Psychiatry Commons^™

Ketamine Infusion Treatment For Depression, Isabella Schwing

Capstone Showcase

Depression remains a significant public health challenge in the U.S., affecting millions of adults and contributing to both psychological and financial burdens. Major depressive disorder impacts approximately 14.5 million U.S. adults, with about 30% of cases classified as treatment-resistant depression. Traditional antidepressant therapies, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, often have delayed onset and limited efficacy, leaving a substantial portion of patients without adequate relief. Given these limitations, there is an urgent need for alternative treatment options.

Recent research has highlighted ketamine as a promising intervention for Major Depressive Disorder and Treatment Resistant Depression. Initially identified as …

A Case Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome In The Setting Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Stephen Driscoll

Capstone Showcase

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by a relapsing-remitting course of abdominal discomfort and change in stool form and/or frequency in the absence of any structural or biochemical abnormalities. Currently there is debate on its pathogenesis but there is no definitive conclusion. Treatment consists of primarily playing symptomalogic catch-up with anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrheals, stool softeners, or laxatives depending on which symptoms the patient is currently experiencing. Patients with IBS typically struggle to control their symptoms long term, like the patient described in this case study. This case study explores a possible link between IBS and its’ most …

The Effectiveness Of Probiotics In Adults With Depressive Symptoms, Brianna Rees

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: Depression affects over 21 million adults in the United States and continues to rise, affecting more people due to the recent pandemic. Because the prevalence of this debilitating mental health disease is increasing, it is even more crucial to find additional therapeutic treatments to alleviate depressive symptoms in adults whose depression is not controlled on current anti-depressant medication or therapy. Depression has been shown to be linked to the gut-brain axis, meaning gut health is connected to our mental health. Therefore, probiotics may be effective in altering the gut microbiome, and ultimately affecting cognitive patterns in the brain.

Methods: …

Quality Of Life Before And After Cosmetic Surgery: Should Body Dysmorphic Disorder Be Considered An Absolute Or Relative Contraindication For Cosmetic Surgery?, Lindsay Conlisk

Capstone Showcase

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) has historically been regarded as a strong contraindication for cosmetic plastic surgery. New research now suggests that the contraindications to cosmetic surgery in patients with BDD may not be so absolute. This paper reviews diagnostic criteria, diagnostic challenges, and current standard of treatment of BDD. It then presents the idea of insight analysis in the BDD patient as a significant factor in determining if patients with BDD may or may not benefit from cosmetic surgery or procedures.

Conditions That Mimic Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In A Pediatric Population: A Diagnostic Guide For Primary Care Providers, Elena Schatell

Capstone Showcase

This article outlines common neurobiological, developmental, psychological, and other medical diagnoses and conditions that symptomatically mimic attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the pediatric population. Many of these disorders are comorbid with ADHD, but they may also be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Due to the similarity in presentation, these conditions must be included when formulating a differential diagnosis. Accurately diagnosing a child with ADHD requires a thorough evaluation and work up to rule out diagnoses on the differential.

The Program To Reduce Implicit Bias In Carroll Hospital Center Using The Implicit Association Test, Katherine E. Traynor

Capstone Showcase

Natural brain processes make all individuals susceptible to unconscious bias; however, stressful, fearful, or anger-evoking situations as well as the negative influence of media and social surroundings increase the risk of holding obstructive bias, and there is a greater risk of being negatively impacted by this phenomenon when belonging to a minority population (Rose & Flores, 2020). As a result, high rates of infant mortality (10.2 deaths per 1,000 live births for the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 4.1 in the White population) and cardiovascular related diseases (190.0 cases per 1,000 in the Non-Hispanic Black population compared to 161.3 in …

Quality Of Life Before And After Cosmetic Surgery: Should Body Dysmorphic Disorder Be Considered An Absolute Or Relative Contraindication For Cosmetic Surgery?, Lindsay Conlisk

Capstone Showcase

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) has historically been regarded as a strong contraindication for cosmetic plastic surgery. New research now suggests that the contraindications to cosmetic surgery in patients with BDD may not be so absolute. This paper reviews diagnostic criteria, diagnostic challenges, and current standard of treatment of BDD. It then presents the idea of insight analysis in the BDD patient as a significant factor in determining if patients with BDD may or may not benefit from cosmetic surgery or procedures.

In Patients With Mild To Moderate Alzheimer’S, Does Music Therapy Help To Decrease Mood Disturbances When Compared To Those Not Participating In Music Therapy?, Lauren Bauer

Capstone Showcase

Abstract:

Introduction: Affecting both memory and cognitive abilities, Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem as the baby boomer population ages. Clinical trials for new medications fail or are slow going, researchers have sought alternatives to alleviate symptoms for patients of this disease. This paper will address the effect of music therapy on mood disturbance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Method: A literature search was completed in November of 2019 using PubMed, EBSCO Search, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Six articles were chosen based on relevance to the research question, study design, outcome, and results.

Results: Based on review, music …

The Effects Of Psychological Intervention On Pregnant Women With Elevated Cortisol Levels And Adverse Birth Events, Megan Mellon

Capstone Showcase

Elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy are thought to influence cortisol levels. Dysregulations in cortisol, as a byproduct of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, have been associated with preterm birth and adverse birth outcomes. Studies have demonstrated poorer long-term effects of antenatal stress on child neurodevelopment, temperament, and cognition. Psychological interventions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and gratitude have shown to have a positive effect on psychological wellbeing across various populations. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze a collection of randomized-controlled trials to conclude if psychological interventions during pregnancy for women with elevated levels of …

The Efficacy Of Ketamine In Adult Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder With Symptoms Refractory To Standard Of Care Treatment., Brooke Thornton

Capstone Showcase

First line pharmacologic treatments for adult patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involve selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRIs). These drug classes often fail to deliver timely relief of symptoms as well as maintain longevity of symptom recurrence. This research analyzed the use of ketamine in adult patients suffering with OCD for the purposes of more efficacious management of symptoms. Although ketamine demonstrated a timelier relief of symptoms in some small clinical studies, its effects were ultimately unable to be sustained long term. Additionally, a wide range of adverse effects including dissociation, and rebound symptoms were observed. As a result, large …

The Efficacy Of Yoga As An Adjunctive Therapy To Standard Multidisciplinary Care In The Treatment Of Female Patients Presenting With Cognitive Eating Disorder Symptoms, Cassidy Nagle

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: Current treatment of patients exhibiting cognitive eating disorder symptoms is standard multidisciplinary care (SMDC) involving behavioral therapy, medical management and dietetics. Because these symptoms often persist or relapse despite treatment, research has begun to explore adjunctive therapies like yoga for this population. This review will explore seven studies in order to analyze the effect of yoga (I) on cognitive eating disorder symptoms (O) in teenage and adult females (P) when added to SMDC compared to symptom reduction with SMDC alone (C).

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Academic Search Ultimate and Google Scholar starting November 2018. Seven …