Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Recovery Capital Among Students In Collegiate Recovery Programs At Two-Year And Four-Year Higher Education Institutions In West Virginia, Amy M. Saunders

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) have been around for decades, supporting higher education students by offering supports, resources, and a community. However, most existing research focuses on four-year institutions, and there is limited data on recovery supports at twoyear institutions, as well as limited research on recovery capital among this population. This study explores differences in recovery capital, a measure of internal and external resources supporting recovery, among students in CRPs at two-year versus four-year institutions in West Virginia by answering the following questions: 1.) Are there differences between students’ reported recovery capital index (RCI) scores based on institution type? 2.) …

All About Euthanasia, Bhavna Bangalore

STEM for Success Showcase

The infographic details the practice of euthanasia. It explains euthanasia's history, legality, and process. The infographic also mentions way to support terminally ill patients that choose to undergo the procedure.

Nutrition Assessment Of Substance Use Population Compared To Control Population, Lalitha Indrani Dasari

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study aims to evaluate and compare the nutritional status of individuals undergoing treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) with a matched control population. Poor nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and malabsorption are common in individuals with SUD, potentially affecting recovery outcomes. This study involves collection of biometric data, demographic information, conducting a structured nutrition survey and performing a one-time blood draw of 35ml to assess key nutritional markers such as lipid panel, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), magnesium, selenium, chromium, zinc, copper and lithium. While the original protocol was designed to recruit approximately 110 participants across …

Isapa 2025: Program Guide, Catherine Carty, Gerard Masdeu Yelamos

Publications

ISAPA 2025 is a landmark international event that brings together global leaders, researchers, practitioners, and advocates in Adapted Physical Activity to ignite systemic change under the unifying theme “Shifting the Dial: From Awareness to Transformation.” Hosted in Kerry, Ireland, under the patronage of UNESCO, the symposium integrates five major events into one dynamic platform.

The program reflects IFAPA’s mission to advance inclusion, research, professional excellence, and international cooperation, while also contributing meaningfully to the implementation of global frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris 2024 Call …

Investigating The Impact Of Phthalate Exposures From Personal Care Products On Uterine Fibroid Incidence And Prevalence In Us-Born Black Women, Ella Brissett

CMC Senior Theses

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue that develop within or on the walls of the uterus. Despite being non-cancerous, they can severely affect quality of life by causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, and reproductive complications. Fibroids are typically found in women of reproductive age, but they disproportionately affect Black women, who experience higher incidence and severity. The underlying causes of this disparity is poorly understood; however, an emerging body of research is highlighting the role of phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many personal care products, in exacerbating fibroid development. Through a critical analysis …

Understanding The Intersection Between Alaska Native And Military Cultural Identities: Using Arts-Based Narrative Inquiry With Mixed Methods, Leslie M. Robertson

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples have contributed significant efforts towards involvement in the military and have served in the Armed Forces at five times the national average. AI/AN peoples have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years. There has been a pervasive and historical lack of recognition for their service and a lack of awareness of the intersection between Indigenous and military cultures (Ault, 2020; Bennett, 2009; Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020; Harris & Hirsch, 2020; Holm, 2010; Krouse, 2007; Marston, 1972; Nalewicki, 2021; NICOA, 2019; Viola, 2008; Wooda et al., 2021).

This study …

Investigating Sex-Specific Role Of The Kynurenine Pathway In Opioid Withdrawal, Blake Brady

Psychology Theses - Archive

The opioid epidemic has led to a surge in opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose deaths, making opioid withdrawal a critical area of study. Opioid withdrawal is characterized by both somatic and affective symptoms, including anxiety-like behaviors and physical withdrawal signs, yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. The kynurenine pathway (KP), a primary metabolic route for tryptophan (TRP), is increasingly implicated in neuroinflammatory responses and neuropsychiatric disorders, yet its involvement in opioid use and withdrawal remains poorly studied, with even less known about potential sex-specific differences. Historically, the predominant use of male subjects in preclinical research has compounded …

1st Place Research Paper: Increasing The Accessibility Of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Tf-Cbt) For Adolescents With Developmental Language Disorder: A Pilot Study, Lauren A. Fillet

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

Research has demonstrated that adolescents with developmental language disorder (AWDLD) perform more poorly compared to typically developing peers on measures of narrative production.This limitation may not only impact education and social life, but also possibly post-traumatic stress recovery, as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) involves a Trauma Narrative production activity (D’Amico et al., 2022). A limited amount of research has been conducted on adapting TF-CBT for children with intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (D’Amico et al., 2022; Anderson & Cook, 2015). However, there is currently no available research explicitly addressing how TF-CBT can be individualized to …

Representative National Survey On Drug Use During The Covid-19 Stay-At-Home Order In The Usa, Soo-Hoon Lee, Bernadette Cullen, Alidon Athey, Calliope Holingue, Michelle R. Kaufman, Paul Nestadt, Jack Samuels, Tracy Vannorsdall, Phillip Phan

Management Faculty Publications

Objectives This study explores the drug use behaviour in the US general population in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the relationship between sociopsychological factors, mobility restrictions from March to June 2020 and mental health conditions.

Design A retrospective anonymous online survey representing a cross-section of the US population in 2020.

Setting A qualified panel of 500 000 Qualtrics participants stratified by gender, race, age and geographical region to represent the US population.

Participants 3340 participants voluntarily consented to respond.

Measures Outcome measure for illicit and non-medical use of prescription drugs based on the National …

Confidentiality In Addiction Treatment: Navigating 42 Cfr Part 2 Within Human Services, Chaniece Winfield, Jessica Huffman

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Recent federal legislation, including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAE) and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), has placed greater emphasis on quality integrated health care, with a focus on access, treatment options, and evidence-based practices. Changes to Federal 42 CFR privacy protections also impact individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment, either as a primary diagnosis or comorbidity. Human service professionals, as generalists in the behavioral health field, provide vital treatment, recovery, and prevention services for individuals with substance use and addictive disorders. This paper explores the implications of these legislative changes, particularly regarding privacy protections …

Navigating Recovery: Insights From Distance Learning Human Services Students' Abstinence Experience, Chaniece Winfield, Jill Kivikoski, Catalina Kraft

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

With the rise in overdose and problematic drug use in the United States, it is crucial to develop competent human service practitioners in addiction treatment and recovery settings. This qualitative study explores the virtual abstinence experience of distance learning human services students, using Mezirow’s transformative learning theory to examine how a 21-day experiential abstinence prompts critical reflection and perspective transformation. The study investigates the socio-emotional and physiological factors influencing participants' progress toward sobriety, including cravings, withdrawal, isolation, and relapse triggers. Findings highlight how participants' critical reflection leads to a deeper understanding of addiction and recovery, as well as an enhanced …

Hemifacial Spasm Due To Dolichoectasia Of Vertebral And Basilar Arteries, Meena Iyer, Shasthara Paneyala Dr.

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Dolichoectasia refers to the non-focal dilatation and tortuosity of arteries, primarily affecting the vertebral and basilar arteries due to severe tunica intima degeneration. It is associated with genetic predisposition and atherosclerosis, leading to vessel wall weakening. Patients may remain asymptomatic or develop neurological deficits due to mass effect. We report a case of a 60-year-old male presenting with hemifacial spasm secondary to vertebral artery dolichoectasia. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) revealed ectatic and tortuous basilar and vertebral arteries, with the left vertebral artery compressing the left facial nerve complex. Using Smoker’s criteria, a diagnosis of dolichoectasia was confirmed. Dolichoectasia-induced hemifacial spasm …

Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Preoperative Dexmedetomidine Nebulization Versus Lignocaine Nebulization In Attenuation Of Stress Response During Direct Laryngoscopy And Endotracheal Intubation In Elective Surgeries Under General Anaesthesia: A Randomised Control Study At A Tertiary Care Hospital, Mandya, Sumayya E., Kiran A V., Santhosh M C B., Shivakumar G

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation are known to provoke harmful stimuli that can lead to transient, unpredictable, and variable hemodynamic alterations, primarily due to heightened sympathoadrenal activity.¹ Various pharmacological agents have been explored to mitigate this stress response; however, none have emerged as optimal.²

Aim: This study aims to compare the effects of nebulized dexmedetomidine in comparison to nebulized lignocaine on the hemodynamic stress response during direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, including any adverse effects in patients undergoing general endotracheal anesthesia.

Materials and Methods: Informed consent was obtained from 60 patients aged 18 to …

Felt Need For Psychiatry Clubs In Medical Colleges To Enhance Teaching-Learning, Aditya Rao, Sheryl Agarwal, Sharanya Bose, M Kishor

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Mental health competence is critical for medical graduates, yet in India the treatment gap for common mental disorders remains substantial, with prevalence estimates indicating up to 80.4% of unmet need. Recent reforms under the Competency-based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum have expanded psychiatry training; however, deficiencies in applied skills, preventive psychiatry, and communication remain. Psychiatry clubs have been proposed as supplementary, student-led platforms to address these limitations. This cross-sectional study assessed the perceived need for psychiatry clubs among undergraduate medical students and explored their potential role in enhancing teaching–learning. A structured online survey was administered to 94 students across different phases …

Prevalence Of Depression Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients In Urban Mysuru – A Cross-Sectional Study, Jesymol Joy, Renuka M, Chiranjeevi G S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Depression is a significant comorbidity among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) adversely affecting disease management and overall quality of life. Diabetes and depression have a bidirectional relationship, where poorly managed diabetes increases the risk of depression, and depression exacerbates diabetes-related complications. Depression contributes to poor glycemic control, decreased adherence to treatment, increased risk of diabetes-related complications, and higher healthcare utilization.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in urban Mysuru.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 Type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients >18 years of …

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis In Pediatric Asthma : A Diagnostic Challenge Mimicking Tuberculosis, Praveen Das, Santosh Kondekar, Surbhi Rathi

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a rare hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus, more commonly observed in adults and patients with cystic fibrosis. It can, however, present in pediatric asthmatics with refractory symptoms, leading to diagnostic challenges due to overlapping features with other pulmonary diseases, including tuberculosis. ABPA should be considered in children with uncontrolled asthma and atypical radiologic features, especially when unresponsive to standard therapies. Early recognition and appropriate management are critical to prevent irreversible lung damage and improve quality of life.

Pregnancy-Related Delusional Beliefs In Midlife And Late-Life Women: A Case Series, Dyuksha Arora, Ashita Adarsh, Kishor M. Manohar Rao, Anand R, Soumya Rajshekar Patil, Akshatha Cj

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Pseudocyesis and delusional pregnancy represent rare but clinically significant presentations across psychiatric practice. While pseudocyesis involves a false belief of pregnancy accompanied by physical manifestations, delusion of pregnancy refers to a fixed belief of being pregnant despite clear contrary evidence. Both conditions pose considerable challenges as they involve close consultation and liaison between Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Psychiatry. There are a few studies from tertiary care general hospitals in India. Here we report two case series.

Case 1: A 43-year-old married woman from a rural background with an 8-year history of recurrent depressive disorder and dysthymia, presented with 3 months …

One Airway, One Disease In Pregnancy: A Prospective Observational Study On The Correlation Between Upper And Lower Airway Inflammation In Pregnant Women, Durga K, Yuvarajan S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: The well-established "One Airway, One Disease" concept recognizes the deep physiological and pathological connections between conditions affecting both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, most notably allergic rhinitis and asthma. During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant immunological, hormonal, and physiological changes, which can profoundly influence and modulate existing or emerging airway inflammation.

Objective: This prospective observational study was designed with the primary objective of meticulously evaluating the correlation between upper and lower airway inflammation in pregnant women. We aimed to achieve this by assessing a range of clinical symptoms, objective functional parameters, and specific inflammatory markers.

Methods: We …

Comparision Of Buprenorphine Versus Butorphanol As An Adjuvant To Intrathecal Hyperbaric Bupivacaine For Elective Infraumbilical Surgeries : A Randomised Control Study At A Tertiary Care Hospital, Mandya, Surabhi C A, Dr. Kiran A V. Associate Professor, Dr. Shivakumar G Pofessor And Hod, Umesh N P

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Spinal anaesthesia is the most popularly performed procedure in the field of anaesthesiology. Hyperbaric bupivacaine, the local anaesthetic most commonly used, has limitation as its effect lasts only for 1.5-2 hours. Hence a lot of adjuvants have been tried to enhance the analgesic effect of bupivacaine.^[2] Opioids remain the mainstay among the various adjuvants to local anesthetics in spinal anaesthesia primarily by virtue of its various properties such as reducing the dose of local anaesthetic, minimizing side effects, and prolonging the duration of anaesthesia.^[3]

Aim: This study aims to compare the sensory and motor characteristics …

Igf-1 Impacts Neocortical Interneuron Connectivity In Epileptic Spasm Generation And Resolution, Carlos J Ballester-Rosado, John T Le, Trang T Lam, Anne E Anderson, James D Frost, John W Swann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Little is known about the mechanisms that generate epileptic spasms following perinatal brain injury. Recent studies have implicated reduced levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) in these patients' brains. Other studies have reported low levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. In the TTX brain injury model of epileptic spasms, we undertook experiments to evaluate the impact of IGF-1 deficiencies on neocortical interneurons and their role in spasms. Quantitative immunohistochemical analyses revealed that neocortical interneurons that express glutamic acid decarboxylase, parvalbumin, or synaptotagmin 2 co-express IGF-1. In epileptic rats, expression of these three interneuron markers were reduced in the neocortex. …

The Emotional Landscape Of Aviation Pilots: Analysis Of Online Professional Forums Using Natural Language Processing, Adrienne S. Renwick, Leo Gonzalez, Charles L. Silber, Alyson Mullen, Cass Dykeman, Adam Stewart, Jennifer C. Ross, James Geisler

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study investigated burnout related to emotions in three categories of pilots: commercial passenger, commercial cargo, and military. While pilot burnout has been previously studied, challenges in self-reporting limit understanding. This study extends previous research by analyzing pilots' anonymous online forum posts to gain insight into burnout-related emotions. Natural Language Processing was conducted with the RoBERTa-base-go_emotions model, which analyzed 1,130,530 online forum posts from commercial passengers, commercial cargo, and military pilots for 27 emotion categories and one absence of emotion category (i.e., neutral). An exploratory composite score reflecting burnout-related emotional expression omnibus burnout score was calculated using seven burnout-related emotions …

How To Create A Self-Sustaining Meditation Garden, Heather Salazar, Lydia Barrett-Miller, Kaitlyn Parisan

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents the creation and maintenance of a campus meditation garden as an outgrowth of four successive philosophy classes in honors. The authors describe the garden’s inception, execution, curricular advantages, and administration, with specific examples of the impact on student health and well-being. The authors observe the ways in which honors students attained skills in transformational leadership by collaborating to develop projects and lead events, suggesting that a meditation garden may be appropriate for any learning environment emphasizing cooperation, creativity, mindfulness, and well-being.

Barriers And Facilitators To Accessing Mental And Physical Health Care Among Sexual Minority Women: A Qualitative Exploration, Charlotte A. Dawson, A. Moulder, Kristin E. Heron

Department Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Cisgender sexual minority women (SMW, e.g., lesbian, queer) are at greater risk for poor mental and physical health compared to heterosexual women and face challenges when accessing health care. Previous research has largely focused on general sexual and gender minority barriers to health care, but more research is needed on the experiences of specific subgroups, including cisgender SMW. The current study qualitatively explored barriers and facilitators for cisgender SMW seeking health care. Twenty cisgender SMW aged 18-40 recruited using Meta advertisements and past participant lists completed 45 min semi-structured interviews and a brief survey. Thematic analysis conducted by two coders …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Developing Staff Training Modules To Enhance Neurodiversity-Affirming Care In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Haley Morris

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Introduction: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are admitted to psychiatric hospitals at higher rates and for longer durations compared to neurotypical individuals (Kuriakose et al., 2018). Externalizing behaviors, such as aggression and self-injury, significantly increase hospitalization risk, yet standard psychiatric interventions (e.g., traditional process groups) are often ineffective for this population. A key barrier is the lack of ASD-specific training among hospital staff (Siegel & Gabriels, 2012). This capstone project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing an educational training program to improve patient-centered, neurodiversity-affirming care across all inpatient psychiatric units. The primary aims were to: …

Changing The Narrative For University Students With A History Of Aces: Campus Assets And Student Well-Being, Hailey Ellingson

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

College students often report high levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are linked to poor mental and physical health and lower academic success. While some positive experiences in childhood can lessen the risk outcomes associated with ACEs, limited research has explored how this applies to college students. This study examined how assets – specifically, college climate and resources – relate to student well-being and whether these assets buffer the impact of cumulative ACEs, which refers to adverse experiences within the home (e.g., abuse, neglect, and witnessing domestic violence) and community (e.g., bullying and neighborhood violence). Undergraduate students (n …

Injection-Related Infections And Self-Treatment Practices Among People Who Inject Drugs In Rural Appalachia, Laura C. Fanucchi, Jennifer R. Havens, Matthew Fahmy, April M. Young

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

In this study of self-reported serious injection-related infections among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia (n = 463), 50% reported reusing syringes/needles, 70.6% ever had an injection-site abscess, and 44.4% of those with a recent abscess took nonprescribed antibiotics. The study identifies opportunities to improve harm reduction services.

Students Obtaining Tools To Achieve Regulation (Soar), Lacey D. Sanguinito

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

Students Obtaining Tools to Achieve Regulation (SOAR) is a doctoral capstone project that addressed the need for integrated social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary education. SEL is an evidence-based approach shown to improve academic outcomes, behavior, and long-term life success, yet implementation barriers remain in school settings. This project aimed to enhance student regulation, classroom engagement, and teacher confidence in SEL techniques through a multi-tiered approach. A scoping review of SEL literature identified the implementation methods and barriers to SEL curricula in elementary education, which informed the development of SOAR. SOAR consisted of (a) a 20-session, movement-based SEL curriculum targeting …

Recognizing Adult Male Mental Health Needs: An Intervention Looking At Education In Rural Communities, Eugene W. Winans Jr

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This DNP Project examined the role of student nurses and their confidence levels when assisting adult male patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The majority of suicide acts are attributed to men. Thus, this subject requires specific insight and instructions when it comes to proper ways to assist these patients. Incorporating evidence from a pre-test and post-test survey, this project demonstrates that student nurses lack confidence in how to deal with men who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The analysis gained from this project demonstrates the important role nurses play in recognizing, speaking to, and assisting in the treatment …

Mistrust Among Injured Immigrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework, Maude Arsenault, Daniel Côté, Jessica Dubé

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Background

In Quebec, injured workers have access to medical assistance, wage replacement indemnities, and rehabilitation measures, with most injuries resolved easily. However, a small percentage of cases require a lengthy rehabilitation process, which is particularly complex when involving immigrants. The therapeutic alliance is at the heart of the process, involving mutual trust and confidence and a degree of consensus about the therapeutic interventions to be used and, ultimately, the return to work.

Objective

This article delves into the concept of mistrust as more than the absence of trust, and sheds light on its role in the rehabilitation process of immigrant …