Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Efficacy Of Behavioral Therapy Compared To Pharmacotherapy As A First Line Treatment For Adhd In Prepubescent Patients Between 5-12 Years Old, Toby Hoskins

Capstone Showcase

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic psychiatric illness that is commonly diagnosed in children and is characterized by attention problems and hyperactive tendencies. Patients with ADHD have multiple treatment options including behavioral therapy and psychostimulants. There is some evidence that clinicians have started to prescribe stimulants at a much higher rate. The results of this critical analysis were varied, but all studies concluded that behavioral therapy is a successful treatment modality for ADHD patients.

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

DNP Scholarly Projects

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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

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

Social Media And Mental Health In Adolescents And Young Adults: A Systematic Review, Dawn Ritter, Kimberly Ray, Celia Keefe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our project is to increase understanding of the link between social media use and mental illness in teens and young adults. Our objective is to write a systematic review of the literature to answer the PICOT questions: (1) In teens and adults, younger than 25 years, what is the relationship between social media use and mental illness? (2) In teens and adults, younger than 25 years, what is the effect of interventions, such as social media as a resource, on mental health promotion and well-being? The motivation for our project comes from the increased use of social …

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

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Honors Research Proposal

Goals and Objectives

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

Methodology:

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

Outcomes: …

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

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

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

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

Online Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Online Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

Anxiety Screening In Children & Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Using The Gad-7 Tool, Allison B. Reynolds

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) can encounter a variety of factors that affect proper management of their diabetes, including mental health. Youth with diabetes have significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and mental health problems compared to the general population. Anxiety is especially prevalent. PURPOSE: The objective of this project was to evaluate anxiety screening of children and adolescents with T1DM during their routine diabetes visits. Specifically, to assess for any trends in anxiety levels and patient characteristics including demographics, insulin regimen and A1C levels. METHODS: A cross- sectional, retrospective review of ambulatory electronic health records …

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

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

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

The Harm In Seeking Care: Assessing The Relationship Between Healthcare Discrimination And Healthcare Avoidance Behaviors In The Past Year And Since The Start Of The Coronavirus Pandemic In A Transgender And Gender Independent Sample, Kyle L. Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Gender minorities encounter a myriad of barriers to accessing general and gender affirming healthcare. Financial disparities impacting affordability of healthcare costs and insurance-based denials for gender-affirming care are among prominent barriers discussed. Considerations of the prevalence of stigma, discrimination, and erasure of gender minority identities must not be neglected when seeking to understand healthcare accessibility and utilization in this population. Previous researchers have examined gender minority patients’ experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings and delaying care due to fear of discrimination. There is a dearth of knowledge about the relationship between lifetime exposure to varied forms of healthcare discrimination …

Exploring Superivsion, Efficacy Beliefs, And The Supervisory Working Alliance When Counselors-In-Training Work With Lgbtgeqiap+ Clients, Sandra Gene Gavin

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this study was to explore the perception of the supervisory working alliance (SWA) and counseling efficacy beliefs for CITs who work with LGBTGEQIAP+ client(s). There is evidence that supports the importance of a strong SWA that aids in CIT development and the importance of counseling self-efficacy in clinical supervision. However, few researchers have explored the perceptions of the SWA, counseling self-efficacy, other-efficacy beliefs on CITs counseling self-efficacy with no models that explored these concepts when CITs work with LGBTGEQIAP+ clients. This study was conducted to explore these perceptions of the SWA, counseling efficacy beliefs, and how these …

Grief Experiences Of Counselors: A Photovoice Exploration And Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Paige S. Spangler

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There is a lack of research on practicing counselors and how personal and painful experiences, such as grief, influence their identity. Grief can impact counselors’ wellness and result in emotional impairment. CACREP standards do not require training in grief counseling. Thus, there are vacancies in understanding the influence of grief and a lack of preparation in navigation and dialogue of grief in counselor education programs. This qualitative study explored the phenomenological experiences of how grief influences counselor identity. The methodology used in this study was photovoice with interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Photovoice allowed participants to describe their experiences through their …

The Impact Of Social Isolation And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review, Jody L. Doll-Wilhelm

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia patients surged. Increased social isolation and decreased activity levels in older adults have been suggested as contributing factors to accelerating AD and dementia. However, assessment tools to gauge interventions and outcomes of cognitive decline are variable among the literature.

Objective: Examine the impact of social engagement versus social isolation, like that experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, on cognitive decline/dementia in older adults (greater than 60 years of age).

Method: A systematic search for studies evaluating the relationship between social isolation and social activity in cognitive …

Predicting Mental Health Counseling Professionals’ Willingness To Discuss Sexuality Issues With Clients, Becca L. Thompson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sexuality is fundamental to the human experience and sexuality issues will affect every individual across the lifespan. Mental health counseling professionals (MHCPs) will likely encounter a client in their practice that presents with some facet of sexuality concern. MHCPs may be challenged by these disclosures or neglect to inquire about these needs due to underlying factors that contribute to decreased willingness to discuss sexuality with clients. This study explored the relationships of some of these factors, including sexual intervention self-efficacy, state anxiety, and trait anxiety, and further examined the extent to which these factors predict willingness to discuss sexuality with …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are high rates of recidivism among U.S. Black youth when compared to other races, such as Whites and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of Black youth in the juvenile justice system and in diversion programs. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, twelve Black adults between the ages of 18 to 40 were interviewed about their lived experiences while participating in mental health courts and in-home probation as youth. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the risk, need, and responsivity model. The primary research question examined the lived experiences and perceptions …

Reimbursement Of Mental Health Service For Individuals Seeking Services At Primary Care Facilities, Keith Avant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between primary care services, mental health services, patient visits, and insurance reimbursement for individuals with a mental health diagnosis who visit primary care facilities. The theoretical integrated theory of health behavior changes has been vital in identifying the contributing factors to the relationship between primary care, mental health services, and insurance reimbursement. The research questions explored whether any relationship existed between mental health diagnosis and office visits, outpatient versus inpatient, the amount paid for treatment, and reimbursement of services. This study used a quantitative approach along with a Pearson …

Mental Health Provider Experiences Among Juvenile Offenders With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Vanessa West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has indicated various treatment options available such as medication management or family therapy for juvenile offenders struggling with a diagnosis of, or symptoms of, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Exploring mental health clinicians’ perceptions may provide insight into treatment needed for this population to contribute positively to society. Past researchers refrained from obtaining mental health clinicians’ perspectives on treatment when working with this population. Rational choice theory indicates that individuals examine the costs and benefits of their actions prior to making decisions. Gestalt/feature-intensive processing theory promotes the inclusion of necessary information to help with processing when making decisions. Youth …

Educational Strategies For Healthcare Providers Of Postpartum Women With Substance Use Disorder, Agnes Denise White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProviding educational strategies to maternal-child staff members can improve their attitudes, perceptions, and stigma towards the childbearing age women who are substance users. In the United States, an increased number of pregnant women have substance abuse problems. It is important that the maternal child staff have the resources and are equipped to care for women who are substance users struggling with their addictions and motherhood. The purpose of this project was to determine whether an educational program provided to postpartum nurses increased knowledge on the special needs of the new mother with a substance abuse issue. The education of the …

Effects Of Attribution And Appraisal Of Control On Emergency Department Nurse Stress When Treating Patients With Severe Mental Illness, Cynthia Lynn Bentzen-Mercer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAs the prevalence of severe mental illness continues to rise and access to mental health care is scarce, an increasing number of U.S. adults seek treatment in emergency departments. Nurses who triage the severity of a medical emergency may appraise the situation both through the lens of mental illness stigma and the degree of confidence they have to control the outcome. However, the research community knows little about the extent to which attribution and appraisal of control affect nurses’ appraisal of stress. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental, canonical correlational study was to examine the extent to which various combinations …

Faith Leaders’ Perceived Role In Mental Health Promotion In Impoverished Communities, Kelly L. Cornish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of faith-based organizations (FBO) for health promotion in vulnerable communities has the potential to improve mental health outcomes by providing resources to community members. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how faith leaders perceived their role in mental health promotion as a resource to improve access to mental health care in impoverished communities. The health belief model and theory of planned behavior were used as the conceptual framework. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to recruit eight faith leaders who led a FBO and resided in Cumberland County, NJ. Data were collected using semistructured …

Examining The Impact Of Mental Health Education On Bias And Stigma In Cit Trained Officers, Jennifer L. Krause

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational nonexperimental research was to examine the relationship between the mental health education received through Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and the perceptions of public mental health stigma, self-stigma, and attitudes toward seeking mental health services among law enforcement officers. The study’s theoretical framework integrated gender-role conflict theory and Goffman’s stigma theory in explaining the influence of the police culture on officers’ adoption of more traditional masculine roles. This research used three instruments: the Attitudes to Mental Illness questionnaire to measure perceptions of public stigma, the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale to measure self-stigma, and …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Integrative Group Medical Visits For Low-Income Patients With Anxiety Disorders In Primary Care, Annamma Udaya Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High utilization of the emergency department (ED) by patients with anxiety symptoms has brought attention to mental health access disparities among low-income racially/ethnically diverse populations. The health system in this study attempted to increase access to mental health care with integrative group medical visits (IGMVs), a nonpharmacological intervention with biomedical care consultation, health education, and peer support. The purpose of this retrospective comparative analysis, guided by integrative health equity in primary care framework, was to determine whether patients with diagnoses of anxiety who attended four or more IGMVs had reduced nonemergent ED utilization, reduced prescribed doses of benzodiazepine (BZD), and …

Teacher Perception On Integrating School Psychology In The Developing Nation Of Grenada, Carla Erica Maria St. Louis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractInternationally, formalized school psychology and related services strive to address the academic and mental health of students in schools. In developing nations, teachers are the primary professionals to address students’ needs in schools. Little research has focused on teachers’ perceptions of students’ needs, available services’ quality, and how formalized structures with qualified certified professionals can further address students’ needs. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems and Nastasi’s participatory culture-specific intervention model are the theoretical underpinnings of this qualitative study and focus group interviews were used to investigate special education needs (SEN) teachers’ perceptions. Data were collected using open ended questions and probes with …

Mental Health Literacy Among Rural And Urban Young Adults In Zambia, Etta Y. Mwambwa-Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Misconceptions that negatively influence attitudes and beliefs about mental illness are still prevalent in Zambia. Researchers have reported that young adults are the most impacted population for mental disorders in Zambia. Researchers have also highlighted mental health literacy (MHL) as a useful strategy for influencing positive attitudes and beliefs about mental disorders. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between levels of MHL and attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and health-seeking behaviors of Zambian young adults aged 18 to 24. The study used the health belief theoretical model. A MHL questionnaire was used to …