Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

The Effects Of The Transition From Pre-Nursing To Nursing On Mental Health, Andrew J. Davis, Paige R. Mullins, Kimberly A. Sell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mental health is an ever-growing crisis among adolescents and young adults, with suicide as second leading cause of death and the number of those negatively affected continually on the rise. Transitions are one of the major stressors prevalent among these age groups, placing individuals at risk for mental health deficits. This quantitative voluntary response comparative study assesses the transitional mental health of pre-nursing students and students in the nursing program at East Tennessee State University. Emailed to all with a declared major of pre-nursing or nursing, this study measured mental health using evidenced based assessment tools. The PHQ-9 for depression …

The Effect Of A Health Educational Program On Sleep Related Health Outcomes, Swetha Sirigineedi

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sleep quality has effects on both physical and mental health. Because of this, sleep hygiene is an important health goal. Participation in health programs promoting healthy behaviors has helped people reach their health goals and elicited positive behavior change. Because of this, it was of interest to determine if participation in a virtual, multi-media health education program improved health and wellbeing outcomes of Arkansans. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of a 20-week behavior and health educational program on the ability of participants to achieve their health goals and improve their health behaviors related to …

Identifying Risk Factors For Hospitalization With Mental Illness And/Or Behavioral Disorders And Concurrent Temperature-Related Illness In New York State : A Cross-Sectional Study, Heather Aydin-Ghormoz

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: In New York State (NYS), extreme heat events in the warm months (May – September) are expected to increase over the next 60 years. Additionally, NYS experiences extremely low temperatures in the colder months (October – April). Extreme temperature events are linked to increased emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality for individuals with mental and behavioral disorders. This research aims to characterize individual and regional risk factors for mental and behavioral disorder hospitalizations with concurrent temperature-related illness in NYS. Methods: Using data from the NYS Statewide and Planning Research and Cooperative System between 2005 – 2019, multivariate log binomial …

The Brain Scan As Ideograph, Paige Welsh

English (MA) Theses

Medical imaging devices have enabled doctors to render images of the brain without cutting into the body. These images are colloquially called “brain scans.” Through journalism and mass dissemination online, brain scans have become an example of Michael Calvin McGee’s “ideograph,” a language term that subtly takes on outsized political and symbolic meaning to enforce state power. In conversation with theories of new materialism, I situate the brain scan as an ideograph within Jenny Edbauer’s model of rhetorical ecologies. The rhetorical force of the brain scan comes out of a collision between René Descarte’s mind/body dualism, the medical model of …

The Baby Blues: Postpartum Depression And The Ways We Can Combat Its Long-Term Effects, Haley Gomez

Nursing | Senior Theses

As nurses, effective interventions for new mothers, both non pharmacological and pharmacological, are essential to improving these patients’ outcomes and minimizing their risk for postpartum depression (PPD). New mothers undergo an immense amount of stress, both physically and mentally. As a result of this, many hospitals have standard postpartum care to minimize the risk of postpartum depression. Despite this, many mothers find themselves at a higher risk for PPD and managing these symptoms. Prescription medications are typically used in treating some symptoms of PPD but many patients may seek other forms of therapies. It is essential that alternative methods in …

Understanding Depressive Symptoms Among Emerging Adults, Salvador Dominguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As societies have progressed following the industrial revolution, the transitioning into adulthood has undergone constant changes. This shift has resulted in young adults delaying traditional roles such as marriage and parenthood to pursue tertiary education and other opportunities. Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) is a phase during an individual's life where they undergo constant changes because of newfound independence, new relationships, and other life-changing events. Currently, it has transitioned into a period where symptoms of depression are commonly experienced more than any other time in life. Given the negative impacts that depressive symptoms can have on individuals' well-being, two studies were …

Exercise Dependence, Affect, And Eating Disorder Symptoms After Treatment Discharge., Samantha M. Minrath

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Eating disorders (EDs) have been proven to be life-threatening, yet these disorders are still prominent in Western society. The current study focuses on exercise dependence, negative affect, positive affect, and ED symptoms in individuals discharged from ED treatment. While ED recovery varies at the individual level, exercise dependence and affect are particularly important to analyze due to the complex and interconnected relationships with each other and ED symptoms. For example, routine exercise can be used to lessen negative affect, but exercise dependence can lead to an increase in negative affect. As patients in recovery begin to add exercise back into …

The Effects Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Perceptions Of Social Stress In Women, Ashton Jones

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hormonal contraceptives are widely used due to their efficiency in preventing pregnancy. Although women are often informed of the physical effects of hormonal contraceptives, there is little emphasis on mental effects, such as increased rates of depression and changes in social perception. The current study examined perceptions of social stress among women before beginning hormonal contraceptives, and two months after using hormonal contraceptives. I hypothesized that women would experience increased social stress after beginning hormonal contraceptives, compared to a control group of women who were also assessed twice. Results did not support this hypothesis; there was no difference in interpersonal …

Parental Stress In Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Jenny Do

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a multi-systemic genetic disorder with great clinical variability. As the needs of one child with TSC may vastly differ from another, parenting demands may similarly differ. Characterizing parental stress, or emotional maladaptation arising from parenting duties, can enable healthcare providers to assist parents of children most efficiently with TSC-related symptoms and improve both parent and child health outcomes. This study surveyed 269 parents of children (aged 0-12 years) with TSC and received the following information: children’s TSC clinical features, parent demographics, and a Parent Stress Index (PSI) score. Parents reported higher stress levels for children …

Video Games, Grief, And The Character Link System, Nam Nguyen

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Grief can encompass more than just the loss of real-life people. It can be felt with the loss of a pet, changes in daily structure, and even the loss of video game characters. The topic of grief related to video games and video game characters comes at a time when games as a service (GaaS) continue to increase in popularity and the phenomenon where these games also inevitably terminate service. To combat this unique form of grief, the Character LINK System was created as a tool that uses simple natural language processing (NLP) techniques to offer support to the bereaved …

Family Disruptions And Maternal Health In Covid Times, Donna Maldonado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

AbstractPrenatal and postpartum women of the border region of El Paso-Ciudad Juarez have been experiencing multiple forms of family disruption due to the twenty-month border closure in an attempt to contain the COVID pandemic, partners having to find jobs far away from home because of economic concerns, and fear of familial disruption due to the threat of deportation of partners or family members. The purpose of the study is to explore the perceived effects of these types of family disruptions and how they are shaping maternal health in COVID times. This project included the analysis of fifteen interviews with pregnant …

Efficacy Of Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation On Measures Of Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Dysregulation, And Perceived Stress In Young Adults, Courtney Gorden

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mental health in the United States is at an all-time low with 21% of adults 18+ suffering from depression or anxiety. When compared with other categories, emerging adults (18-25 years old) have the highest prevalence of mental health disorders at 30%. Young adults face an inordinate amount of stress given the COVID-19 pandemic, being in a unique developmental stage, experiencing new relationships, and transitioning from high school to their professional lives. Vitamins and minerals have roles in neurobiochemistry and have been investigated for effects on mental health with mixed results. Few studies factor in the unique emerging adult developmental stage …

Exploring Higher Weight Women's Experiences Of Provider Weight Stigma, Meredith W. Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the phenomena of weight stigma as experienced by higher weight women in mental health treatment who also engage in restrictive eating behaviors. Women in larger bodies who are emotionally or behaviorally restrictive in their eating behaviors face a unique set of challenges and barriers. These include challenges due the disordered eating behaviors themselves, along with barriers related to weight stigma perpetuated by the mental health providers treating them (Harrop, 2019). Distinct hurdles to proper treatment including delay of diagnosis, longer duration of symptoms, and increased distress related to eating and body …

Implementing An Exercise Referral Scheme For Promoting Physical Activity In University Mental Health Care, Bryce Daniels

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Mental health symptoms and conditions are prevalent and increasing on college campuses with anxiety and depression having the highest increases in prevalence. Many college students are also physically inactive which is problematic as physical activity benefits mental health. Exercise referral schemes (ERS) can promote physical activity, though no studies have investigated the implementation of an ERS within a college counseling center. Purpose. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the implementation of an ERS for promoting physical activity in university mental health care. Methods. Study 1 used a qualitative descriptive design of 14 certified counselors to explore perceptions …

Mental Health Burden Among College Students During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jeffrey Bao Truong

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant public health issue and has negatively burdened the general population’s health, though assessment among vulnerable groups remain limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic among college students.

Method:This study utilized a cross-sectional approach. Courses across multiple departments were used to collect data in order to ensure a diversity of majors. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 28 with p <.05 denoting significance.

Results: A total of 98 study participants were included in analyses. Among study participants, 32%reported feeling their mental health worsened due to COVID-19 …

Therapists’ Observations In Reduction Of Unpleasant Emotions Following Advanced Integrative Therapy Interventions, Gregory P. Brown, Kavita Batra, Suzie S. Hong, Robert Sottile, Raveena Bakhru, Emily Dorin

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Objective: To assess the potential clinical efficacy of a novel model of energy psychology intervention, Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT), this pilot study assessed clinician perceptions of AIT through a cross-sectional survey. Methods: A 17-item web-based questionnaire was administered to AIT therapists in November of 2021. The survey included clinician demographics and the clinician-observed response to AIT treatment based upon changes in reported Subjective Units of Distress (SUD), the associated emotion, and somatic sensation (when present). Result: A total of 76 complete responses were analyzed. The sample respondents were predominantly female (81.6%) and non-Hispanic white (68%). Over 80% …

In The Image Of… Towards A Trans Talmud, Laurence Myers Reese

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the Image of... (towards a Trans Talmud) is a body of work by artist Laurence Myers Reese that works to examine Jewish paradigms of gender through the transgender lens. Reading the archive diagonally, he examines historical Jewish writings, from poet and Rabbi Kalonymous Ben Kalonymous to “false Messiah” Shabbatai Tzvi. Contextualizing contemporary Jewish with notable exhibitions from the Jewish Museum New York and Spertus Museum, Chicago, In the Image of… draws from artists, writers, and Rabbis who use a gendered lens to interrogate Judaism. These include Yael Kanarek, who has worked to re-gender the entire Torah, Rena Yehuda Newman, …

Depression Is Associated With Myocardial Infarction Within A Two-Year Period Among Adults In China, Lydia W. Li, Greta Cheng, Hongwei Xu, Zhenmei Zhang, Jinyu Liu, Yeates Conwell

Publications and Research

We examined whether baseline depression is associated with MI within a two-year period among adults aged 45+ in China and whether the association varies by sociodemographic characteristics. Two-year longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of people aged 45+ in China were analyzed (N = 15,226). MI within the 2-year period was coded dichotomously. Baseline depression, assessed by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, was used as a dichotomous and a continuous variable. After adjusting for medical conditions, lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics, the odds of having an MI within the 2-year period were 46% greater for respondents with …

A Mixed-Methods, Cross-Sectional Study Of Perceived Stigma Among Ugandans With Epilepsy, Carol Blixen, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Epilepsy is associated with stigma and negatively impacts the lives of people living with epilepsy (PLWE) and their immediate families. More understanding of the stigma and discrimination experienced by PLWE in sub-Saharan Africa is needed. Methods: In a cross-sectional, mixed methods study, forty- eight PLWE who met the study inclusion criteria were enrolled. In depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted and were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was conducted using a thematic, constant comparative approach with an emphasis on dominant themes. Perceived stigma was measured using the Kilifi epilepsy stigma score. Associations between socio-demographic factors and Kilifi …

The Feasibility And Utility Of Harnessing Digital Health To Understand Clinical Trajectories In Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder: D-Tect Study Design And Methodological Considerations, Lisa A. Marsch, Ching-Hua Chen, Sara R. Adams, Asma Asyyed, Monique B. Does, Saeed Hassanpour, Emily Hichborn, Melanie Jackson-Morris, Nicholas C. Jacobson, Heather K. Jones, David Kotz, Chantal A. Lambert-Harris, Zhiguo Li, Bethany Mcleman, Varun Mishra, Catherine Stanger, Geetha Subramaniam, Weiyi Wu, Cynthia I. Campbell

Dartmouth Scholarship

Introduction: Across the U.S., the prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) and the rates of opioid overdoses have risen precipitously in recent years. Several effective medications for OUD (MOUD) exist and have been shown to be life-saving. A large volume of research has identified a confluence of factors that predict attrition and continued substance use during substance use disorder treatment. However, much of this literature has examined a small set of potential moderators or mediators of outcomes in MOUD treatment and may lead to over-simplified accounts of treatment non-adherence. Digital health methodologies offer great promise for capturing intensive, longitudinal ecologically-valid …

Long-Acting Antipsychotic Injectables Vs. Oral Antipsychotics: Comparing Compliance, Relapse, And Re-Hospitalization Rates, Latoria Boyland Bsn, Rn, Kara Darretta Bsn, Rn, Ansley Geno Bsn, Rn, Keevia Porter Dnp, Np-C, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Psychosis is a psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusions. These symptoms not only negatively impact a patient’s quality of life but can also make treatment compliance difficult. This lack of treatment compliance ultimately leads to higher relapse and re-hospitalization rates among this population. Thus, it is imperative that effective treatments are developed, utilized, and made readily available for patients. Antipsychotics are medications that block dopamine D2 receptors. These medications are used for psychosis to help to improve patient outcomes. Currently, two routes of antipsychotic administration are available, oral antipsychotics or long-acting antipsychotic injections (LAIs). Oral antipsychotic administration requires …

An Exploration Of Psychological Trauma And Positive Adaptation In Adults With Congenital Heart Disease During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Liza Morton Dr, Calum Calderwood, Nicola Cogan, Claire Murphy, Evan Nix, Jacek Kolacz Dr

Patient Experience Journal

The growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) often have lifelong experience of dealing with potentially traumatic health crises and medical uncertainty whilst facing increased vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The COVID-19 pandemic presents additional challenges for this population including increased risk of health complications, shielding and strict social distancing, changes to medical care provision and social stigma. Despite such challenges, adults with CHD have the potential to also experience positive changes, yet little is known as to what helps cultivate positive adaptation and post-traumatic growth (PTG) within this context. The current study comprised a cross-sectional, anonymous, …

Consumer Experience Of Mental Health Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence From An Australian Mental Health System, Sarah Kelshaw, Jason Boyd, Irene Gallagher, Grant Sara

Patient Experience Journal

COVID-19 has increased the need for mental health care but disrupted its delivery. We examined impacts of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer experience of NSW hospital and community mental health services, compared to their pre-COVID baseline. We also examined whether increased telehealth use was associated with changes in the quantity or experience of community mental health care. Data were 73,488 Your Experience of Service (YES) surveys from state mental health services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, grouped into three periods: pre-COVID (January 2018 to March 2020), early-COVID (April to June 2020) and stable-COVID (July to …

The Women Of Owen Clinic And Their Impact On Rural Mental Health, Mallory Stanley

Manuscripts

The mid-1900s was a pivotal moment in reforming mental health treatment in American Psychiatry. This movement becomes particularly clear when examining the championing work of two women, Dr. Thelma V. Owen and Dr. M. G. Stemmermann, at a rural mental health facility located in Huntington, WV: Owen Clinic Institute. While mental health stigma was at an extreme high among the general population, many factors aligned to allow for a new era of mental health care, including deinstitutionalization, World War II, and the advocation of professionals in the field. In West Virginia, no two people were more outspoken and active in …

Evaluating The Use Of Long-Acting Injectables As A Method To Improve Treatment Adherence In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Scoping Review, Britney Michelle Holton Msn, Fnp-Bc, Patricia Rena Jones-Purdy Msn, Cnrn, Margaret Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Medication adherence is a major issue for patients suffering from schizophrenia and medication non-adherence can lead to psychiatric morbidity. Although long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have been shown to improve treatment adherence, most clinicians continue to rely on oral therapies to manage schizophrenia. This scoping review will assess evidence-based literature to determine the relationship between the use of LAIs and medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods A literature review was conducted between August 2020 and January 2021 to find studies that have evaluated medication adherence with the use of long-acting injectables in patients with schizophrenia. Relevant literature initially selected …

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Katie M. Gilbertson

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

How do the Mountain West states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah) perform in the quality of mental health care services? How prevalent are mental health issues in the Mountain West? How accessible is the mental health workforce to adults and youth?

The Effectiveness Of Using Motor Imagery As An Alternative To Exercise For Improving Mental Health, Madelyn Colbert

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Exercise shown to improve mental health in variety of health histories. MIT shown to improve physical health in a variety of conditions when tested alone. Mental health problems and SUD have high comorbidity rates. Exercise shown to be effective recovery therapy for SUD.

Is There An App For That? Social Support, Depression, And Anxiety Among Users Of A Digital Mental Health App, Bryce V. Brown, Teresa J. Walker, Christine Guardian, Matthew Schurr

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Perceived social support has been associated with mental health. Social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19 heavily shifted social engagement to digital formats. It is important to understand the role of digital mental health interventions in mental health outcomes.

Who Is Gonna See The Shrink? Anxiety And Depression's Relationship To Openness And Willingness To Engage In Weekly Psychotherapy, Bryce V. Brown, Teresa J. Walker, Christine Guardian, Matthew Schurr

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Digital mental health interventions may offer an alternative to in-person psychotherapy. It is important to understand attitudes about traditional in-person psychotherapy among app users to contextualize treatment seeking and better understand treatment options.

The Relationship Between Misophonia Sensitivity And Musicality, Mae Ling Catayong, Sarah Uganiza, William Smithers, Aileen Corral, Sivan Barashy, Solena Mednicoff, Destiny Gonzales

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Misophonia is a condition characterized by negative emotional reactions to certain everyday sounds. Musicality involves Active Musical Engagement (AE), Self-reported Perceptual Abilities (PA), Musical Training (MT), Self-reported Singing Abilities (SA), Sophisticated Emotional Engagement with Music (EM), and General musical sophistication (GM). Numerous active musicians have self-reported having misophonia, while anecdotal reports have shown that music can help treat misophonia symptoms.