Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Comparative Efficacy Of Hallucinogens In Treating Mood Disorders Through A Meta-Analysis Of Symptom Reduction, Dosage, And Duration, John Marco D.F. Muniz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Hallucinogens including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) (as ayahuasca), have re-emerged as potential rapid-acting treatments for mood disorders. We conducted a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials evaluating their efficacy in depression and anxiety disorders. Methods: A systematic review identified 12 trials (Total ≈ 670) meeting inclusion criteria (randomized, placebo-controlled). Data on Cohen’s d and Hedges’ g effect sizes for depression- and anxiety-related outcomes were extracted. We computed pooled effect sizes (weighted by sample size and inverse variance), performed subgroup analyses by drug, diagnosis, follow-up duration, and outcome measure type, and assessed heterogeneity (I², Q …

Social Determinants Of Mental Health Outcomes, Ariana Fein

Honors Theses

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are a growing global concern with profound consequences on individuals' well-being and societal functioning. The burden of these disorders is not only psychological but also economic, affecting quality of life. Mental health outcomes are heavily influenced by a range of social determinants, such as financial status, education, and access to healthcare. While extensive research has focused on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these determinants affect mental health in low-resource settings or non-WEIRD countries. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the …

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 …

Exploring Psychological Implications Of The Contemporary Lung Transplant, Isaac C. Machar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Since its inception in 1963 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, more than 50,000 lung transplant procedures have been performed. During its 50-year anniversary, 2023 saw just over 3,000 lung transplants performed in the United Sates. However, as this procedure continues to increase in execution each year, it is critical that the psychological implications of this procedure are explored. In this paper, I hope to develop an understanding of the psychological background of contemporary lung transplantation. Reviewing the lung and double lung transplant, the goal is to apply biopsychology principles to the field. Background information about transplant science is …

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 …

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, …

Psychological Interventions In The Work Environment And Reducing Burnout In Critical Care Nurses, Amelia Bloom, Isabella Tisevich

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Burnout is an increasing issue in the nursing field, particularly for critical care nurses. The purpose of this systematic review is to discover how the work environment impacts burnout of critical care nurses, and how different psychological interventions instituted by the workplace impact their burnout levels. The PICO question is: In critical care nurses, do work environments that provide psychological interventions compared to work environments that do not provide psychological interventions document outcomes of less burnout? The articles used within this systematic review were found using the databases Academic Search Complete and PubMed. Articles were selected based on the inclusion …

The Category Is: Body: A Pcsim Approach To Culture-Specific Bid Healing Programming For Bgcm, Gabriel A. Delong

Wayne State University Dissertations

Black gay cismen (BGCM) are among the highest population demographics to experience body image dissatisfaction (BID) and among the least likely to seek healing programming. Culture-specific experiences such as sexual racism have been linked to body image dissatisfaction among BGCM. While the harmful experiences of sexual racism have been studied among BGCM, body image healing programming continues to address the needs of predominantly White straight ciswomen. Additionally, medical mistrust, identity preservation, and culturally incongruent healing practices have been linked to reasons BGCM are reluctant to seek healing practices. This dissertation aims to address the gap in existing literature by employing …

The Quality-Of-Life Benefits And Risk Of Isotretinoin (Accutane) In Acne Treatment: A Systematic Review, Noelia Valencia Zuniga

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent dermatological condition, particularly affecting adolescents and young adults. While often treated as a cosmetic issue, acne can significantly impair a patient's mental health and overall quality of life (QoL). Isotretinoin, commonly known as Accutane, is widely regarded as the most effective treatment for severe and persistent acne. However, its use is controversial due to a range of potential side effects, including psychiatric symptoms, teratogenicity, and other systemic complications. To better understand the risk-benefit profile of isotretinoin in acne treatment, we conducted a systematic review, focusing on the QoL benefits and risks associated with its use. …

The Intersection Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Mental Health: A Focus On College Students, Sudeepta Matha

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Rising prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), changes in diagnostic criteria, and increased public awareness have all contributed to the growing population of college students with ASD. However, many individuals - commonly referred to as the “lost generation” - go undiagnosed, due to experiencing negative interactions with mental health professionals. As a result, these individuals are not given the proper support and interventions required for a successful transition into adulthood, and often face heightened social isolation, academic problems, mental health challenges compared to their neurotypical peers. A combination of these factors can lead to increased suicidal ideation (SI) and …

Examining The Association Between Perceived Stigma And Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Students In Health Professions Education, Camila A. Agurto

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Racial and ethnic minority (REM) students in health professions programs in the U.S. have considerable mental health issues. Still, they are less likely to access mental health services when compared to their White peers. The stigma they face, such as —public stigma, self-stigma, or intersectional stigma, may serve as a barrier to help-seeking. Although there is increasing recognition of the barriers to mental health care experienced by these students, there is no systematic understanding of how perceived stigma associated with mental health issues affects mental health help-seeking by REM students enrolled in health professions education. This systematic literature review aims …

Leadership In Behavioral Health, Rebecca Mccoy

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Leadership in healthcare is difficult when dealing with human contact in its most raw and vulnerable way. Leadership in behavioral health is just as challenging as direct practice practitioners tend to be the ones who move up into these roles. This study will exam “Identifying factors that promote successful leadership and challenges that cause barriers to having successful leadership in behavioral health.” This includes soft and hard skill knowledge, growth opportunities and the strengths and struggles in moving into leadership roles in this industry.

The study is based on phenomenological research to gain an understanding of the individual experience …

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.

Simulating A Multi-Tier Intervention For Refugee Mental Health Using Agent-Based Modeling, Bishan Huang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Increasing numbers of people are fleeing political violence and becoming refugees who resettle all around the world.Compared to the general population in the countries where they resettle, refugees disproportionately suffer from depression and higher trauma-related mental health symptoms including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the experiences that led to their refugee status, as well as post-migration stressors, disadvantages in multiple social determinants of health, and lack of social support. New York City has received refugees from over 50 countries and may require policy and infrastructure changes to meet refugee mental health needs, especially in face of the recent surge …

Evaluating Preoperative Care Providers' Perceptions Of The Autism Support Checklist For Surgical Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amanda Hancock

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to report barriers to healthcare access than individuals with other disabilities and non-autistic persons. Many barriers to healthcare for those on the spectrum have been identified and include: negative interactions with healthcare staff, communication barriers with healthcare providers, lack of providers knowledgeable of ASD, sensory concerns, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system. The Autism Support Checklist (ASC) is a tool designed to outline communication methods, sensory concerns, soothing items/actions, triggers, special interests, safety concerns, and other information pertinent to an autistic patient. The tool is designed to convey the …

Navigating Sexual And Gender Diversity: A Quality Improvement Project To Increase Provider Cultural Competencies For Sexual And Gender Minorities In Mental Health Outpatient Facilities, Shermeen Chandani

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience healthcare disparities related to stigma, discrimination, and limited provider cultural competency. In outpatient psychiatric settings, non-affirming practices can negatively affect patient engagement, trust, and continuity of care. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance staff sexual and gender minority cultural competency (SGMCC) and strengthen affirming clinical processes.

Background: The project was implemented across two outpatient psychiatric clinics with approximately 28 multidisciplinary staff members. At baseline, no formal SGM cultural competency training or standardized documentation practices for preferred names and pronouns existed.

Methodology: A Plan–Do–Study–Act framework with a pre/post-test design was used. The …

Body Perception Attributes As Reflected On The Holistic Wellness Mirror, Priscilla Njeri Gitimu, Rudolph T. Bedeley, Lucy W. Gichaga, Caroline Kobia Kobia, Andie N. Day, Carmi Bobwealth-Omontese, Shinina Shani

Funded Scholarship

Pressure about body perception impacts well-being, and adopting holistic wellness promotes lasting health. The purpose of this study was to explore how body perceptions relate to holistic wellness by modeling a holistic wellness mirror based on the human triad of the body, mind, and spirit. The survey research method and convenient sampling were used, yielding 317 respondents from college classes and social media platforms. The survey was a combination of body perception scales and questions about holistic wellness: healthy eating, happiness, and religiosity. Analysis of variance results indicate that body appreciation and neutrality are significantly higher for individuals with higher …

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.

Effectiveness Of Mental Health First Aid As A Supportive Tactic On Resilience And Organisational Environment-Related Factors Among Hospital Nurses In The Wake Of Covid-19: The Search Continue, Nashwa Ibrahim

Nursing

Background: The implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) has been shown to effectively prevent long-term psychological effects of trauma. Additionally, it aids nurses in stabilising their emotional state and facilitates their practical recovery. Aim: To investigate the effect of MHFA on resilience capacity, organisational commitment, job insecurity and turnover among nurses working in the COVID-19 isolation units. Methods: Sixty nurses in COVID-19 isolation units participated in a quasi-experimental two-group, pre– post-test research. Nurses with low resilience capacity due to the COVID-19 crisis in Egypt completed a baseline survey. The study group employed MHFA strategies using the RAPID model. At …

Yoga As A Self-Care Practice For Mental Health Counselors Who Treat Trauma, Kari Michelle Fitzgerald

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Given the high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue among trauma-exposed counselors, understanding effective self-care practices is critical for sustaining clinical effectiveness and well-being. Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), exploration of the lived experiences of licensed mental health counselors who treat trauma and use yoga as a self-care practice was conducted. Eight participants who were regular yoga practitioners each participated in one semi-structured interview and submitted one pre- and one post-interview reflective journal entry. Thematic analysis was used to identify six major themes; 1) emotional impact and sacred responsibility of clinical work, 2) yoga as a regulating and restorative practice, …

To Be Soft Again: A Phenomenological Study Of Uncertainty And Resilience In Childbearing During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Marcianna Nosek

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty was exacerbated in experiences of pregnancy and childbirth as people navigated through uncharted territory. Building resilience may be one effective way to cope. However, for those who carry a heavier burden in upholding others, a societal expectation of “toughness” and the ability to endure may lead to an appearance of resilience, while on the inside, well-being may be compromised.

Objectives:

This study is part of a larger phenomenological study that explored the broad research question: What is the lived experience of childbearing during the COVID-19 pandemic? Specific themes of uncertainty and resilience are reported …

Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …

Case Series On Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry In Pain Abdomen With School Refusal Among Children, Jatin Kumar, Aditya Takiar, Kishor M, Sudhamshu K.C, Anil Kumar M.G., Prashanth S.N

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Chronic abdominal pain is one of the most common causes of school refusal in children often leading to multiple hospital visits and expenses. This study was done to assess the psychiatric morbidity underlying functional gastrointestinal complaints in children presenting to paediatric surgery unit. We conducted a prospective case series (N=11; ages 8–13) of children referred from Paediatric Surgery between June and December 2025. All these children presented with idiopathic abdominal pain and a significant period of absence from school. These children were evaluated for any organic causes through the use of various investigations including imaging studies and were referred to …

New Insights Into The Mechanisms Of Electroconvulsive Therapy In Treatment-Resistant Depression, Ana C Ruiz, Abdul Haseeb, William Baumgartner, Edison Leung, Giselli Scaini, Joao Quevedo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective interventions for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), particularly in cases involving severe symptomatology, suicidality, or psychotic features. Despite advancements aimed at enhancing the safety and cognitive tolerability of ECT, concerns about cognitive side effects continue to limit its broader acceptance. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying ECT is therefore critical for refining its use and maximizing clinical outcomes. Through a narrative review of recent literature, this paper synthesizes current evidence comparing the efficacy of ECT, ketamine, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of TRD. Then, the review delves into …

Assessing The Relationship Between Perceived Psychological And Physical Pain In Adults With Orthopedic Pain, Daniel C. Karimi Dehkordi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Suicide remains a public health concern in the U.S., particularly among individuals experiencing chronic pain and psychological distress. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between perceived physical and psychological pain in 41 adults with chronic orthopedic conditions. The relationship between other risk and protective factors and perceived levels of pain distress was also examined. Results showed a significant positive correlation between psychological distress and physical pain (r(39) = 0.388, p < .05) and psychological distress and depressive/anxiety symptoms (r (39) = 0.477, p < .01). Psychological distress was moderately associated with feelings of hopelessness (r (39) = 0.403, p < .01), however, the relationship between physical pain and hopelessness was weak and nonsignificant (r (39) = -0.06, p = .71). Contrary to expectations, emotional support did not buffer the effects of psychological distress (r (39) = 0.07, p = 0.66). Mediational analysis confirmed that emotional support did not influence the relationship between physical pain and psychological distress (Beta (β) = -0.969, p = 0.572; Sobel Z = 0.5598, p = 0.575). Age was not correlated with psychological distress (r (39) = -0.24, p = 0.13) or mental health symptoms (r (39) = -0.05, p = .77). While there was no significant difference across sex, males reported higher mental health symptomatology and psychological distress scores than female counterparts. These findings underscore the direct impact of physical pain on psychological distress and challenge assumptions about the protective role of social support. The study highlights the need for integrated, multidisciplinary interventions targeting both physical and psychological pain to mitigate suicide risk among individuals with chronic orthopedic conditions. Future research should iii explore alternative support mechanisms and resilience-building strategies to address the complex interplay of pain, distress, and suicidality.