Improving Employee Mental Health: Addressing Depression At The Workplace, Gerald G. Chia Dr.

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract Background: Depression is a serious mental health challenge in the US. As frontline workers who are responsible for taking care of a myriad of patients daily, health workers are usually exposed to depressive situations which eventually results in them developing the mental health condition. The purpose of the current project was, therefore, to develop an intervention which helps to improve employee mental health in healthcare settings with focus on depression and examine workplace factors which influence depression among employees of the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic in Washington District of Columbia. Methods: A pre-intervention survey was conducted among 43 employees. …

Selective Gsk3b Deletion In Camk2a+ Forebrain Neurons Or Inhibition Via Tideglusib, Decreases Ethanol Consumption In C57bl/6j Mice, Sam Gottlieb, Andrew D. Van Der Vaart, Brennen O'Rourke, Michael F. Miles

Graduate Research Posters

Purpose: We previously identified glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (Gsk3b) as a central member of a gene network highly regulated by acute ethanol in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and associated with risk for alcohol dependence in humans. Further, we have demonstrated modulation of Gsk3b alters ethanol consumption in rodent models. GSK3B could thus represent a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here, we investigate the mechanisms of Gsk3b action in ethanol consumption and report preclinical evidence for the selective GSK3B inhibitor, tideglusib, as a therapeutic agent for AUD.

Methods: (1) Selective Cre-induced Gsk3b …

The House Of Love And The Mental Hospital: Zones Of Care And Recovery In South India, Murphy Halliburton

Publications and Research

The Movement for Global Mental Health has defined the person suffering psychopathology in low-income countries as an abused and suffering subject in need of saving by biomedical psychiatry. Based on fieldwork in Kerala, South India, carried out at psychiatric clinics and a psychosocial rehabilitation centre, this paper examines patients’ experiences of illness, the degree and quality of family support, and attributions made to the role of ‘sneham’, or love, in recovery. The role of love and family involvement may help explain the provocative finding by WHO epidemiological studies that ‘developing’ countries – and India in particular – showed better rates …

The Experience Of Therapists Working With Mexican American Children Of Substance Abusing Parents, Tracy M. Basile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe need for culturally competent mental health providers and the Mexican American immigrant population in the United States are growing. This study focused on themes from therapists’ narratives that may help to comprehend the intricacy of difficulties facing Mexican American children living with substance-abusing parents. The firsthand knowledge and experiences of the therapists who have worked with this population provided a basic understanding of what to expect and which therapeutic interventions may work best for both the child and their parents. The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to qualitatively identify therapists’ lived experiences and understand how they interacted with …

Emotional Reactions In First-Time African American Fathers During The Postnatal Period, Aisha Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIndividuals who have recently become first-time parents can find the experience to be both rewarding and challenging. While research has mainly focused on the challenging experiences of first-time mothers after giving birth, recent studies have begun to find that first-time fathers may have just as difficult a time adjusting to their new role. Most research studies conducted in this area have primarily focused on the experience of European American and Asian American first-time fathers and not specifically on African American fathers. Social exchange theory was used in this interpretive phenomenological analysis study to explore how first-time African American fathers handled …

Factors Associated With Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Persons With Serious Psychological Distress, Minn A. Oh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Serious psychological distress (SPD) is an important individual and public health concern, but inconsistent results exist in the literature in terms of help-seeking behaviors and health-related outcomes among persons with SPD. The purpose of this study was to address this issue and understand clinical factors, access and quality of care factors, and sociodemographic factors associated with help-seeking behaviors among adults with SPD using the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). CHIS data were collected in 2015 as a part of a two-year cycle (2015-2016) and surveyed 42,089 adults. For multivariable analyses, logistic regression analyses were performed. Participants with chronic health conditions …

Juvenile Justice And The Criminalization Of Mentally Ill Individuals, Michael Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile justice systems in the United States are using incarceration as a solution to the problem of youths with mental health disorders who commit violent crimes. Juvenile justice systems across the United States have a revolving door effect that arrests, adjudicates, and incarcerates youth offenders but fail to address the factors that contribute to recidivism. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to identify which treatment procedures were most appropriate for juvenile offenders who committed violent offenses in an effort to reduce recidivism for this offender population. For this study, an ecological psychology theory was used as a lens …

Detroit Community Violence And Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Of African American Men, Rebekah D. Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community violence is a type of trauma commonly experienced in inner cities. Qualitative methods and hermeneutic phenomenology were used to identify connections of low use of professional mental health services by African American men in inner-city settings to chronic exposure to trauma. Sotero’s historical trauma theory was used to explain how minority men process trauma in present-day circumstances. Purposeful sampling was used to select seven African American men in Detroit, Michigan who self-reported exposure to community violence. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using three steps: transcribing; listening, reading, and analyzing; and coding using inductive and deductive analysis. …

Differences In Smoking Behaviors And Readiness To Change For Patients With Copd And Differing Categories Of Depression, Jessica M. Floyd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the world. Depression is a common comorbidity of COPD and affects patient outcomes and smoking cessation. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe factors influencing smoking behaviors and readiness to change in patients with comorbid COPD and depression.

Aims: The research question that guided this study was, “What are the relationships among smoking, COPD, and depression?” The following aims stemmed from the research question: to describe the characteristics of a convenience sample of people living with COPD and differing categories of depression who …

Resilience: Insights From The U.S. Longterm Ecological Research Network, Jane Cowles, Laura Templeton, John J. Battles, Peter J. Edmunds, Robert C. Carpenter, Stephen R. Carpenter, Michael Paul Nelson, Natalie L. Cleavitt, Timothy J. Fahey, Peter M. Groffman, Joe H. Sullivan, Maile C. Neel, Gretchen J. A. Hansen, Sarah Hobbie, Sally J. Holbrook, Clare E. Kazanski, Eric W. Seabloom, Russell J. Schmitt, Emily H. Stanley, Alan J. Tepley, Natalie S. Van Doorn, Jake M. Vander Zanden

Advanced Science Research Center

Ecosystems are changing in complex and unpredictable ways, and analysis of these changes is facilitated by coordinated, long-term research. Meeting diverse societal needs requires an understanding of what populations and communities will be dominant in 20, 50, and 100 yr. This paper is a product of a synthesis effort of the U.S. National Science Foundation funded Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) network addressing the LTER core research area of populations and communities. This analysis revealed that each LTER site had at least one compelling story about what their site would look like in 50 or 100 yr. As the stories were …

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 …

Smoking Cessation Interventions In College Students: A Systematic Review, Rebecca Nussbaum, Avery Dietz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Smoking prevalence in college students is increasing and intervention studies have resulted in inconsistent findings. In this systematic review, the following PICO question is addressed: In college students ages 18 to 24, are cognitive-behavioral modification therapies more effective than e-cigarettes in aiding with smoking cessation? Database searches in CINAHL, Medline, and PsycINFO resulted in reviewing 20 primary sources. E-cigarettes are often used instead of conventional cigarettes, though long-term effects are not completely understood. Cognitive interventions, especially coupled with evidence-based medications and other therapies, provided substantial short-term abstinent rates, although longer-term rates were often not examined. Most researchers have examined college …

A Systematic Review Of Culturally Sensitive Interventions For Ethnic Minority Elders With Mental Illness, Sarah Littlefield, Rosalinda Villareal

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Honors Research Proposal

Goals and Objectives

Our systematic review asks the question: In ethnic minority elders with mental illness, how does culturally sensitive care, compared to current practices, affect patient outcomes? Our project goal is identifying evidence based practice with the goal of improving patient outcomes for ethnic minority elders with mental illnesses.

Methodology:

We will compile evidence from 20 current peer-reviewed studies. These studies will be selected from the CINAHL Plus med database, and key search terms will include: culturally sensitive care, culture, ethnic, mental health, intervention. All selected articles will be current within the last five years.

Outcomes: …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Older Adults With Dementia: A Systematic Review, Sydney Swogger, Kahli Throckmorton

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Older adults with dementia experience difficulties throughout the progression of the disease, including decreased quality of life and mental health (Weise et al., 2018). Nonpharmacological interventions, such as music therapy and music listening, may be one solution to affect mental health outcomes in this population. The two authors seek to answer the following PICOT formatted question: In older adults, ages 65 and older, with dementia, how does music therapy, compared with treatment as usual, affect depression and anxiety? Twenty primary sources, published from 2014 to 2019, were reviewed and critically appraised. The sources were diverse with regards to country of …

Shu Altop News Issue #2, Spring, Dr. Susan L. Davis, Rn & Richard J. Henley College Of Nursing

News, Magazines and Reports

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant.

Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut.

Academic Stress Examination And Its Sources Among Saudi Students In The United States, Nawaf Alshammari

Online Theses and Dissertations

Academic stress has been identified as one of the major concerns in current academic circles. Academic stress is an example of mental distress associated with anticipation or awareness of academic failure and/or the result of being in a given educational facility or pursuing academic work. Academic stress is a major concern because its effects are pervasive and have serious consequences. Research has shown that mental disorders, physical challenges, substance abuse and high rates of drop-outs are attributed to academic stress. Research has shown that the level of academic stress is highest amongst university students in general and international students in …

The Impact Of Mindfulness On Mental And Emotional Health, Physical Fitness, And Academic Performance, Melanie B. Smith

Online Theses and Dissertations

Past research has indicated promising results with mindfulness and mental health. This study examines the relationship between mindfulness and mental health, physical fitness, and academic performance for middle and high school students enrolled in health and physical education courses. The Calm app was utilized in part of the Calm Schools Initiative. (n.d.) as part of the intervention. The treatment group took part in mindfulness activities twice per week for the duration of the study. Measurers were recorded using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale – Adolescents (Brown, West, Loverich, & Biegel, 2011), Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Karmarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), Patient …

Less Talking, More Empathy: How To Use Emojis To Help People Feel Good, Farhana Nusrat, Yanliu Huang

AMTP Proceedings 2021

Text therapy is an affordable and convenient form of counselling that allows clients to text with a Therapist. It is quite common for therapists to use emojis while talking to their clients via texts. In this study, we examine how use of emojis in the context of text therapy impacts clients’ overall counselling experience. In two studies, we show that using emojis with concise messages (vs. long messages) lead to greater clients’ overall satisfaction, higher willingness to pay, and increased positive word of mouth.

Mental Health Treatment Services Exposure In Lgbtq+ College Students Of Color, Arianna Kholanjani

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Parent/ Caregiver Burnout With Autism Due To Covid, Leah Recker, Erin Babcock

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to gain an understanding how parents of children with autism are affected by caregiver burnout. We want to understand the different factors that contribute to this burnout and analyze how individuals are affected differently. To do this, we are sending

out a survey using Likert scale items to assess parents’ stress and burnout. We will be carefully selecting statements based off information we gather through peer reviewed journal articles. We would then like the parents to decide how strongly they agree or disagree with each question. This will create a more in-depth picture of …

Beyond The Bump: Reconceiving The Philosophy Of Pregnancy, Hazel T. Bianas, Leni Dlr Garcia, Ninotchka Mumtaj B. Albano

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

French philosopher Hélène Cixous (1976) stressed the importance of feminine writing. She believes that women should take part in sharing their experiences from their own novel points-of-view. We discuss that while pregnancy is an experience unique to women; it has been misappropriated by patriarchal structures throughout the years. The pregnancy bump; which is more than just evidence of the uterus stretching to accommodate the fetus; is a symbol of a woman's triumphs and struggles all throughout conception; pregnancy and childbirth. We show that women have already gone beyond the bump and challenged existing patriarchal systems through different means; as Cixous …

A Short Film That Addresses Substance Use Disorders In Rural Communities And Strategies In Prevention And Treatment Of Addiction, Sarah R. Poteracki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research paper and accompanying video (link to the short film is here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1etDnUmEvkOds8J0EKnq1gnFO79-GggjY) offer insight into the current state of research collaboration surrounding substance use disorders in West Virginia. This professional project explores the importance of collaboration both in a research and clinical setting and in the social realm. The film was shown at the 2nd annual meeting for the Appalachian Node of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network on February 25, 2021. I interviewed 14 researchers and experts from a diverse range of disciplines who shared insights and strategies in the prevention and treatment of …

The Effect Of Physical Activity On The Mental Health Of Pre-Nursing Students And Undergraduate Student Nurses, Larinda J. Fandrich

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Mental health concerns are on the rise among the college-aged student. College students face a great deal of stress, which can lead to depression and anxiety. Nursing students, as a sub-group of college students, are under even greater stress related to rigorous course work and the responsibility of caring for other people, which can lead to greater depression and anxiety. This study aimed to determine what effect, if any, physical activity has on depression and anxiety scores using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 instruments in pre-nursing and nursing students. In this study, physical activity is defined as is “any bodily …

Health Care Providers' Attitudes Toward Screening Patients For Sexual Violence And Intimate Partner Violence, Judith Hoyt

Honors Theses

The primary purpose of this quasi-experimental study of health care providers at a faith­based clinic for uninsured adults in a metropolitan area was to detennine health care providers' knowledge of and attitudes towards the use of SV and IPV screening tools. This study measured a volunteer group of primary care providers' knowledge and attitudes towards SV and IPV screening tools before and after applying an educational intervention presenting the benefits of screening and identifying patients who have previously been, currently are, or at risk to suffer abuse. A total of IO eligible participants completed all elements of the study. The …

Opioid System's Involvement In Ketamine's Antidepressant-Like Effects, Fan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is one of the most debilitating disorders in the world. The currently available medications typically have a 2-4 week delay in their therapeutic effects and are ineffective for about 40% of patients. In 2000, a subanesthetic dose (0.5 mg/kg i.e.) of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine was reported to have both rapid and robust antidepressant effects in in treatment-resistant depressed patients. However, the mechanisms responsible for ketamine’s antidepressant effects remain unclear. In 2018, a clinical study reported that pretreatment with the nonselective opioid antagonist naltrexone attenuated the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine in depressed patients. The current study investigated the …

The Role Of Insurance Coverage In Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment Referral, Utilization, And Outcomes, Huyen Pham

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid-related overdoses increased dramatically in recent years. Medicaid plays a predominant role in paying for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. However, there is a critical gap in understanding the role of Medicaid coverage in referrals to treatment, treatment utilization, and treatment retention. The three studies used observational and quasi-experimental (i.e., natural experiment) designs leveraging state and year variation in Medicaid expansion to characterize the role of Medicaid coverage in OUD treatment. We found that individuals with OUD with Medicaid insurance were more likely to use outpatient treatment, whereas those who were uninsured were more likely to use self-help groups only. …

Policies Addressing Barriers To Low-Income Women And Children’S Health Care Utilization In The United States And Kenya: The Role Of Physician Payments And Cash Transfer Programs, Muloongo Simuzingili

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined two policies to improve low-income women and children’s healthcare utilization: physician payments and cash transfer programs. Higher physician payments increase the supply of healthcare services while cash transfers increase individuals’ demand for healthcare services. Cash transfer programs can improve health outcomes, yet the extent to which they are a cost-effective strategy is largely understudied. Therefore, this dissertation examines three overarching research questions:

1. Are Medicaid physician fees associated with access to substance abuse disorder (SUD) treatment among low-income women of reproductive age?
2. Do economic preferences moderate cash transfer program effects on children’s health care utilization? Evidence from a …

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 …

Positive Reflective Journaling As A Tool For Managing Stress And Promoting A Healthy Work Environment In Nursing Academia, Roxanne Gall

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Teaching and nursing are consistently cited as the two occupations that work under the highest levels of occupational stress. Positive Reflective Journaling may be a tool that helps to manage stress and influence a healthy work environment in academic nursing settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Positive Reflective Journaling could be used as an adjunct to reduce stress and support a healthy working environment in

nursing academia.

Methodology: Eighty-six faculty and staff from a University based School of Nursing were invited to participate in the study. A positive reflective journaling exercise was evaluated …

Long-Term Mental Health And Quality Of Life Outcomes Of Neonatal Insults In Kilifi, Kenya, Dorcas N. Magai, Hans M. Koot, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

We examined the mental health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and their correlates of school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and a comparison group. The Child Behavior Checklist and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were administered to assess the mental health and QoL of 375 children (134 with NNJ, 107 with HIE, and 134 comparison group) aged 6 to 12 years [Median age 9 (interquartile range 7 to 11)]. The results showed that survivors of NNJ and HIE have mental health problems and QoL similar to the comparison group. Maternal mental health was the predominant …