Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Tiktok Use On Mental Health Outcomes And Stigma, Alecia Hatfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between TikTok use, mental health, and mental health stigma. There were three hypotheses for this study: TikTok use would be associated with decreased mental health stigma, TikTok use would be associated with increased anxiety, and TikTok use would be associated with increased depression. A total of 115 participants were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and they completed an online Qualtrics survey. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between TikTok use and anxiety, depression, and mental health stigma. Results indicated that increased time spent on TikTok was associated with an …

Understanding And Mitigating The Potential Effects Of Postpartum Depression On Fathers And Male Support Persons, Rachel Norton-Turk

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background. During the postpartum period, best practices dictate that medical professionals screen new mothers or birthing persons for anxiety and depression and direct them to the appropriate resources and services they may need. This qualitative study explored the steps being taken to identify depression and anxiety concerns in male support partners during the postpartum period and to understand what resources are being brought to their attention if depression and anxiety are identified. Methods. A convenience sample of male support persons participated in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews either in-person or over Zoom between September and October 2024. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, …

The Role Of Government Assistance, Housing, And Employment On Postpartum Maternal Health Across Income And Race: A Mixed Methods Study, Chelsea L. Kracht, Kelsey O. Goynes, Madison Dickey, Briasha Jones, Emerson Simeon, Jada Butler, Maryam Kebbe, Kaja Falkenhain, Emily W. Harville, Elizabeth F. Sutton, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Stressful large-scale events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, impact birthing individuals’ postpartum experiences and their mental health. Resultant changes in government assistance, housing, and employment may further exacerbate these impacts, with differences experienced by varying income levels and races. This study aimed to examine maternal depression and anxiety in postpartum individuals by income and race during a stressful large-scale event, and the mediating role of government assistance, housing, and employment. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted (QUANT + QUAL). For aim 1 (quantitative), birthing individuals who delivered during peak pandemic (June 2020 - …

Domestic Violence And Mental Health In Pregnant Women, Arabella M. Co

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Domestic violence can include verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, which can lead to long-term mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Purpose: This research includes a literature review, as well as a proposed research design to examine the significance of intimate partner violence in relation to mental health by implementing screening methods and interventions. Method: Participants will be recruited from prenatal clinics around the Bay Area. A quantitative, randomized, controlled-trial cohort study will investigate the effectiveness of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS). A screening tool used in determining intimate partner violence within the …

Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis In Psychiatry: Focus On Depressive Disorders, I-Ching Wang, Shelly A Buffington, Ramiro Salas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose of review: Gut microbiota contribute to several physiological processes in the host. The composition of the gut microbiome is associated with different neurological and neurodevelopmental diseases. In psychiatric disease, stress may be a major factor leading to gut microbiota alterations. Depressive disorders are the most prevalent mental health issues worldwide and patients often report gastrointestinal symptoms. Accordingly, evidence of gut microbial alterations in depressive disorders has been growing. Here we review current literature revealing links between the gut microbiome and brain function in the context of depression.

Recent findings: The gut-brain axis could impact the behavioral manifestation of depression …

Psychological Distress Among Family Caregivers Of Persons With Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementias In Uganda, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations, such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support provided to patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges. This study examined psychological distress, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among family caregivers of patients with ADRD in Wakiso District, Uganda. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 90 caregivers from three sub-counties in Wakiso, selected through purposive sampling to capture diverse experiences. Participants included caregivers aged 18 years …

Preventing Depression In Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: An Educational Video Series, Sabrina Casares, Steven Gerardi, Meghan Skidmore

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Grandparent caregivers often face increased risk for depression, yet access to mental health resources—particularly self-help approaches—is limited. Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TXGRG), a non-profit organization supporting grandparent caregivers, lacked a specific mental health resource to address this need. This capstone project developed and implemented a self-help, occupation-based educational video series to provide practical strategies for preventing and managing depression. Designed for accessibility and ease of use, the video series offers tools grounded in daily occupations to promote mental well-being. This project fills a critical gap by equipping TXGRG and its caregivers with a proactive, occupation-focused mental health resource to support …

Preventing Depression In Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: An Educational Video Series, Sabrina Casares

Student Capstone Papers

This paper presents a doctoral capstone project that created and implemented a self-help occupation-based educational video series to prevent and manage depression among grandparent caregivers. It consists of a literature review regarding the impact of depression on grandparent caregivers, the population’s barriers and statistics relating to the correlation of developing depression as a grandparent caregiver. It includes the process to create the video series including review of the literature and the development process. Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (TXGRG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and support to empower and advocate for grandparent caregivers. Problem: There is a lack …

Factor Structure Of The Ces-D-20 Scale In Young Adults In Singapore: An Examination Of Six Alternative Structures And Measurement Invariance By Sex, Nadyanna M. Majeed, K. T. A. Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Nicole Ruiying Chen, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Building on past research that has indicated cultural variations in the factor structure of the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-20), as well as several limitations validating the CES-D-20 within a Singapore context, this study investigated the CES-D-20's factor structure and sex-based measurement invariance in Singapore. A large young adult sample in Singapore (N = 1008) was utilised, and the original CES-D-20 was administered to all participants. The findings confirmed the four-factor model's robustness over five other alternative models (RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .04), where each of the 20 items loaded significantly onto its respective factor (all …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

Global And Risk-Group Stratified Well-Being And Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Adults: Results From The International Coh-Fit Study, Marco Solmi, Trevor Thompson, Andrés Estradé, Agorastos Agorastos, Joaquim Radua, Samuele Cortese, Elena Dragioti, Davy Vancampfort, Lau Caspar Thygesen, Harald Aschauer, Monika Schlögelhofer, Elena Aschauer, Andres Schneeberger, Christian G Huber, Gregor Hasler, Philippe Conus, Kim Q Do Cuénod, Roland Von Känel, Gonzalo Arrondo, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Philip Gorwood, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Marie-Odile Krebs, Elisabetta Scanferla, Taishiro Kishimoto, Golam Rabbani, Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka, Paolo Brambilla, Angela Favaro, Akihiro Takamiya, Leonardo Zoccante, Marco Colizzi, Julie Bourgin, Karol Kamiński, Maryam Moghadasin, Soraya Seedat, Evan Matthews, John Wells, Emilia Vassilopoulou, Ary Gadelha, Kuan-Pin Su, Jun Soo Kwon, Minah Kim, Tae Young Lee, Oleg Papsuev, Denisa Manková, Andrea Boscutti, Cristiano Gerunda, Diego Saccon, Elena Righi, Francesco Monaco, Giovanni Croatto, Guido Cereda, Jacopo Demurtas, Natascia Brondino, Nicola Veronese, Paolo Enrico, Pierluigi Politi, Valentina Ciappolino, Andrea Pfennig, Andreas Bechdolf, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Kai G Kahl, Katharina Domschke, Michael Bauer, Nikolaos Koutsouleris, Sibylle Winter, Stefan Borgwardt, Istvan Bitter, Judit Balazs, Pál Czobor, Zsolt Unoka, Dimitris Mavridis, Konstantinos Tsamakis, Vasilios P Bozikas, Chavit Tunvirachaisakul, Michael Maes, Teerayuth Rungnirundorn, Thitiporn Supasitthumrong, Ariful Haque, Andre R Brunoni, Carlos Gustavo Costardi, Felipe Barreto Schuch, Guilherme Polanczyk, Jhoanne Merlyn Luiz, Lais Fonseca, Luana V Aparicio, Samira S Valvassori, Merete Nordentoft, Per Vendsborg, Sofie Have Hoffmann, Jihed Sehli, Norman Sartorius, Sabina Heuss, Daniel Guinart, Jane Hamilton, John Kane, Jose Rubio, Michael Sand, Ai Koyanagi, Aleix Solanes, Alvaro Andreu-Bernabeu, Antonia San José Cáceres, Celso Arango, Covadonga M Díaz-Caneja, Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei, Eduard Vieta, Javier Gonzalez-Peñas, Lydia Fortea, Mara Parellada, Miquel A Fullana, Norma Verdolini, Eva Andrlíková, Karolina Janků, Mark J Millan, Mihaela Honciuc, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Igor Łoniewski, Jerzy Samochowiec, Łukasz Kiszkiel, Maria Marlicz, Paweł Sowa, Wojciech Marlicz, Georgina Spies, Brendon Stubbs, Joseph Firth, Sarah Sullivan, Asli Enez Darcin, Hatice Aksu, Nesrin Dilbaz, Onur Noyan, Momoko Kitazawa, Shunya Kurokawa, Yuki Tazawa, Alejandro Anselmi, Cecilia Cracco, Ana Inés Machado, Natalia Estrade, Diego De Leo, Jackie Curtis, Michael Berk, Andre F Carvalho, Philip Ward, Scott Teasdale, Simon Rosenbaum, Wolfgang Marx, Adrian Vasile Horodnic, Liviu Oprea, Ovidiu Alexinschi, Petru Ifteni, Serban Turliuc, Tudor Ciuhodaru, Alexandra Bolos, Valentin Matei, Dorien H Nieman, Iris Sommer, Jim Van Os, Therese Van Amelsvoort, Ching-Fang Sun, Ta-Wei Guu, Can Jiao, Jieting Zhang, Jialin Fan, Liye Zou, Xin Yu, Xinli Chi, Philippe De Timary, Ruud Van Winkel, Bernardo Ng, Edilberto Peña De León, Ramon Arellano, Raquel Roman, Thelma Sanchez, Larisa Movina, Pedro Morgado, Sofia Brissos, Oleg Aizberg, Anna Mosina, Damir Krinitski, James Mugisha, Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani, Farshad Sheybani, Masoud Sadeghi, Samira Hadi, Serge Brand, Antonia Errazuriz, Nicolas Crossley, Dragana Ignjatovic Ristic, Carlos López-Jaramillo, Dimitris Efthymiou, Praveenlal Kuttichira, Roy Abraham Kallivayalil, Afzal Javed, Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Bawo James, Omonefe Joy Seb-Akahomen, Jess Fiedorowicz, Jeff Daskalakis, Lakshmi N Yatham, Lin Yang, Tarek Okasha, Aïcha Dahdouh, Jari Tiihonen, Jae Il Shin, Jinhee Lee, Ahmed Mhalla, Lotfi Gaha, Takoua Brahim, Kuanysh Altynbekov, Nikolay Negay, Saltanat Nurmagambetova, Yasser Abu Jamei, Mark Weiser, Christoph U Correll

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

International studies measuring wellbeing/multidimensional mental health before/ during the COVID-19 pandemic, including representative samples for >2 years, identifying risk groups and coping strategies are lacking. COH-FIT is an online, international, anonymous survey measuring changes in well-being (WHO-5) and a composite psychopathology P-score, and their associations with COVID-19 deaths/restrictions, 12 a-priori defined risk individual/cumulative factors, and coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic (26/04/2020-26/06/2022) in 30 languages (representative, weighted non-representative, adults). T-test, χ2, penalized cubic splines, linear regression, correlation analyses were conducted. Analyzing 121,066/142,364 initiated surveys, WHO-5/P-score worsened intra-pandemic by 11.1±21.1/13.2±17.9 points (effect size d=0.50/0.60) (comparable results in representative/weighted non-probability samples). Persons with …

Mortality Risks Associated With Depression In Men With Prostate Cancer, Casey Crump, Pär Stattin, James D Brooks, Jan Sundquist, Weiva Sieh, Kristina Sundquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) have an increased risk of depression; however, it is unclear to what extent depression affects long-term survival. A better understanding of such effects is needed to improve long-term care and outcomes for men with PC.

Objective: To determine the associations between major depression and mortality in a national cohort of men with PC.

Design, setting, and participants: A national cohort study was conducted of all 180 189 men diagnosed with PC in Sweden during 1998-2017. Subsequent diagnoses of major depression were ascertained from nationwide outpatient and inpatient records through 2018.

Outcome measurements and …

Predictors Of Belongingness In First-Year College Students: Examining Mental Health And Adjustment, Jordan D. Foreman-Black

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The initial transition to college is a pivotal moment for emerging adults, often influencing whether a student will remain successful. Students face a significant challenge adapting to the new environment that has been compounded by their experiences through the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, a sense of belonging for students has been shown to be a key aspect of a successful transition to college. Students are often confronted with increasing levels of mental health challenges throughout the transition, specifically experiencing increasing mental health difficulties or challenges throughout their initial adjustment to college. Moreover, parents have become increasingly involved in students’ …

Increasing College Students' Awareness Of Stress, Mental Health, And Well-Being, Marlene Villicana

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

College students face many stressors due to the transitions and responsibilities of young adulthood. According to Karyotaki et al. (2020), 93% of respondents in an international study of college students reported at least one type of mild stress, and 73% named stress in at least three life areas. The same study found that stress management interventions effectively reduce perceived stress, mood, and anxiety problems through a combination of problem-focused and appraisal-focused strategies. In order to address the issues of stress, mental health, and well-being among college students, I created an interactive two-day presentation for Human Development and Family Science students …

Association Between Chronotype And Chronic Neuropathic Pain Sensitivity: A Pilot Prospective, Observational, Single-Center, Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Kim, Yuri C Martins, Kishan Patel, Chiu-Hsieh Hsu, Mohab Ibrahim, Vasudha Goel, Amol M Patwardhan, Sejal Jain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronotype defines an organism's biological preference for timing of activity and sleep. Being a morning chronotype (i.e., tending to wake up early and go to bed earlier at night) is associated with protection against chronic musculoskeletal pain and headaches, but the relationship between chronotype and neuropathic pain sensitivity remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to explore the relationship among chronotype, neuropathic pain sensitivity, and pain interference in patients with chronic neuropathic pain disorders.

Study design: This was a prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Patients were recruited from pain management clinics.

Methods: The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire …

Study Abroad Angst: A Literature Review On The Mental Health Of International Students During Covid-19, Daisuke Akiba, Michael Perrone, Caterina Almendral

Publications and Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique and unprecedented challenges for international students, those studying at institutions of higher education outside of their home countries, due to their distinct circumstances and vulnerabilities. This literature review examines the multifaceted mental health burdens they experienced and highlights the need for targeted support and interventions. Methods: A rigorous search across three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC) yielded 50 empirical studies for inclusion in this literature review. A six-phase thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and synthesize key themes. Results: Seven prominent themes emerged: (1) academic and professional disruptions; (2) challenges navigating international …

The Affects Of Compassion Fatigue On Inner-City High School Educators: A Qualitative Study, Darren Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to discover the lived experiences of inner-city high school teachers who suffer from the condition of compassion fatigue. The theory guiding this study is Figley’s Theory of Compassion Fatigue, as it explains how individuals who attempt to assist individuals in stressful situations develop traumatic feelings. The study’s sample consists of 10 participants, all educators with a minimum of 3 years of experience teaching. The study occurs at Big Sky-High School, an inner-city school in Ohio. Data was collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts. Data findings discovered the following themes: …

The Mediating Role Of Religious Coping And Psychological Inflexibility In The Relationship Between Perceived Life Stress And Depression In An Arab Muslim Sample, Mariam Kashakesh

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study examines the association between depression and perceived stress, with a particular focus on the mediating function of psychological rigidity and religious coping strategies in a sample of 18–30-year-old Arab Muslims. Online questionnaires measuring psychological flexibility, perceived stress, depression, religious coping, and demographics were filled out by participants. Higher stress levels were expected to be associated with higher levels of depression (H1), and the study postulated that both negative and positive psychological inflexibility and religious coping would mitigate this association (H2a and H2b, respectively). Significant positive relationships were found between religious coping qualities, depression, and perceived stress. A mediation …

Influence Of Auditory Input On Mood States During A 30-Minute Self-Paced Walk, Maya Caon, Andreas Stamatis, Zacharias Papadakis, Ali Boolani

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The therapeutic effects of self-paced walking on mood enhancement are well-documented; yet, existing literature predominantly examines laboratory-based protocols that fail to incorporate auditory stimuli as a potential modulator of mood states. PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of various auditory inputs on mood states during a 30-minute bout of self-paced walking. METHODS: A randomized controlled crossover design was employed (n = 24; 9 males; M_age: 23.04). Participants performed four 30-minute walking bouts around a track while wearing noise-cancelling headphones delivering one of four conditions: positive auditory input, negative auditory input, self-selected music, or silence. Mood states …

Data-Driven Cutoff Selection For The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression Screening Tool, Brooke Levis, Parash Mani Bhandari, Dipika Neupane, Suiqiong Fan, Ying Sun, Chen He, Yin Wu, Ankur Krishnan, Zelalem Negeri, Mahrukh Imran, Danielle B Rice, Kira E Riehm, Marleine Azar, Alexander W Levis, Jill Boruff, Pim Cuijpers, Simon Gilbody, John P A Ioannidis, Lorie A Kloda, Scott B Patten, Roy C Ziegelstein, Daphna Harel, Yemisi Takwoingi, Sarah Markham, Sultan H Alamri, Dagmar Amtmann, Bruce Arroll, Liat Ayalon, Hamid R Baradaran, Anna Beraldi, Charles N Bernstein, Arvin Bhana, Charles H Bombardier, Ryna Imma Buji, Peter Butterworth, Gregory Carter, Marcos H Chagas, Juliana C N Chan, Lai Fong Chan, Dixon Chibanda, Kerrie Clover, Aaron Conway, Yeates Conwell, Federico M Daray, Janneke M De Man-Van Ginkel, Jesse R Fann, Felix H Fischer, Sally Field, Jane R W Fisher, Daniel S S Fung, Bizu Gelaye, Leila Gholizadeh, Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Eric P Green, Catherine G Greeno, Brian J Hall, Liisa Hantsoo, Martin Härter, Leanne Hides, Stevan E Hobfoll, Simone Honikman, Thomas Hyphantis, Masatoshi Inagaki, Maria Iglesias-Gonzalez, Hong Jin Jeon, Nathalie Jetté, Mohammad E Khamseh, Kim M Kiely, Brandon A Kohrt, Yunxin Kwan, Maria Asunción Lara, Holly F Levin-Aspenson, Shen-Ing Liu, Manote Lotrakul, Sonia R Loureiro, Bernd Löwe, Nagendra P Luitel, Crick Lund, Ruth Ann Marrie, Laura Marsh, Brian P Marx, Anthony Mcguire, Sherina Mohd Sidik, Tiago N Munhoz, Kumiko Muramatsu, Juliet E M Nakku, Laura Navarrete, Flávia L Osório, Brian W Pence, Philippe Persoons, Inge Petersen, Angelo Picardi, Stephanie L Pugh, Terence J Quinn, Elmars Rancans, Sujit D Rathod, Katrin Reuter, Alasdair G Rooney, Iná S Santos, Miranda T Schram, Juwita Shaaban, Eileen H Shinn, Abbey Sidebottom, Adam Simning, Lena Spangenberg, Lesley Stafford, Sharon C Sung, Keiko Suzuki, Pei Lin Lynnette Tan, Martin Taylor-Rowan, Thach D Tran, Alyna Turner, Christina M Van Der Feltz-Cornelis, Thandi Van Heyningen, Paul A Vöhringer, Lynne I Wagner, Jian Li Wang, David Watson, Jennifer White, Mary A Whooley, Kirsty Winkley, Karen Wynter, Mitsuhiko Yamada, Qing Zhi Zeng, Yuying Zhang, Brett D Thombs, Andrea Benedetti, Depression Screening Data (Depressd) Phq Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Test accuracy studies often use small datasets to simultaneously select an optimal cutoff score that maximizes test accuracy and generate accuracy estimates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree to which using data-driven methods to simultaneously select an optimal Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) cutoff score and estimate accuracy yields (1) optimal cutoff scores that differ from the population-level optimal cutoff score and (2) biased accuracy estimates.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used cross-sectional data from an existing individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) database on PHQ-9 screening accuracy to represent a hypothetical population. Studies in the IPDMA database compared participant PHQ-9 …

The Association Of Overall Dietary Quality On Stress, Anxiety, Depression, And Academic Performance In College Students: A Systematic Review, Jessica Phelan, Richard R. Rosenkranz, Cindy Logan, Mark Haub, Emily Mailey, Armin Ezzati, Sara K. Rosenkranz

Health & Human Performance Faculty Publications

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to examine current evidence regarding the associations between dietary quality and mental well-being indicators (stress, anxiety, and/or depression) in college students, with a secondary aim of characterizing the relationship between overall dietary quality and academic performance. Methods: Searches were performed, and the PRISMA guidelines were followed for reporting the methods and results. Results: Twelve observational studies were included and reviewed showing high dietary quality was associated with: low stress (four studies), high stress (one study), and no significant association (two studies); low depression (three studies) and no significant association (two studies) and …

The Impact Of Depression And Anxiety On Emotional Facial Recognition, Gracie J. Buck, Mckensey P. Malin, Emma Chacon, Abbey Fies

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Anxiety and depression are widespread mental health disorders that elicit prolonged tension, uneasiness, and low moods (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024; American Psychological Association). These mental health conditions have been known to influence cognitive and perceptual processes (Perin et al., 2022). Multiple studies have found evidence that depression and/or anxiety create a heightened issue of misinterpreting facial and emotional cues (Kang et al., 2019; Monferrer et al., 2023). Notably, People with anxiety have a higher rate of sensitivity and/or error when shown a face with an angry expression (Kang et al., 2019), while people with depression have …

Act With Cf: A Randomized Trial Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Vs Supportive Psychotherapy For Adults With Cystic Fibrosis, C. Virginia O'Hayer, Patrick J. Smith, Christopher F. Drescher, Heather Bruschwein, Chelsi N. Nurse, Hallie M. Kushner, Krista Ingle, Michael J. Stephen, Jeffrey B. Hoag

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, is common among adults with CF, associating with poor quality of life, lung function, and healthcare utilization. This 3-year, multi-site, telehealth-delivered randomized trial sought to determine whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT with CF) is superior to supportive psychotherapy (SP), in improving psychological functioning for adults with CF.

METHODS: One hundred twenty-four adults with CF and elevated anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were recruited coincident with the first COVID lockdown, from Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, University of Virginia, Augusta University, Duke University Medical Center, and social media. Participants were randomized to 6 weeks of …

Building Resilience: A Specialty Clinic Tailored To Older Adults At Risk For Violence And Abuse, Melba A Hernandez-Tejada, Deborah M Little, Madeline J Bruce, Sarly Butte, Jason Burnett, Leila Wood, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Both structural (e.g., ageism) and personal (e.g., stigma) barriers hinder older adults' access to and engagement with mental health care. These barriers are particularly problematic for those vulnerable to interpersonal violence and abuse (e.g., due to social isolation). This study presents a quality improvement program aimed at older adults who have experienced significant stressful events, particularly elder mistreatment, within a larger trauma specialty clinic. Leveraging home-based telemedicine, the clinic provides evidence-based psychotherapy tailored to the needs of older adults.

Methods: From 2021 through 2023, the authors retrospectively examined treatment initiation, engagement, completion, and clinical outcomes among 231 older adults …

Dispositional Optimism, Sleep, And Trait Affective Mediators: A Latent Variable Approach, Nicole Ruiying Chen, Nadyanna Binte Mohamed Majeed, Adalia Yin Hui Goh, Paye Shin Koh, Jonathan Louis Jie Sheng Chia, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Dispositional optimism has been shown to be associated with better sleep. However, most existing studies rely on subjective assessments of sleep, which may not align with objective assessments of sleep. Additionally, research investigating the mechanisms underlying the association between optimism and sleep is lacking. Moreover, the confounding role of possible content overlap in measures relevant to the constructs of interest has been neglected. To address these gaps, we utilised latent variable analysis and investigated the mediating role of depression and trait anxiety across two large-scale studies (total N = 2312), with objective sleep measures included in Study 2. In Study …

Cognitive Functioning And Mental And Behavioral Health In Women Survivors With And Without Traumatic Brain Injury Due To Intimate Partner Violence, Justin E. Karr, Agnes E. White, Sharon E. Leong, T. K. Logan

Psychology Faculty Publications

Women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience increased risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to partner abuse, but few studies have examined cognition and mental and behavioral health outcomes among women with IPV-related TBIs. This pilot study examined differences in cognition, neurobehavioral symptoms, mental health symptoms, chronic pain, alcohol use, and social functioning between women survivors with and without repetitive IPV-related TBIs. Women with 2 or more IPV-related TBIs (n = 33; M = 36.5 years old, SD = 9.4; 63.6% White) were compared to women survivors without IPV-related TBI history (n = 22; M = 34.4 years …

Effect Of Stillbirth Postpartum On Depression In Women Between Ages 15-20 Versus 30-35, Michelle M. Brindle, Ashley Menchaca, Ravali Valluri

Leadership Connection

The purpose of this study was to o determine which group of women, ages 15-20 versus ages 30-35, who delivered a stillborn will experience depression to a greater degree.

Depression Screening To Improve Early Detection, Referral, And Treatment Of Depression In Patients With Diabetes, Karina Avechuco

Group: Northern Arizona University School of Nursing, DNP Doctoral Papers

Comorbid depression is common among adults with diabetes and is associated with negative impacts on quality of life, health outcomes, and mortality rates. As of 2015, it was estimated that 415 million people were living with diabetes in the United States, and of those affected, 20 to 25 percent have some degree of depression. Evidence-based guidelines recommend routine depression screening. This appears to decrease negative health outcomes and may be a cost-effective way to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. Despite recommendations, depression screening in patients with diabetes is not consistent. This is true for patients at the study clinic …

Chronic Pain: Relationship To Depression, Eugenia Ursan

Group: Northern Arizona University School of Nursing, DNP Doctoral Papers

The experience of chronic pain often interferes with family and social life, work performance, and overall quality of life. Depression symptoms in people with chronic pain may synergistically effect pain perception, negatively influencing the response to pain management and rehabilitation. Providers often fail to recognize and treat depression in patients presenting for treatment of chronic pain, and this failure can negatively impact rehabilitation outcomes. Importantly, limited research exists within the physical medicine setting about the relationship between chronic pain, symptoms of depression, and other variables like age and gender. Therefore, the relationship between chronic pain and depression in patients …

Behavioral Health Integration In Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah Claussen

Group: Northern Arizona University School of Nursing, DNP Doctoral Papers

This quality improvement project aimed to identify and treat patients at risk for depression and anxiety, facilitating earlier entry into treatment through increased screenings during routine primary care visits. Utilizing screening tools such as PHQ-9, GAD-7, and C-SSRS ensured comprehensive mental health assessments. Implementation of the Collaborative Care Model at Priority Family Medical Clinic improved patient outcomes, satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs, addressing disparities in access to behavioral health services. The project enhanced identification and management of depression and anxiety, leading to increased referrals to CoCM, psychiatric services, and medication initiation, highlighting the effectiveness of integrating mental health screenings for …