Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Heroes Of Medicine In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez, Raquel Elena Orellana

Heroes of Medicine in the Rio Grande Valley

Cynthia Cavazos Gonzalez PhD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice at UTRGV in Edinburg, Texas and she is the clinic director of the UTRGV Psychology training clinic. She completed a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, California. Her doctoral degree is in Clinical Psychology with a major specialization in Neuropsychology and minor specialization in Health Psychology. She completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at UTMB in Galveston with a major emphasis in hospital consultation, outpatient psychotherapy, and psychological and neuropsychological evaluations with diverse populations. She completed an informal neuropsychology post-doctoral residency in Texas …

Feeling Like A Woman: Interoception And The Objectified Body, Tomi-Ann Roberts, James W. Pennebaker, Benita Jackson

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Much of the interoception literature assumes that people can accurately detect their heart rate, stomach contractility, muscle tension, and other biological cues. This is not true. Instead, interoception is an active integrative psychological process where the feeling of one’s internal state emerges from physiological signals, contextual cues, and the social and cultural experiences of living in a body. Thinking of interoception this way shifts the focus from measuring accuracy at detecting biological signaling to studying lived experience. One such experience is the widespread objectification of women’s bodies. Living in a body that is chronically evaluated creates a particular form of …

Eating Disorder Prevention And Early Intervention In U.S. Higher Education – A Comparative Benchmarking Study, Jake R. Arcement

Senior Theses

Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa, have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, yet remain underrecognized relative to their severity and treatment burden. Because the period of peak onset aligns with the college years, institutions of higher education are uniquely positioned to play an important role in prevention, early identification, and referral to specialized care. However, limited research has examined how colleges and universities structure ED prevention and treatment resources. This thesis applies a comparative benchmarking framework to assess current institutional practices across U.S. colleges and universities. A national survey of student health and counseling centers examined staffing, …

The Impact Of Stress On Dream Content, Tessa Duncan, Mason Trevino

Posters - 2026

• This research investigated how daily stress levels influence the intensity of dreams. The study aimed to clarify the relationship between stress and dream intensity, enhancing understanding of stress’s broader effects on mental health. • Building on Rush’s concept of a “goldilocks zone” in the stress scale, where moderate stress benefits well-being while too little or too much stress can cause harm (2024). The current study used the hallucination model of dreaming from Gillespie and Trakas (2024), which views dreams as vivid, perception-like experiences that can amplify emotions. Drawing on Gessert’s methods for measuring stress and nightmare frequency, stress is …

The Effects Of Sour & Spicy Food On Visual & Auditory Reflexes, Aditi Kumar, Alondra-Sophia Martinez, Magdalena E. Saad, Emma J. Welsch

Posters - 2026

• The reflex reaction time measures how quickly the nervous system can respond to a stimulus. • In the experiment, both visual and auditory reflexes were measured to evaluate differences in reaction time after the consumption of sour and spicy foods. • Spices and herbs produce different signals that interact with the nervous system. (McMullen 2024) • Comparing the response times from before and after consumption, this experiment allowed us to determine if different tastes affect reflex reaction times.

The Role Of Loneliness On College Freshmen Retention, Amy Berg

Libraries Undergraduate Research Award (LURA) Winners

What factors contribute to student retention, dropout, and success within the first semester? We hypothesized that persistent feelings of loneliness across the semester play a major role in a student’s intentions to continue enrollment, and a lack of social connection to the university mediates this relationship. We assessed this in a sample of n = 30 first semester freshman enrolled in a university success seminar across the Fall 2025 semester, of whom n = 8 completed Wave 1 and Wave 4 surveys of a four-wave study spanning the whole semester. We used the 20- item UCLA Loneliness Scale, the 24-item …

Influence Of Simulator Physical Fidelity And Immersion On Decision-Making Skill, Presence, And Cognitive Load, Zachariah G. Hoyne, Morris-Binelli, Sean Müller, Benjamin Piggott, Paola Chivers, Evan Dekker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In a variety of domains such as law enforcement and sport, virtual reality is being explored to simulate field-based decision-making contexts. 360-degree video virtual reality (360VR) is innovative as it can immerse the user in a simulated environment, present egocentric, stereoscopic vision and allows for head movements to perceive visual information. However, it is unknown whether physical, rather than psychological fidelity, is crucial for performance, and its impact upon cognitive load, relative to immersion. This study investigated simulator fidelity, presence, and cognitive load across immersion (two-dimensional video and 360VR) in an exemplar sport-specific decision-making task. Thirty skilled Australian Rules Football …

Antipsychotics As Adjunct Therapy In Risk Reduction Of Crisis Admission: An Analysis Of Historical Patient Data, Slawomir Piela, Eduardo Espiridion

Transformative Medicine

Introduction: Antipsychotics are a broad class of medication used in the management of psychotic symptoms in various disorders. In recent years, they have been approved for use as adjunct therapy in patients with treatment resistant depression and bipolar disorder. An outcome of this therapy that has not been extensively investigated is the associated likelihood of crisis events that necessitate admission to an emergency department or crisis center. Methods: In this study, we reviewed historic patient data to determine the association of risk of crisis admission in patients prescribed antipsychotics as adjunct therapy in the context of treatment resistant depression or …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Proactive Coping: Impacts On College Adjustment And Risky Behavior, Saige A. Imm, Jisook Park, Will Stutterheim

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Numerous studies have examined the enduring impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on individuals’ capacity to manage stress and effectively navigate challenges in the rigors of the university environment. Exposure to negative life events has shown to interfere with individuals’ psychological maturation, heightening an inclination to engage in risky behaviors, especially during pivotal developmental transitions like the start of college. Thus, investigating the impact of ACEs on college students is crucial as it could impair their societal well-being and increase mental health concerns and maladaptive behaviors in college (Schafer, 2021; King et al., 2024). The current research examines the role …

The Relationship Between Smartphone Screen Time Duration And Individual Chronotype: A Systematic Literature Review, Diego Sergio Giasia Lumbantobing, Thalia Altamilano Pramudya

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

The rapid increase in smartphone use over the past decade led to prolonged screen time across age groups, particularly during nighttime hours. Exposure to artificial light and pre-sleep digital activities was associated with circadian rhythm disruption and alterations in individual chronotype. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on the relationship between smartphone screen time duration and individual chronotype across all age groups and to identify key moderating factors influencing this association. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2015 and 2025. …

Collaborative Care For Depression In Chronic Illness: A Narrative Review, Chun Wong, German E. Corso

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Depression commonly coexists with chronic medical illness and is associated with impaired self-management, poor adherence, increased healthcare utilization, and higher mortality.

Objective: To synthesize evidence published between 2000 and late 2025 on the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) for depression in adults with chronic medical illness, with particular attention to contemporary U.S. implementation, policy, and equity considerations.

Methods: A narrative review of randomized controlled trials, pragmatic and implementation studies, systematic reviews, and policy analyses was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Evidence addressing collaborative care for depression in adults with chronic medical illness was identified and synthesized …

Evaluating Sensory Sensitivities Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Adaptive Gymnastics Program, Aicha Kaouss, Bradley Eppinger, Austin Ebbrecht, Kailash Ram, Kaitlin P. Hardy Md

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participate in physical activity at lower rates than their neurotypical peers1. Sensory sensitivities, reported in approximately 75–95% of children with ASD, may contribute to this disparity2. Gymnastics environments involve bright lighting and loud noise, which can precipitate sensory overload. The impact of specific sensory features on participation in adaptive gymnastics remains underexplored.

Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited caregivers of children aged 3–12 years with an ASD diagnosis enrolled in the EVMS Adaptive Gymnastics Program. Caregivers completed the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire–Third Edition (SEQ-3)3 and supplemental survey items on Redcap which assessed environmental triggers and …

The Psychology Of Offensive And Defensive Intergroup Violence: Preregistered Insights From 58 Countries, Jonas R. Kunst, Tomasz Besta, Michał Jaśkiewicz, Et Al, Lauren E. Duncan

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Historically, intergroup violence has been motivated by both offensive and defensive goals, often blending narratives of protection with ambitions of domination. In a preregistered study spanning 58 countries, we show that defensive and offensive extremist intentions are positively correlated yet psychologically distinct, relating differently to individual and societal factors. Defensive extremist intentions were far more common and primarily linked to narcissism and Machiavellianism, whereas offensive extremist intentions were primarily associated with social dominance orientation and religious fundamentalism, were lower in more democratic and developed societies, and higher in those experiencing violence and conflict. This global evidence suggests that violent extremist …

Psychology: Examining The Relationship Between Temperature Discrepancy And Reaction Speed, Jessica Berber, Yatri Patel, Yara Ali, Rileigh Schumacher

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Our study examines the interaction of temperature discrepancies and reaction speed in college students. Previous research suggests that temperature influences reaction time, with colder conditions generally slowing responses. However, comparatively little research has explored the effects of warmer temperatures on reaction speed. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to examine the relationship between temperature variation and reaction speed in college students. Participants will be recruited through word of mouth and the SONA pool. The SONA pool is used to recruit participants for studies, and they can sign up to fulfill course requirements or earn extra credit. In the Qualtrics …

Depression And Psychotic Disorders Worsen Perioperative Outcomes And Increase Resource Utilization After Multilevel Lumbar Fusion: Implications For Screening And Perioperative Care, Leonidas E. Mastrokostas, Paul G. Mastrokostas, Luke B. Schwartz, Abigail Razi, Sean Inzerillo, John K. Houten, Arya Varthi, Alex R. Vaccaro, Jad Bou Monsef, Afshin E. Razi, Mitchell K. Ng

Rothman Institute Papers

CONTEXT: Multilevel lumbar fusion use has increased with an aging U.S. population. Depression and psychotic disorders are linked to poorer surgical outcomes, but their effects in this setting are unclear.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to quantify the prevalence of these disorders and evaluate associations with perioperative outcomes and resource use.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2022.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Depression and psychotic disorders were defined using Elixhauser-derived indicators. Outcomes included medical and mechanical complications, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and costs.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: …

Hallucinogens For Mood And Anxiety Disorders: A Critical Review Of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Georgia Chlebek

The Cardinal Edge

In quite a few people worldwide, there are several mental disorders that prevent the brain from operating in the “proper” way, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being among the most common. Luckily, there are several medications that are produced and used to treat these disorders, but some medications are hard to access, and others simply don’t help the patient. Firstly, these medications take time to study and prove safe for public use, though in some cases time is not readily available. In other cases, these medications are going through shortages and becoming increasingly difficult for patients to access …

Potency-Related Effects Of Smoked Cannabis On Simulated Driving Performance: A Randomized, Controlled Crossover Trial, Bruna Brands, Adam Zaweel, Madison Wright, Patricia Di Ciano, Christine M. Wickens, Justin Matheson, Andrew Fares, Omer S. M. Hasan, Marcos Sanches, Beth Sproule, Marilyn A. Huestis, Timothy L. Brown, Bernard Le Foll

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Given the increasing availability of high-potency Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) products, understanding potency-related effects of Δ9-THC on driving performance is an important public safety issue. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects trial examined the effects of smoked cannabis with varying Δ9-THC concentrations on simulated driving. Adults aged 19–45 who regularly used cannabis and held valid driver’s licenses completed simulated driving tasks after smoking placebo, or cannabis containing low (6.25%/47 mg Δ9-THC), medium (12.5%/94 mg Δ9-THC), or high (22%/165 mg Δ9-THC) Δ9-THC levels. The primary outcome was mean speed (km/h); secondary measures included maximum speed, standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), reaction time (RT), …

The Schizophrenia Effect: Families Facing Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders, Ginger A. Christmas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schizophrenia is primarily known for its bizarre psychosis, as the brain struggles to distinguish between what is real and what is not. This qualitative study employed constructive, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the idea that families with a family member diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD) in the United States have specific needs, which may include social and spiritual support and integration into treatment. While the needs of families facing SSD have been studied in non-Western countries, the schizophrenia effect on families in the U.S. remains less understood. A purposive sample of 11 individuals, representing 15 family members with …

Impact Of Acute Flight Training Stress On Cardiovascular Health, Toni Butler, Noah Robbins, Sophia Vaden, Bryan Hinton

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Student pilots face a unique set of stressors that are a part of their flight training. These acute stressors can have immediate and long-term impacts on their physiological and psychological well-being. Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure vascular endothelial function (a marker of cardiovascular health), this investigation will help us understand how the stressors involved in acute flight training affects the cardiovascular health of student pilots. We will test the hypothesis that acute flight training stress obtained from a single bout of flight training reduces cardiovascular function as shown by a reduced post-occlusive reactive hyperemic (PORH) response. Cardiovascular health will …

Anhedonia Underlies The Association Between Childhood Unpredictability And Adult Ptsd Symptoms: Evidence From Three Independent Longitudinal Cohorts, Christopher Hunt, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis, Tallie Z. Baram, Caroline M. Nievergelt, Giovanni Castillo, Christian Cortes, Christine Y. Chang, Dewleen Baker, Victoria B. Risbrough

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Unpredictability in the child’s environment has recently emerged as a significant and unique form of early life adversity (ELA). Cross-sectional studies have linked childhood unpredictability with increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adults; however, no prospective studies have tested the link between childhood unpredictability and PTSD risk in later life, nor what processes, such as increased anhedonia symptoms, might mediate such risk. Here, we leveraged three distinct prospective, longitudinal cohorts to test the hypothesis that unpredictability during childhood contributes to adult PTSD via worsening anhedonia symptoms.

Methods

Participants were male service members (n=314), adult females (n=170), and adolescents …

Depression Due To Combined Dexamethasone And Cyproheptadine Abuse For Weight Gain, Sanjana Sateesh, Jatin Kumar, Dhananjay Ardawatia, Kishor M, Shashidhara Kc, Srikanth Ms

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Cyproheptadine, an H1 antihistamine, and Dexamethasone, a long-acting steroid, are often misused in combination for addressing self-perceived body image issues and have become a popular but dangerous ‘weight gain cocktail’, often available over the counter without any prescription. This case describes a 25-year-old man who had self-prescribed the above-mentioned drugs in combination to address his self-perceived lean physique. This resulted in a significant weight gain, followed by an abnormal increase in appetite, which affected his daily life. Upon cessation, it resulted in rebound weight changes, depressive features, along with features of corticosteroid withdrawal, which required multidisciplinary management.

This case highlights …

Nursing Practice In Cancer Treatment Decision Making Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review On Behalf Of The International Society Of Geriatric Oncology Nursing, Allied Health, And Scientists Interest Group, Fay J. Strohschein, Hanneke Van Der Wal-Huisman, K. Alix Hayden, Kristen R. Haase, Michelle Hannan, Cindy Kenis, Juan Li, Nikita Nikita, Sophie Pilleron, Tracy Ruegg, Heike Schmidt, Anke Steckelberg, Cassandra Vonnes, Martine Puts

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Cancer treatment decision making (CTDM) presents important challenges among older adults due to variation in health and functional status, presence of comorbidities, differing goals/values, quality and quantity of life considerations, and limited inclusion in clinical trials. Nursing standards and guidelines call for competence in supporting CTDM and nurses advocate for greater involvement. However, clear understanding of the existing evidence to inform nursing practice is lacking. We aimed to map and synthesize evidence that provides insight into nursing practice in CTDM among older adults, with attention to nursing roles, required skills and competencies, potential barriers and facilitators, and outcomes studied. …

Exploring Adolescent Hearing Aid Usage And Appearance Of Psychiatric Symptoms In Adolescents Using Hearql-28 Surveys, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Approximately 2% of DHH people in need of mental health services actually receive these services. Among pediatric hearing loss populations, co-occurring cognitive and physical impairments are risk factors for poor mental health status. Due to language barriers and isolation, more children with hearing loss do not have access to mental health services. Cochlear implants have been shown to improve mental health status among the DHH population. Current literature focuses on the mental health status of children with cochlear implants, with little focus on hearing aid users. Using HEAR28 data and surveys, we can quantify the incidence of psychiatric symptoms among …

Screening Ptsd In Clinical Populations Within East Africa: Results From The First Follow-Up Study Of Neurogap-Psychosis, Shaili Jha, Rocky Stroud, Ana Lucia Dice, Joseph Kyebuzibwa, Stella Gichuru, Fredrick Ochieng, Manasi Sharma, Hayden Mountcastle, Lydia Marshall, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Given the high burden of trauma in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a critical need for scalable tools to screen for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, especially in low-resource settings.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility, reliability, and validity of the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) administered over the telephone to individuals previously enrolled in the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis study (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) study in Uganda (N = 4,921) and Kenya (N = 3,149).

Method: Cases with psychosis and controls without psychosis (patients, caretakers, or employees) were recontacted from the NeuroGAP-Psychosis …

Morphea With Seronegative Inflammatory Arthritis And Normal Acute Phase Reactants: A Case Report, Balakrishnan Navaneethakrishnan, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Localised scleroderma, also known as morphea, is an immune-mediated fibrosing disorder that primarily affects the skin and subcutaneous tissues. While traditionally considered purely a cutaneous disease, extracutaneous manifestations (especially inflammatory arthritis) are increasingly being appreciated. The combined presence of morphea and inflammatory arthritis is rare and can be difficult to diagnose, particularly when inflammatory markers and serological testing are non-contributory.

Case Summary : We describe a 41-year-old woman with long-standing biopsy-proven morphea who over 2 years developed chronic, asymmetric inflammatory arthritis of the left wrist and hand small joints. On examination, she had active synovitis with restricted movements of her …

Pseudo-Hallucinations: A Diagnostic Conundrum, Dr Sankram Nayak, Manju Aswath, Vathsalya S. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background:

Pseudohallucinations are vivid, hallucination-like experiences that are internal, recognized as unreal. Distinguishing from true hallucinations remains a diagnostic challenge.

Case-report

33-year-old female with family history of psychosis presented with 10-year duration of delusion of infidelity and auditory experiences, with normal Biopsychosocial functioning. She had multiple psychiatric consultations, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, treated with  various antipsychotics, ECT, current prescription of clozapine(350mg) with clozapine induced seizure.  Reported that her husband was emotionally unavailable. She described the voices in her head which were non-threatening, praising her for having qualities of an ideal-wife.  They were constant companions giving her solace and hence refrained …

Seeking Traditional Health Practitioners And Use Of Complementary/Alternative Medicines In The Management Of Movement Disorders In Africa: A Multicenter Continental Study, Ali Shalash, Tamer Roushdy, Samia Sassi, Oluwadamilola Ojo, Yusuf Jamnagerwalla, Ahmed Sheikh, Yasser Mecheri, Maouly Fall, Juzar Hooker, Dilraj Sokhi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Traditional health practitioners (THP) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) play a well-recognized role in Africa. However, their role in treating movement disorders (MD) remains poorly studied.

Objective This large multicenter continental study aimed to investigate the prevalence of seeking and consulting THPs and using CAMs among people with MDs in different African countries and the associated factors of their use.

Methods This study involved 12 sites within 11 African countries. We developed and distributed a structured questionnaire that documented frequency, attitudes, beliefs, and factors related to patients' engagement with THPs and use of CAMs.

Results We surveyed 1158 …

Diagnostic Trends And Service Enhancements In Deaf Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis, Kent Schafer, Steve Hamerdinger, Frank Wu, Rie Sakai Bizmark, Charlene Crump

JADARA

A longitudinal study investigated mental health diagnostic trends and patterns among Deaf and Hearing individuals using a comprehensive dataset from Alabama Department of Mental Health spanning 2004-2024 (Deaf=4,547; Hearing=2,056,188). Chi-square analysis revealed significant proportional differences in diagnoses between the groups. Deaf individuals showed significantly higher proportions of psychotic (12.93% vs. 8.33% Hearing), mood (20.76% vs. 18.84% Hearing), and personality (0.58% vs. 0.43% Hearing) disorders. These findings suggest that increased access to specialized and competent mental health services for individuals who are Deaf, particularly following the increase of staffing patterns for the Office of Deaf Services in 2015,contributed to more accurate …

Bridging Ipv And Sud For Pregnant And Postpartum Women: A Case Report Of Interdisciplinary Programming In Mississippi, Catherine Poehling, Masoumeh Karimi, Chinedu Chukwu, Jerome R. Kolbo, Xiaoshan Gordy, Saijun Zhang, Matthew Morris, Andrew Voluse, Erin Dehon, Michelle Brassfield, Danielle Lahn, Lisa Slade, Deanna Howington, Kathleen Rhodes, Tearsanee Davis, Sonja Fuqua, Mary M. Wesley, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents in the U.S. South experience disproportionately high rates of bullying, discrimination, depression, and suicidality. Supportive and inclusive school climates are identified as key protective factors that can mitigate these risks and function as primary prevention against violence. This systematic narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed research and high-quality survey reports published between 2015 and 2024 that assess school climate, mental health, and violence-related outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth with representation from Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 1,167 records …

The Culture Cure: Behavioral Supervision And The Regulation Of Financial Institutions, David B. Lourie

Mercer Law Review

This Article advances a normative claim: U.S. financial regulators must move beyond primarily adversarial, enforcement-driven models and adopt behavioral supervisory tools—particularly elements of culture assessments—to proactively help guide ethical firm conduct and mitigate systemic risk. Importantly, the proposal here is incremental and resource-efficient. Many recommendations place the onus on firms to assess and demonstrate their culture, while regulators set expectations, review outputs, and selectively verify findings. The framework proceeds in progressive stages—beginning with voluntary, partnership-based initiatives, moving toward light-touch integration within existing examinations, and scaling only where persistent governance weaknesses or systemic risks warrant closer attention. This tiered approach reflects …