Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Data-Driven Neuroanatomical Subtypes In Various Stages Of Schizophrenia: Linking Cortical Thickness, Glutamate, And Language Functioning, Liangbing Liang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The considerable variation in the spatial distribution of cortical thickness changes has been used to parse heterogeneity in schizophrenia. We aimed to recover a ‘cortical impoverishment’ subgroup with widespread cortical thinning. We applied hierarchical cluster analysis to cortical thickness data of three datasets in different stages of psychosis and studied the cognitive, functional, neurochemical, language and symptom profiles of the observed subgroups. Our consensus-based clustering procedure consistently produced a subgroup characterized by significantly lower cortical thickness. This ‘cortical impoverishment’ subgroup was associated with a higher symptom burden in a clinically stable sample and higher glutamate levels with language impairments in …

Predictors And Outcomes Of Patient Stigma Perception Appraisal: Developing And Testing Of A Dynamic Stigma Model Of Mental Illness, Sebastian Kwadwo Gyamfi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background

The psychosocial perspectives of stigma have been explored over the years. However, research that encompasses the study of stigma as a socio-cultural, religious, and moral phenomenon is lacking. This study aimed to develop and test a Dynamic Stigma Model of Mental illness (DYSMO) among a cohort of Outpatients receiving care in Ghana.

Methods

The study examined hypothesized relationships within a newly developed stigma model using structural equation modeling techniques. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 330 participants at the Out-Patient Department of two psychiatric hospitals in Southern Ghana.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis produced a final model …

The Impact Of Initial Age Of Methamphetamine Use On Social Integration, Emily E. Guarasci

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Prevalence of methamphetamine use is rising in North America. Peers and social relationships are known to influence substance use patterns, but fewer studies have examined the role of early initiation on later social integration. We aimed to understand the relationship between age of first use and social integration.

Methods: Bivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationship between age of first use and social integration before performing a sex-based analysis. Multivariable linear regressions were used to help to understand this relationship.

Results: There was no significant association between age of first use and social integration scores for the sample. …

Role Of The Default-Mode Network During Narrative Integration In Major Depressive Disorder, Darren Ri-Sheng Liang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

How brain activity is synchronized across individuals during narrative comprehension has previously been characterized by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy and patient populations. To our knowledge, there has been limited investigation as to how it is affected by major depressive disorder (MDD). We addressed this issue with fMRI through examination of inter-subject synchronization in the default mode network (DMN), brain structures which have previously been implicated in MDD pathology. Twenty-two patients with MDD and 20 matched control participants listened to Intact versus Scrambled versions of an auditory narrative; these experimental conditions differed in the degree of temporal integration …

Using Youth Voice To Inform Programs And Services Promoting Newcomers' Healthy Development, Alexandra C.G. Smith

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Effective programs to support the healthy development and well-being of youth who have immigrated to Canada are needed. This integrated-article dissertation accentuated the perspectives of refugee and immigrant youth to identify considerations for programming and strategies to promote their healthy development. The first paper (Chapter Two) utilized focus groups to explore newcomer youths’ experiences relocating to a new country and advice for other youth who have recently arrived in Canada. We identified five overarching themes across groups through thematic analysis: (1) moving to a new county is hard, (2) maintain a healthy mindset, (3) take an active role in the …

Sex Differences In The Clinical Presentation Of Early Psychosis In A Primary Care Setting, Brooke Carter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Psychotic disorders can be variable in clinical presentation, and there may be differences by sex. The objective of this thesis was to explore sex differences in the clinical presentation of early psychosis in the context of primary care. Our systematic review and meta-analysis found that men experienced more negative symptoms and had a higher prevalence of substance use issues, whereas women experienced more depressive symptoms and had higher functioning. Our electronic medical record analysis from primary care found that positive symptoms and substance use were less prevalent in the medical records of women. We also found that visits by women …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Safe Exercise Training Workshop On Knowledge And Self-Efficacy To Manage Dysfunctional Exercise Among Eating Disorders Clinicians At Alsana Eating Disorders Center, Danika A. Quesnel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Engaging in dysfunctional exercise (DEX) is detrimental to eating disorders (EDs) prognosis, although common amongst clients. Though nutritionally supported exercise can improve ED treatment outcomes, without negatively impacting weight restoration, clinicians remain hesitant to address DEX, perhaps due to a lack of information and training. The current study examined the effects of a Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) training on clinician knowledge and self-efficacy in managing DEX in ED treatment. Eating disorders clinicians completed measures before (n = 96) and after (n = 44) SEES training to assess their knowledge and self-efficacy around treating DEX, with a …

Emerging Adult Perspectives On Marijuana Usage And Social Isolation During Covid-19, Avery Kiana Wong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Individuals struggling with emotional distress are twice as likely to use marijuana routinely. Young adults, ages 18 to 24, continue to be at increased risk for accidents, injuries, and poor cognitive functioning when using cannabis regularly, compared to those 24 and older. In addition, studies have shown that increased social isolation further increases the risk of marijuana use in young adults. Previous literature also demonstrated that marijuana is currently being used as a method of treatment for emotional distress. Much of the research conducted to date has focused on the collection of checklist data that has looked at the presence …