Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Investigating Mental Health Disparities In Rural Sexual And Gender Minority Adults: Protocol For The Rural Exploration And Approaches To Lgbtq + Mental Health (Realm) Prospective Cohort Study, Shoshanna L. Fine, Kalai Willis, Iaah L. Lucas, Kirsten F. Siebach, Jennifer L. Glick, Mariah Valentine-Graves, Savannah Winter, Michael Smith, Thomas Waltz, Gina Bailey Herring, Marissa Hannah, Holly C. Wilcox, Travis Sanchez, Stefan D. Baral, Sarah M. Murray

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) persons experience substantial mental health disparities throughout the life course, including increased vulnerability to depression and suicide. Few existing studies, however, have explored how pervasive experiences of SGM-related stigma, discrimination, and trauma (i.e., minority stress) contribute to adverse mental health outcomes among diverse sub-populations of SGM adults living in rural areas of the United States. This paper describes the protocol for a prospective cohort study, "Rural Exploration and Approaches for LGBTQ + Mental Health (REALM)," that will explore minority stress in relation to mental health conditions and suicidal behaviors among rural SGM adults. METHODS: …

Six-Month Follow-Up Comparing Ait And Eft In The Reduction Of Negative Emotions Associated With A Past Memory, Gregory Brown, Kavita Batra, Emily Dorin, Andrew Han, Arianna Palermini, Robert Sottile, Sherine Khanbijian

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

The field of Energy Psychology [EP] has amassed hundreds published research studies over its thirty year history which includes both systematic review and meta-analysis level data. These have consistently demonstrated significant effect sizes equivalent to EMDR and trauma based CBT (Church et al., 2022; Feinstein, 2021). Energy Psychology Techniques typically include an energetic component, an emotional component, a somatic component, focus upon a specific memory, which lead to automatic secondary cognitive shifts. Memory Reconsolidation may be a primary psycho-biological explanation for effectiveness. Emotional Freedom Technique [EFT] is the most studied EP technique to date, and considered an evidenced based treatment …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Depressive And Anxiety Symptoms Among Pregnant Women From An Urban Informal Settlement In Nairobi, Kenya: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Stephen Mulupi, Amina Abubakar, Moses Nyongesa, Vibian Angweny, Margaret Kabue, Paul Mwangi, Rachel Odhiambo, Joyce Marangu, Eunice Njoroge, Mercy Mokaya, Emmanuel Obulemire, Eunice Ombech, Kofi Marfo

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Purpose: Previous research, largely from the Global North, reports high rates of common mental health disorders among women in the antenatal period, but there is paucity of such data in contexts like Kenya. This study investigated the prevalence and correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among pregnant women in an urban informal settlement in Kenya’s capital – Nairobi.

Method: An analysis of baseline cross-sectional data from a pilot cluster randomized trial of an integrated early childhood development programme. Participants were pregnant women in their third pregnancy trimester (N = 249), residing in an urban informal settlement in Nairobi County. Mental …

Exploring Adolescents' Mental Health In Kampala, Uganda In The Context Of Covid-19: A Mixed Methods Study, Gideon Mbithi, Ahmed Sarki, Adam Mabrouk, Rachel Odhiambo, Mary Namuguzi, Joseph Atukwatse, Margaret Kabue, Stephen Mulupi, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Urban areas, particularly in developing nations like Uganda, face heightened risks due to poverty, unemployment, and environmental challenges, intensifying the vulnerability of urban youth to poor mental health. This study aims to determine the psychological well-being of adolescents and to assess the risks and associated factors of mental health problems among adolescents in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in Kampala City, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 500 adolescents aged 13–19 years residing within the five divisions of Kampala City, Uganda. We utilized standardized psychological assessment tools including the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Scale, …

The Quic-Sp: A Spanish Language Tool Assessing Unpredictability In Early Life Is Linked To Physical And Mental Health, Sabrina R. Liu, Natasha A. Bailey, Sara Romero-González, Amy Moors, Belinda Campos, Elysia P. Davis, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Accumulating evidence indicates that unpredictable signals in early life represent a unique form of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) associated with disrupted neurodevelopmental trajectories in children and adolescents. The Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC) was developed to assess early life unpredictability, encompassing social, emotional, and physical unpredictability in a child’s environment, and has been validated in three independent cohorts. However, the importance of identifying ACEs in diverse populations, including non-English speaking groups, necessitates translation of the QUIC. The current study aims to translate and validate a Spanish language version of the QUIC (QUIC-SP) and assess its associations with mental and …

A Half Century Of Criminalizing Serious Mental Illness: Observations And Considerations, Arthur J. Lurigio

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

This article describes the difficulties of working with people with serious mental illnesses (PSMIs) at every stage of the criminal justice process—from arrest to post- incarceration release from prison. The needs of PSMI for mental health and social services are complex and require different case management plans and strategies at various points in the process. Severe mental illnesses (SMIs), such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder, stem from abnormalities in the brain structure and neuroprocessing that cause significant distress and dysfunction. People with serious mental illnesses typically suffer from a variety of other related problems (e.g., addiction) that can …

Mental Health Courts: Is There Any Hope For Mental Illness In An Outdated Criminal Justice System?, Brock Imel

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

Mental health awareness is an ever-growing field of study that has garnered more attention in America after the COVID-19 pandemic. As far back as colonial America, mental illness was considered taboo in society and often reprimanded with punishable crimes. This article seeks to divulge into the history of mental health and its relation to the law, as well as how the creation of mental health courts has led to a decrease in recidivism.

This article aims to provide the reader with an understanding of the evolving field of mental health courts and provide state legislatures foundational knowledge for creating and …

How To Help New Nurses Deal With Anxiety And Stress, Jared Modzelewski Bsn, Rn

Posters

Background

New graduate nurses need to reduce their stress and anxiety to improve patient outcomes. Every nurse has some anxiety and stress, but new graduate nurses have been talking about it more. This change is necessary because improvement in mental health for nurses can improve their wellbeing and the overall quality of care they provide their patients.

Disrupted Relatedness And Shifting Perceptions Of Others: Changing Moods Over Time For People Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Joanna Farr, Jonathan A. Smith, John E. Rhodes

The Qualitative Report

For people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the relationship between mood episodes and interpersonal life is critical. Yet little is known about how their experience of other people changes during and between episodes of depression and mania. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the experience of interpersonal change during depression, mania and euthymia (stability). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three women at two time points and were analysed using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis. One longitudinal theme, “Changing sense of others impacts relatedness,” demonstrates profound changes in participants’ experiences of other people within and between episodes. During depression, participants experienced other people …

Psychological Impact Of Ulcerative Colitis On Pregnancy And Postpartum Period, Stephanie C. Carver

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) poses significant challenges during pregnancy, affecting both physical and mental health. While the physiological effects of UC during pregnancy are well documented, less is known about its impact on maternal mental health. This study aims to investigate the psychological effects of UC on pregnant women, focusing on stress levels, postpartum depression (PPD) incidence, and the role of multidisciplinary care in improving mental health outcomes.

Objective

The primary objective of this research proposal is to evaluate the psychological impact of UC during pregnancy and determine whether disease activity increases the risk of PPD and stress. A secondary …

Improving Maternal Mental Health: The Role Of Specialized Support For Queer Women With Postpartum Depression, Dan-Tam Pham

Nursing | Senior Theses

Queer women face disproportionately high rates of postpartum depression compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals. Studies showed that queer women face heightened mental health challenges, including higher rates of depression and anxiety due to factors like discrimination, limited support systems, and negative healthcare experiences. There is a need for culturally competent, LGBTQ+-affirming interventions to improve maternal mental health outcomes; despite the health disparities faced by this population, research on specialized postpartum interventions is limited, revealing gaps in effective mental health care for queer mothers. The key search terms for the articles used in the study included: postpartum depression, queer women, …

Is Suicide Among The Elderly Population Warranted Or Preventable, Ericka King

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 2nd place Winner

Growing old is perceived differently among world cultures. In some cultures, elders are revered and celebrated. However, in other cultures, growing old is dreaded and feared. Current Western culture depicts aging negatively through media, beauty marketing, and in general society. The elderly population is also a lost population as they are often forgotten about and overlooked. With aging comes with illness, depression, change in activities of daily living, financial stressors, isolation, societal changes, and death of loved ones, and eventually self. Chronic illness(es) can make it harder for the elderly to maintain …

Addressing The Opioid Epidemic Across The United States And In West Virginia, Kailyn Smith, Addison Hughes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The opioid crisis had a profound impact on public health across the United States and West Virginia, with overdose deaths reaching unprecedented levels by 2021. Traditional abstinence-only rehabilitation programs demonstrated limited success, largely due to high relapse rates and insufficient mental health support. These programs often overlooked the complex relationship between opioid addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are common among those with substance use disorders. In contrast, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), when supplemented with behavioral therapies and antidepressant medications, has shown greater success in improving recovery outcomes and reducing relapse rates. This …

School Personnel Perceptions Of School-Based Mental Health Prevention And Interventions, Kelsey Lytle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite millions of children across the United States experiencing at least one mental health disorder about half do not receive any sort of treatment or counseling. Within schools, many children receive formal intervention services once they are identified. However, there are many other children who would benefit greatly from learning social emotional skills who have not been identified. Prevention could be a great resource to prevent children from falling through the cracks. The purpose of this study was to assess personnel perceptions on the school’s role in student mental health, mental health interventions and prevention, evidence-based practices, and barrier to …

The Effect Of Maternal Anxiety Of Breastfeeding Exclusivity And Duration, Zoe E. Treat

2025 Honors Symposium

This study examined whether postpartum anxiety affects breastfeeding exclusivity and duration among mothers in Northwest Arkansas. While maternal anxiety was not a significant predictor, child age and infant birth order were associated with breastfeeding outcomes.

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: …

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 …

Enhancing Patient-Centered Suicide Prevention: A Quality Improvement Project Addressing Educational Gaps In Staff Caring For Veterans, Shayla Craigue

Master's Theses and Capstones

Veterans are at significantly higher risk for suicidal ideation (SI) than the general population and often encounter barriers to care such as stigma, trauma, and distrust in healthcare systems. This quality improvement project, conducted at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Urgent Care Clinic, aimed to enhance trauma-informed care by addressing educational gaps among clinical staff. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model, the intervention included a pre-intervention survey to assess baseline knowledge, a targeted educational poster informed by survey findings, and a post-intervention survey to measure changes in staff confidence, resource awareness, and understanding of the role of the mental health response team, …

Groundbreaking Insights On Trauma And Justice: A Review Of Sexual Violence, Dissociation, And Inequality: A Guide To Understanding Traumatic Memory By Muriel Salmona, Kate Rose

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Mindfulness & Mental Health: Balanced Time Perspective As A Mediator, Eddie Trueblood

Masters Theses

Mindfulness is a practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Being more mindful can decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, among other mental and physical health improvements. (Donald et al., 2016; Hofmann et al., 2010; Kabat-Zinn et al.,1992). This study examined if balanced time perspective (BTP) is one of the mechanisms of action of mindfulness in its relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. BTP refers to a person’s ability to flexibly adapt their time perspective (attention to the past, present, or future, and positive or negative attitudes toward each) to suit the current …

Examining Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives On The Acceptability Of Pain-Mitigation As A Tool To Manage Needle Fear, Sarah C M Morton

Theses and Dissertations

Needle fear affects up to 63% of the global adult population and is associated with significant fear-based medical care avoidance (e.g., blood donation refusal, vaccine hesitancy, insulin injection adherence). Current behavioral treatments have low acceptance in this population, and often fail to address the experience of pain associated with needle procedures. Despite the existence of evidence-based pain-mitigation for needle procedures, these interventions are not commonly used in clinical settings. The current study used qualitative methods to examine patient and provider perceptions of: 1) current methods of needle fear management, and 2) the acceptability of pain-mitigation as an effective tool to …

Hypnosis: An Evidenced Based Treatment, Gregory P. Brown

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Review of meta analyses and systemic review level studies of hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety, burnout, and depression.

The Chemical Straightjacket: Institutional Over-Use Of Psychotropic Drugs On Children In Lieu Of Therapeutic Community Mental Health Services, Marisa Leib-Neri

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

This Article argues that the abysmal state of children’s mental health in America is in part due to an overreliance on and over prescription of psychotropic drugs inside psychiatric residential institutions in lieu of community based mental health services. This overreliance on residential institutions and psychotropic drugs has allowed a new form of chemical restraint to flourish—the chemical straitjacket. This Article uses the medication lists of twelve children in seven different North Carolina psychiatric residential treatment facilities to demonstrate how the chemical straitjacket operates: the prescription of drugs not approved for pediatric populations, counter to evidence-based practices for particular diagnoses, …

Ministry Organization Response To The Mental Health Crisis, Bryn L. Wood

Senior Honors Theses

The mental health crisis has been negatively affecting individuals across the globe for about half a century, only growing in its impact each year. However, following the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health crises skyrocketed. This is especially true for youth and young adults as physical isolation has altered many facets of their lives. This thesis will explore the mental health crisis, as well as the way it has impacted youth and young adult organizations. Specifically, it will discuss research on recommended ways for these organizations to respond to the mental health crisis through unique programming and how these practices have been …

The Impact Of Structured Weekend Group Therapy On Restraints, Seclusion And Length Of Stay On Inpatient Psychiatric Units, Victoria Grau

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Group therapy is an essential part of inpatient psychiatric treatment, with documented positive effects including better medication compliance, lower readmission rate, and improved self- esteem. Patients who are admitted for an inpatient psychiatric stay have a small window of time in which behavioral health staff can work with them. Group therapy can help patients develop a plan for these issues and provide a foundation for successful discharge and symptom management. The project site is a mid-size teaching hospital in an urban community with higher rates of mental health diagnoses than the national average. Group therapy was conducted initially Monday – …

Investigating The Role Of Dynamic Signaling Of Nrg3-Erbb4 In The Prefrontal Cortex In Mediating Nicotine Withdrawal Phenotypes, Emily Prantzalos

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

While several pharmacotherapies are currently available for nicotine use disorder (NUD), smoking cessation success rates remain below 10% each year. The molecular mechanisms underlying failed quit attempts continue to represent a critical gap in our knowledge. However, recent advances in understanding the genetic contributions to nicotine dependence offer a promising avenue for developing more effective cessation therapies. Prior research has identified genetic variation in Neuregulin 3 (Nrg3) and its cognate receptor ErbB4 as potential contributors to affective nicotine withdrawal (WD) phenotypes and cessation outcomes. Therefore, this dissertation aims to systematically investigate the region-specific, functional role of the Neuregulin Signaling Pathway …

Ketamine Infusion Treatment For Depression, Isabella Schwing

Capstone Showcase

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

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

Medication In Early Adulthood And Long-Term Outcomes In Individuals With Adhd, Emma Deep

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The main question asked about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is: What are the long-term consequences for adults who stay on ADHD medication after childhood? Answering that question includes looking into the medical facts surrounding an ADHD diagnosis, examining the adults and children with ADHD, the subtypes of ADHD, diagnosing ADHD, including the symptoms, and types of medications, along with the side effects. ADHD is one of the most common disorders in children and adults. Understanding ADHD, its diagnosis, and treatment options is crucial for individuals and caregivers navigating this condition. This paper examines the long-term effects of ADHD medication from …

Examining The Adjustment, Acculturation, And Well-Being Of International Arab Students In The United States: Implications For Policy And Practice, Hassan A A Kh A A Arab

Wayne State University Dissertations

This paper explored Arab international students studying in the United States to see whether they face acculturation stress, adjustment, or well-being issues. I found that my sample (N=95) experienced moderately high well-being distress and acculturative stress. However, the sample showed resilience and positive adjustment in all aspects, psychological (M=34.7), social (M=38.5), and academic (M=37.4). Moreover, well-being score from a modified GHQ survey came with high SD, indicating some students were dealing with serious mental issues, while others were doing well (M=42.92, SD=5.52). The majority of my participants were males (74.7%), single (75.8%), and graduate students (50.5%). Chi-square analysis found a …