Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Doxazosin Immediate Release As Alternative Treatment For Nightmares In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report, Danyaal Khan, Christie Richardson, Martin Forsberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nightmares and flashbacks are common debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can disrupt daily functioning in patients. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used off-label for the treatment of PTSD intrusion symptoms, although its short half-life is limiting. Doxazosin, another alpha-1 antagonist, is starting to be investigated in the treatment of PTSD-related nightmares due to its smaller side effect profile and longer half-life. In our case report, we present a case of a patient with PTSD-related nightmares who was successfully treated with doxazosin following relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of prazosin. The success of doxazosin immediate …

Barriers To Healthcare Access Between English And Spanish Speakers In An Underserved Population, Adeena Javed, Dale Johnson, Gerardo J. Rivera-Colón, Nathaniel J. Byrnes, Kristin Bertsch, Anne C. Jones

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• According to the NJ State Department of Health, Atlantic County has higher rates of smoking, respiratory disease, hypercholesterolemia, as well as death rates due to coronary heart disease, HIV, and all cancers compared to the NJ state average1,2.

• With over 20% of Atlantic County's population identifying as Hispanic, Spanish speakers encounter greater obstacles compared to their English-speaking counterparts in accessing healthcare services and improving health outcomes1,2 .

• Existing research indicates that various factors, including health insurance coverage, proximity to healthcare facilities, transportation options, health literacy levels, and trust in the medical profession, significantly influence access to healthcare …

Exploring The Connection Between Diabetes Distress And Diabulimia, Stephen Poos, Misha Faerovitch, Celeste Pinto, Nima Jamalkhani, Fahad Chaudhri, Satara Khan, David F. Lo, Kaitlin Mcgowan, Ashaki Martin, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Diabulimia is a disordered eating behavior that involves an individual with type 1 DM withholding insulin injection to lose weight. Diabetes distress, a term used to describe the psychological stress associated with managing diabetes, is believed to be the cause of this condition. This review aims to assess whether individuals with diabulimia have measurable evidence of diabetes distress. Studies that described patients qualitative experiences with Diabulimia were matched and compared to the criteria in the Diabetes Distress Scale. Over 40 of the 185 individuals across twelve studies were found to meet one or more criteria from the Diabetes Distress Scale. …

Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, Minjal Patel, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Eric Goldwaser, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogenous psychiatric condition characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception often associated with a varied combination of positive and negative symptoms. The pathophysiology behind SZ remains poorly elucidated. Earlier reports have cited the importance of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in the hippocampus and the receptor’s association with auditory sensory gating and cognitive function. Specifically, variations in the expression and functionality of α7nAChR can be linked to auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with SZ and several therapies have been researched that target α7nAChRs. However, there are very few primary research …

Differences In Risk And Protective Factors For Suicide In Latinx And White Lgb Adults, Maria Hernandez

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Suicide in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) adults is on the rise, as well as those that identify as Latinx LGB. To identify those at risk and prevent future suicide, researchers rely heavily on risk and protective factors to determine those individuals that may be more susceptible to suicide. However, the existing research on these factors is very limited and has been hyper focused on internalizing factors that contribute to suicide risk. Additionally, research in LGB and Latinx populations is limited because researchers have focused mostly on White and heterosexual populations. This study identifies one risk and one protective factor …

Nurturing Black Girls: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Black Girls' Mental Health And Their Lived Experiences With Racial Discrimination In Schools, Marline Francois

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research explored the lived experiences of Black girls in schools with a focus on racial discrimination and the impact it has on their mental health. Grounded in Black feminist thought and phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST), this study used qualitative research to understand the lived experiences of Black girls. Twenty participants engaged in this study through semi-structured interviews to examine their lived experiences in school spaces. The findings of this study acknowledge the profound impact of racial discrimination on the mental health of Black girls. At the intersection of race and gender, this study contributes to the …

Protocols For Enhancing The Role And Value Of Spiritual Care Resources In The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, Garrett Harper

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the assessment of innovative practices in police chaplaincy. The purpose of the project intervention is to develop protocols that can guide police chaplains through an assessment process. The intervention relies on practical theology as exemplified through the ministry of chaplaincy. This ministry comprises police chaplains offering spiritual comfort to persons encountering critical incidents involving violence, accident, or other trauma-intensive events and situations. Adoption of innovations can allow police chaplains to be more effective in fulfilling many outward-focused tasks such as delivery of death notifications. I conclude that: (1) police chaplaincy is amenable to use of protocols to …

Implementation And Effectiveness Of Stress Management Strategies Among Stem Students At The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dylan Hiser

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

High-stakes exams often induce significant stress among STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students, impacting their academic performance and overall well-being. As the opportunity for careers in STEM grows rapidly, understanding the stressors that students face remains critical in mitigating the effects of this stress and ensuring the success of these students. The objective of this study is to determine how well STEM students respond to recommended interventions that mitigate exam stress and to identify trends in these students’ exam scores. To accomplish this, a set of surveys was sent to undergraduate STEM students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The …

"My Longest Relationship Is With Food": Exploring Eating Related Behaviors Throughout The Gender Identity Journey Of Transgender Males, Angeles Polett Coss

Dissertations

This study sought to explore how transgender adult males have navigated the development of their eating behaviors throughout their gender identity trajectory. While recent research has focused on gender identity development and protective factors of the transgender community, this study explored and examined elements regarding the eating related behaviors of transgender males. Interviews were conducted with six participants within the United States during semi structured virtual sessions; the age range of participants was 19 to 35. Results of this research revealed identity management, Sociopolitical discourse, identity management and inter-relational identity affirmations as inter-multicultural segments that connected with eating related behaviors …

The 2022 Symposium On Dementia And Brain Aging In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Highlights On Research, Diagnosis, Care, And Impact, Raj Kalaria, Gladys Maestre, Simin Mahinrad, Daisy Acosta, Rufus Akinyemi, Suvarna Alladi, Ricardo Allegri, Faheem Arshad, Wambui Karanja, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-incomecountries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected toaffect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costsoccur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focus-ing on HICs. This imbalance necessitates LMIC-focused research to ensure thatcharacterization of dementia accurately reflects the involvement and specificities ofdiverse populations. Development of effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeu-tic approaches for dementia in LMICs requires targeted, personalized, and harmonizedefforts. Our article represents timely discussions at the 2022 Symposium on Demen-tia and Brain Aging in LMICs that identified the foremost …

Examining The Relationship Between Deafness And Mental Health Status: An Analysis Of The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Brfss) 2022, Brianna Stroud-Williams

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: The objective of the research is to examine the association between mental health status as measured by number of mentally healthy days in the past month and deafness and binge drinking.

Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) study was conducted via telephone survey in 50 states, including the District of Columbia and US territories. The sample size is 402,156 participants. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate regressions, odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval were used to measure the data.

Results: Deaf respondents have 1.56 times the odds of having poor mental health than those who are not deaf. (95% …

Caregiver Engagement In Their Child's Mental Health Rehabilitation Services: Utilizing The Hoover-Dempsey And Sandler Model Of Parental Involvement (2005) In Mental Health Counseling, Andrew Q. Holmgren

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Mental Health Rehabilitation (MHR) is a widely utilized community mental health service in Louisiana for low-income families. However, treatment adherence, including caregiver engagement for minor clients, is often low. There is still limited understanding of the barriers to caregiver engagement and few tools to assess these barriers and engagement behaviors. Clinicians, caregivers, and clients currently engaged in MHR services completed a modified version of the Parent Involvement Project Questionnaire (PIPQ) to determine if this scale and its associated theory, the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler Model of Parental Involvement (2005), can be used in a mental health counseling format to assess for …

Examining The Effects Of A Week-Long Social Media Abstinence Intervention, Iweek, On General Well-Being, Mental Health, And Body Image Concerns In Latina College Students, Roberto Sagaribay

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Latina college students, on average, spend approximately 30 hours per week on social media, highlighting the pervasive influence of social media on their lives. While social media can facilitate interpersonal relationships, its impact on mental and physical health is evident in the literature. Problematic social media use has been associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, and decreased life satisfaction. Additionally, exposure to idealized images on social media platforms often leads to lower body satisfaction, particularly among women. Social media may also influence eating behaviors through the abundance of food advertisements and contribute to sedentary behavior, as individuals spend significant …

Implementation Of Prenatal And Postpartum Depression Screening For A Telehealth Company, Allison Herrmann, Lori Deibel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Depression is a leading mental health disorder. Depression occurring during the perinatal and postpartum periods has become highly prevalent throughout the world, impacting 5-10% of women during (van de Loo et al., 2018) and 9-23.5% postpartum (Bauman et al., 2020). Proper diagnosis and treatment of perinatal and postpartum depression (PPD) is crucial, as depression can lead to poor outcomes including relationship complications and negatively affect child development (Slomain, 2019). The implementation of screening tools can help identify women at risk based on their signs and symptoms of PPD (Bauman et al., 2020). The primary goal of this project was …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Self-Care In Young Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Holly Berry-Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

The prevalence of prediabetes in adults aged 18 or older was as high as 38% between 2017-2020. Youth-onset T2DM is a more aggressive phenotype than T2DM that occurs later in life. Young adults with T2DM have poorer health outcomes, lose an average of 15 years of life, all resulting in significant economic burden impacting the person. Current self-management interventions do not improve health outcomes in young adults with T2DM.

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to explore the self-care experiences of young adults living with T2DM.

Methods

Existential hermeneutic phenomenology informed the research. Inclusion criteria as follows: adults …

Social Workers’ Preparedness For Practice With Patients Experiencing Psychotic Disorders, Paula Crespin

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study explored the preparedness of social workers when providing services to individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders who present with non-affective psychosis. The present study sought to examine the perceived barriers to mental health service utilization for individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders as well as the perceived preparedness of social workers when providing services to individuals with non-affective psychosis. Social workers are crucial frontline workers in the treatment and support of individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorder. This qualitative study was comprised of twelve semi-structured interviews to gauge the preparedness of social workers (N=12). Results from the thematic analysis demonstrated …

Factors That Contribute To Disparities In Access To Mental Health Services Within Hispanic Adults, Jasmine Soriano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus of this research project was to understand and identify the challenges Hispanic adults face when accessing their mental health services to better understand this concerning issue and help support social workers in bridging that gap in the Hispanic community. The study took place at a mental health clinic in Southern California through virtual interviews for those who chose to participate. This agency provides mental health therapy to individuals 0-21 years of age, but for the purpose of this study, only adults aged 18-21 qualified to participate. The study consisted of twelve voluntary participants from both Hispanic adult clients …

Validation Of A Novel Heritable Rodent Model Of Drug Abuse Vulnerability In Psychosis And Investigation Of Therapeutic Targets, Loren D. Peeters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder of largely unknown etiology that is often accompanied by high rates of cigarette smoking, reduced quit success, and high relapse rates. Dysregulated dopamine signaling and aberrant synaptic plasticity in the mesocorticolimbic pathway are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and conferred substance abuse disorder and relapse vulnerability. Genetic factors are presumed to play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia, with a 40-50% concordance rate for monozygotic twins, although genetic markers are inconsistent. As such, epigenetic factors have instead been implicated. Specifically, there is strong evidence to suggest DNA methylation at several candidate …

The Psychological And Physical Effects Of Childhood Obesity Into Adulthood, Ashley Urbom

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this review is to assess how adults who were obese as children are affected psychologically and physically. Understanding childhood obesity has become an important topic in the last few decades, especially in the United States. This research seeks to examine the previous literature and its gaps in making conclusions about how the diagnosis of childhood obesity affects children not only at the time of diagnosis but into adulthood as well. Articles for review sourced from PubMed and PsychInfo and were available via the University of Northern Colorado libraries. Numerous sources were found, and several had varying results. …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Opioid Use Disorder In Human Brain Models, Emily Mendez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a national and global public health crisis with no end in sight. While studies from animal models hint at widespread epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations of opioid drugs, the molecular consequences of long-term exposure to opioid drugs in human brain is still unclear, and human-centered translational models are necessary to discern the human cell type-specific effects of OUD.

Using postmortem brain Brodmann area 9 (BA9) from the UTHealth Brain Collection for Research on Psychiatric Disorders, I identified angiogenic gene networks perturbed in the RNA and protein of OUD subjects, as well as downregulation of many neuron-correlated …

Comparing Ait And Eft In Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory: A Randomized Control Study, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Emily Dorin, Raveena Bakhru, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

PURPOSE: To assess whether Quick AIT was statistically equivalent to Basic Recipe Clinical EFT for the reduction of negative emotion associated with a past event.

A Sensory Room Protocol For Snf Staff To Improve Confidence With Emotional Regulation In Adults With Cognitive Challenges: Through An Occupational Therapy Perspective, Marisa Pagan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adult sensory rooms are an emerging area of practice for occupational therapy, as this holistic approach uses sensory tools for input to one or more of the five senses, which promotes emotional regulation in individuals seeking calming and alerting outcomes. This sensory protocol proposal was created to assist healthcare workers within a skilled nursing facility and provide a tool that could be utilized in various settings to increase awareness of adult sensory rooms.

Methodology This quality improvement protocol project was conducted at Henderson Health and Rehabilitation to determine the need for and develop a protocol for an adult sensory room …

Examining The Risks And Resilience Of Older Adults Living With Hiv/Aids: Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Research Studies In Southern Nevada, Brandon Ranuschio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the height of the HIV pandemic in the 1980s, medical interventions have significantly increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and made HIV/AIDS a livable, chronic health condition. Because of this, PLWH have been living longer lives and thriving with the help of HIV sector healthcare and service providers. However, with their longer life expectancy, older PLWH have been experiencing other health challenges. One such challenge is the risk of developing HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), which is a condition that affects up to 50% of PLWH at some point in their lifetime, with middle-aged and older …

Single Case Experimental Design Examining Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Post-Stroke Depression, Liam Alexander Mackenzie Myles, Emma Jones

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common in older-age adults and is typically treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). However, research has ascertained mixed findings regarding the efficacy of CBT for PSD in older-age adults, with limited evidence in people from global majority backgrounds. Materials and Methods. This case study used single case experimental design methodology to examine the effectiveness of CBT for PSD in a black, older-age man. The effects of health conditions, cohort beliefs, transitions in role investments, socio-cultural context and early experiences on the client’s thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours were formulated, before behavioural activation was used to …

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors And Pharmacological Resetting Of The Mind, Ion G. Motofei, David L. Rowland

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Mental activity is capable of processing analytical data (mathematics, physics, socio-political science, philosophy, etc.) similar to computer software. At the same time, mental activity largely depends on the brain, which works like a hard component of a computer. While the computer stores data on a physical medium, mental activity and data are supported by physiological mechanisms that are constantly operating (both in wakefulness and sleep). For this reason, the lack of brain oxygenation even for short periods of time (5-10 minutes) causes the loss of all data, including the disappearance of the individual's existence as a mental entity. This means …

Medication Assisted Therapy And First Episode Psychosis: Evaluating Treatment And Readmission Rates, Kayla Sherea Williams Bsn, Rn, Hannah Lee Brenner Bsn, Rn, Madison Makenzie Yount Bsn, Rn, Jacqueline Sharp Dnp, Aprn, Pmhp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that each day more than 140 U.S. residents die from drug overdoses, specifically due to opioids. Due to this, alternatives were created to reduce overdoses and ensure safety. Medication assistance therapy (MAT) is an effective form of treatment for people with substance use disorders and is defined as the use of medication in conjunction with counseling or therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders. The efficacy of MAT is used adjunctively with psychotropic medications compared to using no MAT and using psychotropic medications alone with individuals who are experiencing …

Nurse Suicide: Examining Depression And Anxiety In Critical Care Settings, Arianna Bernardine Barata

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Nurses play a critical role in healthcare, yet the demanding work environment often exposes them to stressors, leading to the development of depression and anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) (2021), 50.8% of nurses have stress, 74% have anxiety, 70.8% have depression, and 79.1% have at least one of them. Burnout, understaffing, COVID fatigue, alarm fatigue, patient ratios, and disrupted sleep patterns are some of the stressors nurses contend with in every shift. While some nurses may cope and overcome these challenges, many face more severe issues, such as suicide. Nurse suicide is an issue that has …

Incorporation Of Mindfulness Application Use In Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Curricula For Mitigation Of Stress And Anxiety In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Kerrie Rodgers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The nurse anesthesia specialty is highly stressful, with educational training being no exception. High didactic demands and intensive clinical experiences are placed on student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs), increasing stress and anxiety in their personal and professional lives. High levels of psychological distress can lead to inadvertent consequences in students’ mental, emotional, and physical health and can contribute to illness, burnout, substance use, and compromise in patient safety. Some degree of stress is necessary for motivation to succeed and perform at high levels, and encountering stress while enrolled in a doctoral nurse anesthesia program is expected and unavoidable. A search …

Asylum Architecture: The Brick-By-Brick Development Of Patient Treatment, Kris D. Sass

The Purdue Historian

The following research and analysis will investigate the intersection of architecture and treatment in asylums with a specific interest on the time period of the late 19^th century to mid-20^th century in the United States. Not only were specific environmental demands key to some treatment methodologies, such as rural environments to moral therapy, but the architecture of mental hospitals were integral parts of patient’s experiences. Here three specific hospital designs will be analyzed: the Kirkbride Plan, the Cottage Plan, and Kiyoshi Izumi’s Socio-Petal. The following analysis will be built on a series of blueprints, building notes, secondary histories, …

The Media’S Influence On Disordered Eating And Body Dysmorphia In Males And Females, Alexis Kotanidis, Jamie Vitrano

Molloy Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

The media typically refers to various means of communication that reach or influence people widely. This includes television, radio, newspapers, magazines, social media platforms, websites, podcasts, and more. Essentially, it has many ways through which information is transmitted to a large audience. The media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, especially with regard to disordered eating and body dysmorphia in both men and women. Disordered eating refers to a wide range of irregular eating behaviors that may or may not meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder diagnosis such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. …