Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Implementation Of Vinyasa Yoga For Adults Experiencing Anxiety, Megan K. Malyuk

Theses and Graduate Projects

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States (US) and holistic treatment approaches, such as vinyasa yoga, are often practiced to alleviate the severity of symptoms (The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). A comprehensive literature review including evidence-based research, Metis-based knowledge, and personal accounts are used to support this scholarly project. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is explicated and synthesized as a theoretical framework. Methodology and evaluation of the scholarly project are described, analyzed, and reflected that vinyasa yoga has a positive impact on individuals who experience anxiety. This scholarly project was implemented …

The Impact Of Brief Electronic Guided Mindfulness Meditation On Anxiety Scores, Sierra King

DNP Scholarly Projects

In the United States, anxiety rates are on the rise for the general population (Goodwin et al., 2020a). Prolonged and frequent anxiety can become unprompted and problematic (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Management of anxiety is crucial for overall wellbeing. Access to treatment and resources for anxiety may be limited in rural geographical locations (Morales et al., n.d.). This DNP project sought to determine whether a brief intervention of electronic guided mindfulness meditation (MM) by Insight Timer is effective in decreasing anxiety in a rural populous. Convenience sampling recruited a final total of 11 rural participants who participated in seven sessions …

Utilizing A Structured Music Therapy Program For Adolescents With Anxiety And Depression, Amy Haagen

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues that affect children and adolescents. It has been noted that twenty percent of adolescents will have a depressive episode or be affected by anxiety by the time they are 18 years old. Mental health issues affecting children and adolescents majorly impact all aspects of their lives, most notably academic success, behavior, growth, and development (Porter et al., 2017). Current treatments for mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, include pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. In the adolescent population, there are conflicting opinions on the use of antidepressants due to risks …

The Effects Of Yoga On Anxiety And Sleep Quality Levels Among College Students, Larisa Lucas Mullins

DNP Projects

Background: College students have poor sleep quality due to a newfound sense of freedom, exposure to new influences, or poor sleep hygiene (Dinis & Barganca, 2018). Specifically, evidence supports a correlation between sleep latency in onset or lack of nighttime sleep and increased anxiety (Dinis & Barganca, 2018). Yoga has been shown to decrease anxiety, stress symptoms, and depression (Mullen et al., 2021). Teaching yoga techniques and encouraging routine yoga practice to college students may improve sleep quality and decrease anxiety.

Purpose: This project's purpose was to evaluate the effect of yoga education and videos on sleep quality and …

Anxiety Screening At A Psychiatric Inpatient Facility: A Quality Improvement Project, Irene Akwitti

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry occurring more days than not for a minimum of 6 months (Patriquin & Mathew, 2017). Presently, anxiety screening and evidence-based practice treatment for adults are suboptimal. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in patients. Purpose. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool, a validated, evidence-based instrument, in a psychiatric inpatient facility to improve early detection and treatment of anxiety disorders in patients. Methods. Staff members were educated …

A Quality Improvement Project To Screen For Food Insecurity In Adults With Anxiety Or Depression, Kelsie Evelyn Kroll

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background Food insecurity is the limited availability and inconsistent accessibility of healthy foods (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2022a). Food insecurity contributes to mental health problems. Individuals with food insecurity have greater odds of screening positive for depression and anxiety (Wolfson et al., 2021). The Hunger Vital Sign™ screening tool is a 2-questions evidence-based tool used to identify food insecurity (Hager et al., 2010). Purpose. Implement the Hunger Vital Sign™ tool at a non-profit behavior health clinic to identify food insecurity in adults who screened positive for anxiety or depression, offer resources for them to obtain nutritious food, and provide additional information …

Increasing Music Therapy Referrals In A Surgical Intensive Care Unit., Brandi Cecil

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Medications have been the primary intervention in intensive care unit patients due to the fact that the patients are often unconscious, critically medically ill, or unable to actively participate in nonpharmacological treatment. Researchers have found the integration of music therapy in patient care has helped ease pain, anxiety, and stress, and has been useful in vital control, such as decreasing heart rate and respiration count. A study was conducted in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) to examine the benefits of increasing music therapy consults. Critical care nurses were educated on the advantages of utilizing interdisciplinary care by consulting music …

Implementation Of The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-Item Screening Tool For Adult Patients In An Underserved Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Leila Joint

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: 11.7% of adults aged 18 and over have regular feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety. Anxiety can often present with somatic symptoms. The rates of misdiagnoses are high with symptoms often attributed to physical etiologies. Early recognition and treatment of anxiety can improve quality of life, prevent complications and reduce health care costs.

Purpose of Project: Implementation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) screening tool in a fast-paced underserved outpatient cardiology clinic for adult patients presenting with chest pain and/or palpitations without documented history of anxiety. The purpose of this project is to improve the utilization …

Cbt Technology Implementation With Pediatric And Adolescent Populations, Tracey W. Kreipe, Heath Gage, Sandra Obiebi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Digital therapy is a growing healthcare intervention improving limited access to specialty care for specific populations and geographic areas. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) applications focus on treating anxiety and depression and assist pediatric and adolescent patients in learning behavioral techniques as they wait for 3-6 months or longer to see a mental health provider. Such delays are attributed to the national shortage of mental health practitioners and the further scarcity of fewer psychiatric providers in rural areas, causing the potential for adverse patient outcomes. The setting for this 8-week quality improvement project was a pediatric care clinic that sees …

Pilot Study: The Effect Of Individual Versus Group Animal-Assisted Therapy On Undergraduate Student Anxiety, Jessica Hanson, Hannah Tucker

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) on undergraduate student test anxiety; comparing an individual AAT session to a group AAT session. AAT may be a solution for decreasing anxiety for undergraduate students. The study adds empirical knowledge to the field of AAT and student anxiety coping methods. The study question was: What is the effect of one-on-one and group Animal-Assisted Therapy sessions on undergraduate student anxiety?

Methods: This study used a convenience sample randomly assigned to either a group of 3 to 5 students (n=9) or an individual AAT session (n=10) …

Mental Health Burden And Attitudes And Intention To Seek Mental Health Services In Saudi Women Living In The United States, Wjdan A. Almutairi

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: The number of Saudi nationals immigrating to the U.S. continues to increase. Saudi women immigrants may be at increased risk for mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, due to immigration-related stressors such as language difficulties, family separation, and cultural adjustment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure anxiety and depression levels in Saudi women living in the U.S. and to assess factors affecting their intention to seek mental health services in the U.S. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, using online self-reported surveys. The study included a convenience sample of 160 Saudi women living in …

One Voice Training To Enable Nurses And Anesthesia Providers To Mitigate Pediatric Presurgical Anxiety, Sarah E. Hinnant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

ABSTRACT

ONE VOICE Training to Enable Nurses and Anesthesia Providers to Mitigate Pediatric Presurgical Anxiety

Sarah E. Hinnant

Background: Children in the preoperative area experience presurgical anxiety at rates of up to seventy-five percent. Increased pediatric anxiety is directly linked to increased anesthetic requirements, increased risk for development of emergence delirium, and increased time spent in the post anesthesia care unit. Numerous high-quality studies show that intervention by a certified child life specialist mitigates preoperative pediatric anxiety. Often child life specialists are not available to meet with all children prior to surgery. Registered nurses (RNs) and certified registered nurse anesthesiologists …

Addressing Anxiety In Hospitalized Adults Using A Music Intervention, Raina M. Rochon

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The practice problem is anxiety related to hospitalization among adults in an acute care setting. Increased anxiety can lead to other issues while hospitalized including disruptive behaviors.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In hospitalized medical-surgical adults (P), how does the implementation of a music intervention as an adjunct to standard distraction techniques (I) compared to standard care (C) affect symptoms of anxiety as observed by the rate of behavior de-escalation team calls (O) within eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: There were five systematic reviews, four systematic reviews with meta-analysis with high level of …

An Evaluation Of Mindstrong™ Implementation With Graduate Nursing Students, Angela B. Sabblut

Dissertations

Problem: Nursing graduate students are at increased risk of greater stress, anxiety, and depression (Hoying, 2020; Melnyk et al., 2020). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the gold standard in the treatment of anxiety and depression (Hoying et al., 2020; Melnyk et al., 2015; Melnyk et al., 2020). MINDSTRONG™, a CBT-based training program, has been proven in many studies to be effective in helping individuals prevent or cope with these issues (The Ohio State University College of Nursing, 2020).

Methods: This Quality Improvement (QI) project was a descriptive-observational, pre-post design. Sample and setting were nursing graduate students from a Midwestern, middle-sized urban, …

The Effects Of The Transition From Pre-Nursing To Nursing On Mental Health, Andrew J. Davis, Paige R. Mullins, Kimberly A. Sell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mental health is an ever-growing crisis among adolescents and young adults, with suicide as second leading cause of death and the number of those negatively affected continually on the rise. Transitions are one of the major stressors prevalent among these age groups, placing individuals at risk for mental health deficits. This quantitative voluntary response comparative study assesses the transitional mental health of pre-nursing students and students in the nursing program at East Tennessee State University. Emailed to all with a declared major of pre-nursing or nursing, this study measured mental health using evidenced based assessment tools. The PHQ-9 for depression …

Utilization Of The Calm Apparatus To Adult Men And Women With Atrial Fibrillation To Decrease Emergency Department Visits For Atrial Fibrillation, Ami Klein

DNP Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this project is two-fold. The first is to determine if the CALM APP use by adult men and women with atrial fibrillation (AF) will decrease anxiety. The second is to determine if decreased anxiety utilizing the CALM APP will deter admissions to the emergency department (ED) for AF in the first month post-catheter ablation of AF. The Zung SAS was used to determine the pre- and post-anxiety scores. The Seven Days of Calm (free app) was used to teach deep breathing and meditation. This study showed a moderate decrease in ED visits with use of the Calm …

Social Media Use And Mental Health: An Educational Intervention To Reduce Depression And Anxiety In Adolescents, Natalie Catlett

DNP Projects

Background: Most adolescents spend a great deal of their time using various social media platforms. However, excessive and maladaptive social media use is correlated with worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents.

Objective: This project aimed to determine whether an educational intervention could help decrease overall time spent using social media and improve mood and mental health outcomes among adolescents with depression or anxiety disorders.

Methods: This was a quasi-experiment with a pretest and posttest design. An educational intervention about the relationship between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety among adolescents and strategies to minimize risk …

Psychological Distress During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Nursing Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Mayantoinette Watson

Dissertations

During such an unprecedented time of the largest public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students are of the utmost concern regarding their psychological and physical well-being. Questions are emerging and circulating about what will happen to the nursing students and the long-term effects of the pandemic, especially now that hospitals are being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases and patients as well as a significant need for nursing staff (Jividen, 2020). Expectations, demands, change, and the fear of the unknown during this unprecedented time can only contribute to the many stressors that accompany nursing students through laborious clinical and didactic courses …

Evaluation Of Depression, Anxiety And Stress In Graduate Nursing Students, Rachel Dunston

Dissertations

Mental health issues are growing in the United States. Postgraduate school is widely known to increase the level of psychological difficulties (Dyrbye et al., 2006) experienced by students. There is a need to address mental health care in graduate nursing students. This project was a descriptive observational comparison pre-post-intervention design used to see if online modes of delivery would aid in decreasing mental health issues for nursing graduate students. Participants were provided with access to three podcasts and encouraged to use the Sanvello mobile application provided to all students at this university. The first podcast focused on using the Sanvello …

Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes Of Social Isolation In Older Adults, Megan Friesen, Madeline M. Christensen

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The aim of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to improve psychological outcomes for socially isolated older adults enrolled in a Homebound Program (HP) through the implementation of an EBP intervention. Social isolation has a multitude of negative consequences, including impacting the psychological health (e.g. depression, loneliness, anxiety) of the older adult population.

Synthesis of Evidence

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials addressing the clinical problem of social isolation were identified. Through critical appraisal of the evidence, physical activity, psychotherapy, and socialization interventions have shown to decrease depression and loneliness in older adults. There were mixed …

The Outcomes Of Cope, A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, In Patients Awaiting Lvad Implantation, Aaron G. Harris

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to pilot Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE), an evidence based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention, with patients diagnosed with advanced heart failure who are awaiting Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation or those who have had one recently implanted before they are discharged home. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used for this Pilot project. Patients were identified for potential participation by LVAD coordinators and represent a convenience sample. The patients were screened for anxiety and depression using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 screening tools. If patients scored …

Anxiety Screening In Children & Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Using The Gad-7 Tool, Allison B. Reynolds

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) can encounter a variety of factors that affect proper management of their diabetes, including mental health. Youth with diabetes have significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and mental health problems compared to the general population. Anxiety is especially prevalent. PURPOSE: The objective of this project was to evaluate anxiety screening of children and adolescents with T1DM during their routine diabetes visits. Specifically, to assess for any trends in anxiety levels and patient characteristics including demographics, insulin regimen and A1C levels. METHODS: A cross- sectional, retrospective review of ambulatory electronic health records …

Social Media And Mental Health In Adolescents And Young Adults: A Systematic Review, Dawn Ritter, Kimberly Ray, Celia Keefe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our project is to increase understanding of the link between social media use and mental illness in teens and young adults. Our objective is to write a systematic review of the literature to answer the PICOT questions: (1) In teens and adults, younger than 25 years, what is the relationship between social media use and mental illness? (2) In teens and adults, younger than 25 years, what is the effect of interventions, such as social media as a resource, on mental health promotion and well-being? The motivation for our project comes from the increased use of social …

Utilizing Mindfulness-Based Exercises To Reduce Anxiety Severity Scores According To The Gad-7, Kelly Calhoun

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects thousands of Americans every year. Mindfulness, a practice of bringing oneself into the present moment, has been shown to impact anxiety symptoms positively.

Objective: This prospective observational correlational study utilized mindfulness-based exercises to help decrease anxiety severity according to the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) in an outpatient psychiatric practice.

Methods: Participants practiced mindfulness exercises for two months. The GAD-7 was completed three times to monitor symptom severity. Two participant satisfaction surveys were completed to determine whether participants felt the exercises were beneficial for decreasing their anxiety.

Results: A repeated measures ANOVA was used …

Mental Health Screening For Low Income Adolescents: An Evidence-Based Project, Allison Bryden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

TITLE: Mental Health Screening For Low-Income Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Nearly 80% of adolescents in the United States will suffer from a mental illness and not receive evaluation or services. Children from low socio-economic backgrounds have an increased risk of mental health disorders which permeate into adulthood, leading to additional negative sequel and lower quality of life. Among adolescent mental health conditions, depression and anxiety are the most common. Literature has suggested provider intuition alone has low sensitivity and specificity for detecting mental illness and that screening tools are indicated.

PURPOSE: The aim of this project is to implement standardized routine …

Creating Opportunities For Personal Empowerment: A Project Evaluation, Ann L. Cudney

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: 66% of individuals in the United States who experienced a major depressive episode in the last year saw a general practitioner or family doctor and not a psychiatrist or psychotherapist (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2018). Many primary care providers treat with medication, however, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is associated with better results (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, n.d.). A Midwestern faith-based healthcare organization implemented a pilot cognitive behavioral therapy program at a family medicine residency clinic to improve mental health care.

Objectives: The purpose of this project was to evaluate if the implementation …

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. …

Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Stigma, And Social Support Among Postpartum Women, Ellen K. Fleischman

Dissertations

Purpose/Aims: The purpose of this descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships among perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) symptomatology, select demographics, stigma of mental illness, and social support, among inpatient postpartum women. Rationale: PMADs affect as many as 21% of childbearing women, yet these disorders are identified and treated less than half the time. There is a gap in the literature regarding the relationships among stigma, social support, and PMADs in postpartum women.

Conceptual Basis/Background: Despite recommendations from professional organizations, screening for PMADs is not consistently completed using a valid, reliable instrument. Stigma contributes to the low …

Evaluating State Anxiety Levels In Nursing Students, Rachel Stevens, Rachel Nussbaum, Tyler Blake

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Anxiety, dependent upon the frequency and severity, can be a serious problem that reduces physical, cognitive, and clinical performance. Nursing students have been found to experience especially high levels of state and trait anxiety which, according to Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit theory, causes a deficit in health promotion and the health of oneself. There is little evidence available about how progression through a baccalaureate nursing program in the United States impacts anxiety. This research investigates anxiety in baccalaureate nursing students and how progression through the program influences self-reported anxiety levels. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on a convenience sample …

Psychological Distress And Cardiac Disease, Tracey Vitori

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the association of psychological distress with cardiac disease, events, and mortality. Specific aims were to: 1) to evaluate the association between hostility level and recurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and all-cause mortality in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD); 2) to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) hostility and anxiety subscales in a group of incarcerated participants at high risk of cardiovascular disease; and 3) to evaluate the association of patient and caregiver psychological state with quality of life in both patient and caregiver, and postoperative complications …