Adolescents Dealing With Depression And Anxiety: A Literature Review, Novick Leora

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Researchers have found that anxiety and depression are prevalent diagnoses within the adolescent population, due to increased stressors in several areas of their lives. Research also suggests that humor leads to increased social bonding, and that it can be a powerful tool for encouraging the expression of emotions. Finally, dance movement therapy (DMT) has been found to be a successful practice with adolescents, due to its non-verbal nature and relevance to body image. However, research regarding specific DMT interventions involving humor is lacking. This literature review examines the impact of humor on adolescents with depression and anxiety, and its possible …

Wearable Sensors Outperform Behavioral Coding As Valid Marker Of Childhood Anxiety And Depression, Ellen Mcginnis, Ryan Mcginnis, Jessica Hruschak, Emily Bilek, Ka Ip, Diana Morelen, Jamie Lawler, Kate Fitzgerald, Katherine Rosenblum, Maria Musik

ETSU Faculty Works

There is a significant need to develop objective measures for identifying children under the age of 8 who have anxiety and depression. If left untreated, early internalizing symptoms can lead to adolescent and adult internalizing disorders as well as comorbidity which can yield significant health problems later in life including increased risk for suicide. To this end, we propose the use of an instrumented fear induction task for identifying children with internalizing disorders, and demonstrate its efficacy in a sample of 63 children between the ages of 3 and 7. In so doing, we extract objective measures that capture the …

The Influence Of Hunger On Perceived Mood, Ryan Patrick

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

This study seeks to shine a light on the phenomenon known as “hanger.” The phenomenon suggests as an individual becomes hungry they will, in turn, become angry and also likely to be short tempered. In this study, we surveyed 41 individuals (11 males and 30 females), using the POMS questionnaire, we assess how situational hunger effects the following mood categories; tension, depression, confusion, anger, fatigue, vigor, and a general total mood disturbance. The questionnaire was done online, participants were asked to respond to the 65 question survey as accurately as possible to the way they would feel if a meal …

Impact Of Identity Conflict On Onset Of Depressive Symptoms In Adolescents: A Review, Jamie Humphrey

COLA Research and Creativity Conference

This literature review aimed to investigate the potential relationship between conflicts in identity development and the onset of depression in adolescence. Much of the research on the matter of depression in adolescents is consistent in identifying the many factors that may contribute to the onset of depressive symptoms. These factors include the individual’s sex, tendency to ruminate or co-ruminate during a depressive episode, the awareness of the individual’s social network in regard to the individual’s depression, cultural and ethnic differences, and parental behaviors. The literature review also revealed a variety of environmental factors which may contribute to depression and which, …

A Shocking Solution: Electroconvulsive Therapy And Its Effects On Depression And Other Mental Illnesses, Victoria Cook

BU Well

Mental illness and its treatments continue to be demanding topics requiring the attention of the healthcare community. While pharmaceutical treatments increase in popularity, many people remain unaware of the non-pharmacological options available. One of the available unconventional treatment methods includes electroconvulsive shock therapy, a technique that utilizes bouts of electricity to stimulate anti-depressive behaviors. Although its methods have been disputed for a long time, electroconvulsive shock therapy is a long-standing and effective treatment for depression. Electroconvulsive shock therapy has a dense history which has led to the stigmatization of it as a treatment, and it has credible downsides. Electroconvulsive shock …

Quality Of Life And The Prevalence Of Depression In Cohabitants And Marrieds, Stacey Kayondo

Student Research Posters

Cohabitation has become part of romantic relationships in the United States; cohabitation has become a normal experience for both men and women. With the rapid increase in cohabitation this raises important concerns about its consequences for the institution of marriage and the lives of individuals involved in this family form, as research indicates that cohabiters hold lower levels of commitment, and cohabiters are more likely to be depressed than marrieds( Brown, S.L 2003). Some studies have been done to find out whether marriages are beneficial to one’s mental health, Pro marriage initiatives and policies like tax breaks for married people …

Depressive Symptomology, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, And S100a8/A9 Heterodimer Levels In Post-Surgical Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: Test Of Direct And Indirect Effect, Erica R. Nahin

Open Access Theses

The link between depression and breast cancer outcomes has been a topic of great interest for the last decade and up-regulated inflammatory signaling may be one of the biological mechanisms at play. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between depression severity levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin – 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in tandem with a pathway involving the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) 2-10 weeks post-surgery, and 1 year later. Activation of RAGE by ligands S100A8/A9 can trigger pathways that lead to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. To date, …

The Contributing Factors To Adolescent Depression, Josie H. Lee

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Objective: This paper reviews individual, familial, peer, and societal factors influencing adolescent depression in developed countries. Background: Depression usually onsets at adolescence and contributes to high DALYs. Since depression is treatable, efforts should be made to reduce its prevalence and effect. Methods: The research consisted of looking at literature relevant to the topic and age group and conducting interviews with experts who know about and have worked with adolescent depression. Discussion: Adolescents begins at the onset of puberty, allowing different biological factors such as genetics, stress of puberty, and cognitive changes to increase vulnerability to depression. Adolescents who had substance …

Therapeutic Riding And Psychological Health In Older Adults, Alyssa Pattison, Craig Ashford

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

This project explores the available quantitative and qualitative research to see if there is a link between therapeutic horseback riding and the reduction in symptoms of depression in older adults. Currently, there is a gap in evidence based research surrounding older populations with depression and therapeutic riding. However, research gathered on adolescents and adults suggest that therapeutic riding may alleviate depressive symptoms in persons over 65 years of age. Studies included in this project reveal groups of themes. The first is assessments, tools and evaluations. The second is animal assisted therapy, equine assisted therapy, therapeutic riding, and the barn environment. …

Cerebrovascular Dysfunction With Stress And Depression, Emily Burrage, Kent L. Marshall, Nalini Santanam, Paul D. Chantler

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Maintenance of adequate tissue perfusion through a dense network of cerebral microvessels is critical for the perseveration of normal brain function. Regulation of the cerebral blood flow has to ensure adequate delivery of nutrients and oxygen with moment-to-moment adjustments to avoid both hypo- and hyper-perfusion of the brain tissue. Even mild impairments of cerebral blood flow regulation can have significant implications on brain function. Evidence suggests that chronic stress and depression elicits multifaceted functional impairments to the cerebral microcirculation, which plays a critical role in brain health and the pathogenesis of stress-related cognitive impairment and cerebrovascular events. Identifying the functional …

Comparing Substance Use And Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual Minority And Heterosexual Women In Probability And Non-Probability Samples, Laurie Drabble, Karen Trocki, Rachael Korcha, Jamie Klinger, Cindy Veldhuis, Tonda Hughes

Faculty Publications

Objective To examine similarities and differences in demographics and key substance use and mental health outcomes in a probability sample of heterosexual women and two samples of sexual minority women (SMW), one recruited using probability and the other using non-probability methods. Methods Using data from four waves of the National Alcohol Survey (NAS; n = 315 SMW; 10,523 heterosexual women) and Wave 3 of the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW; n = 688 SMW) study, we examined hazardous drinking, drug use, tobacco use, depression, and help-seeking for alcohol or other drug problems. Results Compared to SMW …

Tipsheet: Student Mental Health And Resources, Unl Office Of The Executive Vice Chancellor

United States Public Health Resources

Stress, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges affect at least 1 in 5 college students*. Faculty can be an important source of support for UNL students. Here are some strategies for supporting student mental health:

1. Communicate the importance of mental health. Mental health is just as important as physical health. When someone breaks a leg they go to the hospital. Mental illness is the same thing. If someone is feeling depressed they should seek treatment. Normalize mental health by talking about getting support if you notice your students struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, etc. …

Depression In Adult Patients With Primary Brain Tumours: A Review Of Independent Risk Factors, Anum Sadruddin Pidani, Aaida Mumtaz Rao, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

Depression is considered an under-diagnosed problem, especially in patients with malignancies. Patients with brain tumours in particular, have a relatively higher risk of developing depression, which is multifactorial. Herein, the authors review the recent literature on the prevalence of depression in patients with brain tumours, and explore the various risk factors involved.

The Relationship Between Place And Depression: The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Mental Health In Mccreary County, Kentucky, Beth A. Vanover

Honors Theses

There is an increased rate of poor mental health days in McCreary County, Kentucky, related to low socioeconomic status compared to other counties in the Commonwealth. This correlation is shown by examining the area’s socioeconomic indicators, such as the population’s educational attainment, employment rates, average household income, rates of poverty, and comparing these statistics with the rate of poor mental health days. Additionally, as part of the current study, residents of McCreary County were interviewed to elicit feedback on ways in which living and working in McCreary County can contribute to a poor mental health. Subsequently, these qualitative interviews were …

How To Prevent Childhood Obesity, Uyen Lam

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This handout explains what causes childhood obesity, the effective solutions, and how to prevent it.

Ambiguities In The Efficacy Of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors In The Treatment Of Depression, Stephanie Giblin

Writing Across the Curriculum

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most debilitating mental illness worldwide. Primary treatment of MDD is the administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Deemed as the safest psychotropic drug thus far, SSRIs have been shown to reduce depressive symptoms and enhance the quality of life in youth, adult and geriatric populations. However, with rising numbers of individuals taking maintenance doses of SSRIs for five or more years, researchers are beginning to discover severe adverse side effects associated with prolonged treatment. The overall risks of long-term SSRI therapy include tachyphylaxis, tardive dysphoria, structural neurological abnormalities and suicide. SSRIs also have …

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Across The Life Span Of Women: A Wellness-Based Integrative Intervention, Karisse A. Callendar

Adultspan Journal

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Breastfeeding Practices And Postpartum Depressive Symptoms In Appalachian Women, Rose Stephens, Andrea D. Clements, Valerie M. Hoots, Beth A. Bailey

ETSU Faculty Works

Abstract available through the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Food Insecurity, Social Networks And Symptoms Of Depression Among Men And Women In Rural Uganda: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study, Jessica M. Perkins, Viola N. Nyakato, Bernard Kakuhikire, Alexander C. Tsai, Sv Subramanian, David Bangsberg, Nicholas A. Christakis

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective: To assess the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity stratified by sex, and test for evidence of effect modification by social network characteristics.

Design: A population-based cross-sectional study. The nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale captured food insecurity. Five name generator questions elicited network ties. A sixteen-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression captured depression symptom severity. Linear regression was used to estimate the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity while adjusting for potential confounders and to test for potential network moderators.

Setting: In-home survey interviews in south-western Uganda. Subjects: All adult residents …

Screening For Traumatic Brain Injury In Prostituted Women, Melissa Farley, Martha E. Banks, Rosalie J. Ackerman, Jacqueline M. Golding

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Violence is pervasive in prostitution and can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study estimated the prevalence and demographic correlates of TBI among 66 women and transwomen in prostitution. Ninety-five percent had sustained head injuries, either by being hit in the head with objects and/or having their heads slammed into objects. Sixty-one percent had sustained head injuries in prostitution. The women described acute and chronic symptoms resulting from head injury and/or concussions. These included dizziness, depressed mood, headache, sleep difficulty, poor concentration, memory problems, difficulty following directions, low frustration tolerance, fatigue, and appetite and weight changes. Screening for TBI is …

A Randomized Controlled Dosing Study Of Iyengar Yoga And Coherent Breathing For The Treatment Of Major Depressive Disorder: Impact On Suicidal Ideation And Safety Findings, Maren Nyer, Patricia Gerbarg, Marisa M. Silveri, Jennifer Johnston, Tammy M. Scott, Maya Nauphal, Liz Owen, Greylin H. Nielsen, David Mischoulon, Richard P. Brown, Maurizio Fava, Chris C. Streeter

NYMC Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Yoga interventions offer promise for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), yet their safety and potential impact on suicidal ideation (SI) have not been well documented. This study evaluated the safety of a randomized controlled dose-finding trial of Iyengar yoga plus coherent breathing for individuals with MDD, as well as the potential effects of the intervention on SI without intent. METHODS: Participants with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores >/=14 and a diagnosis of MDD (using DSM-IV criteria) were randomized to either a low dose group (LDG) or high dose group (HDG) and received a 12-week manualized intervention. The …