Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Political Affiliation And White Privilege: The Effect Of Exposure To Symbols Of Political Affiliation And Race On Perceptions Of White Privilege And Anti-Black Discrimination, Hannah Knechel

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis explored the effects of exposure to different political affiliations and races on participants’ perceptions of white privilege and anti-black discrimination. Current research has studied the effects of race, framing, and guilt on the acknowledgement of white privilege, but none have explored how political affiliation can affect these perceptions. If simple exposure to these symbols of political affiliation can alter the perceptions of those exposed, perhaps the results of this study could be used to bring about awareness and ease political tensions. Participants were placed in one of six groups consisting of either a white or black experimenter wearing …

Association Between A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism In Neuregulin-1 And Schizophrenia In Pakistani Patients, Haider Ali Naqvi, Shafqat Huma, Hira Waseem, Kashaf Aqeel Zaidi, Hina Saeed Zuberi, Syed Hani Abidi

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective: To determine the association of single-nucleotide polymorphism8nrg433E1006 in the neuregulin-1 gene associated with schizophrenia.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Fountain House, Lahore, and the psychiatric clinics at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, from 2010 to 2013.The total genomic deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated and single-nucleotide polymorphism8nrg433E1006 was screened by nested polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing. These sequences, from patients and controls, were aligned with the human neuregulin-1-glial growth factor 2 gene sequence, which served as a reference sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism genetic algorithm was characterised at position 433 in the neuregulin-1 gene by …

Mdma-Assisted Psychotherapy For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review Of The Literature, Erin Solomon

Student Works

A growing number of people suffer chronic, treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Amoroso & Workman, 2016; Buoso, Doblin, Farré, Alcázar, & Gómez-Jarabo, 2008; Mithoefer, Wagner, Mithoefer, Jerome, & Doblin, 2011; Oehen, Traber, Widmer, & Schnyder, 2013). The most popular treatments, including exposure therapy, may not be effective for some people (Amoroso & Workman, 2016; Mithoefer et al., 2011). Treatment dropout and suicidality are high among people for whom therapy is minimally effective (Amoroso, 2015; Amoroso & Workman, 2016; Mithoefer et al., 2011; Oehen et al., 2013). Researchers have begun to investigate 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy as a possible treatment for PTSD …

Measuring Physiological Responses To Sensation In Typical Adults, Sarah Button, Kristen Christensen, Emily Minor

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective: Sensory processing issues can have a large negative impact on the ability to participate in daily occupations such as ADLs, access to work, school and leisure environments, and social interactions (Dunn, 2001). The evidence documenting sensory processing issues in adults is sparse. Physiological information can be used as objective evidence to support the claim that those with over-responsivity to sensations are experiencing their environment differently than the typical population. Understanding more about sensory processing in adults may lead to increased recognition of the problem and more opportunities for intervention to increase occupational participation. The purpose of this quantitative study …

Principal Component Analysis Of Early Alcohol, Drug And Tobacco Use With Major Depressive Disorder In Us Adults, Kesheng Wang, Ying Liu, Youssoufou Ouedraogo, Nianyang Wang, Xin Xie, Chun Xu, Xingguang Luo

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Early alcohol, tobacco and drug use prior to 18 years old are comorbid and correlated. This study included 6239 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) in the past year and 72,010 controls from the combined data of 2013 and 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). To deal with multicollinearity existing among 17 variables related to early alcohol, tobacco and drug use prior to 18 years old, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to infer PC scores and then use weighted multiple logistic regression analyses to estimate the associations of potential factors and PC scores with MDD. The …

Yoga And Its Influence On Children's Behavior, Paige Sellen

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study looked at the impact ten minutes of daily yoga had on the behavior of elementary school children. Yoga was led by classroom teachers once daily for ten minutes over a sixteen-week period. At weeks one, eight, and sixteen, classroom teachers evaluated student behavior in six categories: personal awareness, attention, rapport with friends, rapport with teacher, following rules and transition between activities. The teachers rated the behaviors on a never, sometimes, mostly or always scale. The data was then analyzed and interpreted. Results revealed a significant difference in the attention, ability to follow rules, transition between activities, and personal …

Insane: James Holmes, Clark V. Arizona, And America's Insanity Defense, Eric Collins

Journal of Law and Health

Insanity is a legal term of art that changes definitions depending on the legal standard in American jurisprudence, which explains why a man who mental health professionals described as having an uncontrollable obsession with killing people can be found not insane and guilty. This Note addresses the current state of the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 and its widespread implementation at the state level. Part II supplies background information on the history of the insanity defense and how it has transformed over the years in American jurisprudence. Part III provides an analysis of the of the insanity defense. Part …

Controlling The Uncontrollable: Understanding The Relationships Between Psychological Distress, Physical Impairment, And Acceptance Among Women With Gynecological Cancer, Kirby L. Williams

MSU Graduate Theses

As women age, the risk for being diagnosed with any gynecological cancer increases. Despite outnumbering the number of breast cancer diagnoses in a given year, there are significantly fewer studies addressing gynecological cancers. Treatment for gynecological cancers can be incredibly debilitating, both physically and psychologically. Although previous studies have evaluated and shown a relationship between physical impairment and perceived control on psychological distress in cancer patients during treatment, none have evaluated the influence of willingness and acceptance. The present study sought to expand this theory by assessing 25 gynecological cancer participants via self-report measures. Utilizing structural equation modelling, a moderated …

Effects Of Norharmane And Nicotine On The Conditioned Place Preference Of Mice, Lindsey Galbo

All NMU Master's Theses

Tobacco smoking in the United States is used by approximately 25% of adults. Many studies using animal models have suggested that nicotine has rewarding properties. Contrastingly, several studies have also found it to be a weakly reinforcing substance at low and high dose levels. Due to this, other tobacco constituents, such as the monoamine oxidase inhibitor norharmane which is found in tobacco leaf and smoke, may be responsible for tobacco addiction by potentiating the rewarding properties of nicotine. Several studies have attempted to observe this phenomenon, however, monoamine oxidase inhibitors that are not found in tobacco leaf or smoke have …

Effort-Related Decision Making In Comt Variant Mice: Pharmacological Studies And Genetic Susceptibility To Motivational Dysfunction, Suzanne Cayer

Honors Scholar Theses

Effort-related decision making tasks in animals can model motivational symptoms in humans, which are a set of symptoms spanning a multitude of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder and the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The present studies aimed to evaluate the effort-related effects of the Val158Met polymorphism of human catechol-methyltransferase (COMT), by testing mice carrying either the human COMT Val (n=8) or Met allele (n=8) with Wild-Type control mice (n=15) by using concurrent FR2 and FR4/pellet choice tasks in a touchscreen operant conditioning apparatus. The Val158Met polymorphism has been repeatedly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, and the Val allele has …

A Laboratory-Based Experimental Test Of Reasons For Living: Effects On Behavioral Approach Toward A Suicide-Related Stimulus, Sasha Micaella Rojas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are few laboratory-based experiments that examine the effects of suicide-related risk or protective factors on suicide-related outcomes. Consistent with extant evidence-based theoretical models and treatments for suicidal behavior, it appears that increasing awareness of reasons for living may reduce risk for suicidal behavior. Thus, the current study represents an initial effort to experimentally examine the impact of bringing awareness to one’s most important reason for living on behavioral approach towards a suicide-related stimulus. Random assignment was used to assign an unselected undergraduate sample of 78 participants to complete either a script-driven imagery procedure specific to the most important reason …

Creating Safety: Dance/Movement Therapy With Refugees, Jessica Lee Arroyo

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This thesis is a research based study that focuses on the use of dance/movement therapy in creating the experience of safety for refugees. With 65.6 million displaced people worldwide, and 22.5 million being refugees, the need for safety is ever growing. Beginning with a brief de-scription of the policies and process refugees must go through when entering the United States, this thesis aims to scratch the surface in describing the difficulties refugees experience. Much of the trauma they have endured has affected their bodies, and especially their integration of self. Dance/Movement therapy, which focuses on the body and movement, can …

Smadditisation: Dancehall In Dance/Movement Therapy To Address The Loss Of Cultural Identity Within The Jamaica Diaspora, Allison Johnson

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This is a theoretical based study that focuses on members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States. Jamaican immigrants, or members of the diaspora, comprise the largest Caribbean immigrant group in the United States. These individuals have encountered a race stratified culture that is vastly different from their native culture. The culture within the United States also encourages individualism which is counter to the community-based values of the Jamaican culture. Encountering a new culture can be difficult and being assigned a new way of identifying can be stressful. This stress can manifest as depression, anxiety or feelings of isolation …

Roller Derby As A Form Of Self-Empowerment: An Examination Of Female Athletes' Resilience To Intimate Partner Violence, Esmeralda Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore if playing roller derby can yield one more resilient to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). IPV is a major wellness concern to our present lives. However, there are many who experience violence, yet do not develop debilitating symptoms. The subject of resilience has emerged to account for this. Resilience can be interpreted as “bouncing back” from adversity, and adapting well to sources of stress (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Sport psychologists have recognized sport as a site for the development of resilient qualities. For females, team sports offer a context to experience empowerment. The …

Reanalyzing The Activity Anorexia Protocol Using An Addiction Theory, Rolando Alfredo Botello

Theses and Dissertations

One researched and developed phenomenon is activity anorexia (AA) in rats and its resemblance to the human pathology anorexia nervosa (AN). Researchers have long relied on this comparative model for AN as AA. This study aims to reanalyze the overt physiological phenomena of AA to test an addictive theory against the prevalent AA theory. Equal numbers of subjects could eat or run during a one hour feeding period and all activity was monitored per 30 minutes. Results showed that daily running correlated with an increase in food consumption with no effect of food suppression. The only factor that regressed to …

Empowering Young African-American Males Through Dance/Movement Therapy, Ashanti Woods

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This paper provides a brief overview of the history of African-American males in the United States, and how they have been degraded since the founding of this country. Due to the continuation of them being victimized by multiple stereotypes that are inaccurate, it makes it hard for this population to face issues within their environment. Implementing Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) in the school curriculum for African-American males between the ages of thirteen to eighteen to help cope earlier in life with their reality will be examined. Research has been done on Rap/Hip Hop therapy with this population which addresses the current …

Distinguishing Between Empathy And Enabling: Dance/Movement Therapy For Family Members Of People With Addiction, Kellyn L. Uhl

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This theoretical inquiry investigates the experiences and needs of family members of people with addiction; a group which is rapidly growing in the United States, and one that has been largely neglected by health service providers and medical professionals. With more than 22 million Americans currently addicted to drugs and alcohol (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017), and 365 drug-related deaths occurring each day (Sheff, 2013), the scope of family member grief and suffering is immeasurable. Evidence-based research reveals that family members lose touch with their own basic needs and experience high rates of psychological and physical health …

Witnessing Another, Witnessing Oneself, Kyra Hess

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Witnessing is a crucial, defining mechanism of dance/movement therapy that demands physical awareness, emotional recognition, and verbalization with humble honesty. Although witnessing has the potential to arise in nearly all encounters, as dance/movement therapists work directly with multifaceted and complex individuals, there has been a lack of delineating the various elements required to accomplish this task. This thesis is an attempt to begin outlining of the process and elements of witnessing. Beginning with the history of witnessing and its unique features within the field of dance/movement therapy, the author provides the essential qualities to consider in order to witness another …

More Than A Witness: How Dance/Movement Therapy Uses The Body For Processing Exposure To Interparental Violence, Kristen Taylor Reyes

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Children are often overlooked when violence between two parents occurs. As a result, they grow up with the potential to become adults who repeat their parents’ violent actions or become victims of violence. This theory based study aims to highlight the often secretive nature of domestic violence between parental figures, heighten awareness of the effects of child exposure to the violence, reveal how those effects manifest in them as adults, and educate readers about the power of the body during traumatizing events. Through this study, a modality is offered for processing those traumatic experiences using the body through movement. That …

Healing Through Attunement: Adolescent Eating Disorders And Family Dance/Movement Therapy, Grace Rezendes

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This thesis addresses the patterns of communication and boundaries within the families of adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders. Using aspects of Attunement, the Kestenberg Movement Profile, and Laban Movement Analysis, dance/movement therapy (DMT) can support the family using a body-based and primarily non-verbal method of treatment. Clinical application of the material is discussed.

Using Dance/Movement Therapy And Laban Movement Analysis To Build A Better Model Of Rehabilitation For Chronic Pain, Victoria Hughes

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This paper aims to explore the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain, the current treatments for chronic pain, and the use of Dance/Movement Therapy with Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals to build a better rehabilitation model that integrates the treatment of both the physical and psychological symptoms of chronic pain for long-term treatment. Currently, chronic pain is medically managed by separating the physical and psychological symptoms, creating an oversimplified and fragmented treatment process. Many medical and alternative treatments are reliant on pharmaceuticals and do not integrate the treatment of physical and psychological symptoms, rendering the current chronic pain …

Bridging The Gap: Using The Body As A Conduit Within Dance/Movement Therapy To Enhance Holistic And Integrative Development In Early Childhood, Jennifer R. Moskowitz

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This paper presents development and learning in early childhood as a fully integrated and embodied experience, which is available for use in dance/movement therapy to help pre-school aged children bridge the gap between non-verbal expression and verbal communication. Cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of intelligence begin to accumulate in infancy by physically interacting with the environment. These interactions are enacted and refined through developmental patterns of movement and expression that have been laid out in the frameworks of the Kestenberg Movement Profile, Body-Mind Centering, Laban Movement Analysis, and Bartenieff Fundamentals. The wealth of knowledge, which is accumulated through bodily sensations …

Using Dance/Movement Therapy To Improve Mental Health Of Modern Chinese People, Si Wang

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

This article introduces dance/movement therapy as a unique psychotherapeutic modality in treating Chinese clients facing depression, isolation, and other mental health issues in the 21st century. The article shows how dance/movement therapy can help Chinese clients reduce psychological difficulties produced by the conflict of needing to individuate in a modern society but not having enough social and cultural support for this individuation. It also discusses how Kestenberg Movement Profile and its developmental movement concepts can support Chinese clients to reintegrate developmental rhythms that help with individuation. Lastly, the article gives examples of how group therapy can help Chinese clients overcome …

An Exploration Of Barriers To Health Care Access Among Uninsured Patients: Using The Moderating Effect Of Patients’ Enablement, Enedelia L. Jessup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT On March 23, 2010, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to increase value of care, improve clinical outcomes, decrease health care costs, and increase affordability in health care access. The purpose of the study attempts to examine the moderating effects of patient enablement impacting barriers, low socio economic status, and unmet basic needs, toward health care access in uninsured populations post ACA. Only certain aspects of patient enablement in self-management of an individual’s health care goals have been conducted with uninsured populations with barriers toward health care access. The research design was a quantitative, exploratory, …

Feeding Behaviors And The Child With Posterior Tongue-Tie : Comparison To Norms., Mckenzie Sexton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The tongue is an important muscle used in speech, mastication, swallowing, and breastfeeding. It plays an important role in facial development, dentition, and periodontal status. Posterior ankyloglossia, also known as posterior tongue-tie (PTT), is characterized by a tether beneath the lingual mucosa. Upon visual inspection, the frenulum is non-prominent but with the use of a grooved director it may appear abnormally prominent, short, thick, or cord-like. Palpation of the frenulum may reveal tightness. There is a lack of empirical data about PTT and the impact on feeding beyond early infancy. PTT is not well recognized and can be missed resulting …

Dancing, Mindfulness, And Our Emotions: Embracing The Mind, Body, And Sole, Alisha M. Collins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines dance, as an intervention and mindfulness practice that assists with managing our emotions. There is a need for dance therapy in social institutions such as, healthcare facilities, schools, and community centers. Dance therapy has the potential to reduce negative emotions, create mindfulness, improve self-expression, and promote a healthy well-being. I am proposing that dance therapy is applied as a regular practice in social institutions to develop mindfulness and promote emotional stability.

In this study, I argue that dance therapy can contribute to our well-being long term. In addition to this written thesis, a visual component of …

Fear Of Missing Out, Social Media Abuse, And Parenting Styles, Kylie Richter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing rise in technology use, particularly engagement in social media, it is important for researchers to gain a better understanding of the usage patterns along with the antecedents and consequences of heavy social media usage. In addition to the rise in social media usage, a new anxiety driven phenomenon is storming the research world, FoMO (Fear of Missing Out). To date, there has been little empirical research on the relationship between social media usage and psychological adjustment. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between FoMO, social media abuse, and parenting styles. It is theorized that because FoMO …

Designing A Mobile Application To Support The Indicated Prevention And Early Intervention Of Childhood Anxiety, Mandar Patwardhan, Ashish Amresh, Ryan Stoll, Kevin A. Gary, Derek B. Hamel, Armando Pina

Ashish Amresh

This paper presents the design of an mHealth application for prevention and early intervention of childhood anxiety. The application is based on REACH, a preventative-early intervention protocol for childhood anxiety. This paper describes the multidisciplinary design process, sharing lessons learned in developing an effective mHealth application. This mHealth application is unique due to participant age, preventive-early intervention focus, and utilization of mobile technology in a situated manner. A design process inspired by user-centered leveraging key informant interviews was used to identify application features, including game based strategies and an animated motivational avatar. Validation was performed through external review and a …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Review Of Dsm Criteria And Functional Neuroanatomy, Cornelius W. Thomas

Marshall Journal of Medicine

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) consist of over twenty possible symptoms that can be divided into six broad categories. These categories correlate with specific brain networks that regulate emotions, behaviors, and autonomic function. Normal functioning of these networks depends on two key regions; the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. The prefrontal cortex provides top-down executive control over amygdala, whereas the amygdala is critical for threat detection and activation of the ‘fight or flight’ response. Events that trigger extreme and/or prolonged fear can cause persisting dysregulation within the prefrontal-amygdala circuit; resulting …

Expressive Arts Group Therapy With Children And Adolescents Who Have Experienced Trauma, Shade Alfred

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Experiencing traumatic situations is an inevitable part of life that many have struggled to understand and have difficulty working through its effects. This results in persons seeking therapy to better cope and heal from the impact of the traumatic experience. Children and adolescents who are considered vulnerable require more assistance to help them when they have encountered a traumatic experience. Research has highlighted that Expressive Arts Therapies is a favorable treatment option used with traumatized children and adolescents. Hence, this paper reflects research that has been conducted on group expressive arts therapy with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. …