Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Combining Dna Methylation Features And Clinical Characteristics Predicts Ketamine Treatment Response For Ptsd, Amir Valizadeh, John D Roache, Xinyu Zhang, Ying Hu, Ralitza Gueorguieva, Lynnette A Averill, Mohini Ranganathan, Zuoheng Wang, Douglas E Williamson, Paulo R Shiroma, Matthew J Girgenti, Ismene L Petrakis, Argelio L López-Roca, Stacey Young-Mccaughan, Terence M Keane, Alan L Peterson, Chadi G Abdallah, John H Krystal, Ke Xu

Staff and Researcher Publications

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits extensive clinical and biological variability, making treatment challenging. The Consortium to Alleviate PTSD (CAP)-ketamine trial, the largest randomized study of ketamine for PTSD, found no overall benefit of ketamine over placebo, underscoring the necessity to identify responsive subgroups. Using pre-treatment blood DNA methylation profiles and clinical measures from the CAP-ketamine trial, we applied machine learning to predict treatment response. A model based on 1,208 methylation sites achieved higher predictive accuracy than models using clinical variables alone, and combining both data types further improved performance. The methylation-derived score distinguished responders with 92.9% accuracy. The predictive CpGs …

Exploring Resource Profiles Among Trauma Exposed Youth: An Identity-Focused, Cultural, And Person-Centered Approach, Ogechi “Cynthia” Onyeka, Jessica Szu-Chi Cheng, Sina Sanei, Shaunna L. Clark, Caitlin M. Pinciotti, Andrew G. Guzick, Eric A. Storch, Sunita M. Stewart, Jessica Sandoval, Cynthia Garza

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Resilience is a multi-faceted construct comprised of both internal and external resources that support adaptive functioning following trauma exposure. The role of resilience in ameliorating internalizing symptoms may depend on its typology as opposed to its presence alone, suggesting the existence of distinct subpopulations with heterogeneous resource profiles. The current study employs Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify and characterize profiles of resilience-related resources among youth exposed to trauma from an identity-focused, cultural lens.

Method: Patterns of resources were examined in 1538 youth (Mage = 13.4, 51.9 % female) from a large longitudinal registry of trauma exposed youth in …

Neural Rewiring Of Resilience: The Effects Of Combat Deployment On Functional Network Architecture, Noga Yair, Tom Zalmenson, Omer Azriel, Dana Shamai-Leshem, Yaron Alon, Niv Tik, Lucian Tetse-Laur, Ariel Ben-Yehuda, Daniel Samuel Pine, Anderson M. Winkler, Ido Tavor

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Although combat-deployed soldiers are at high risk for developing trauma-related psychopathology, most will remain resilient for the duration and aftermath of their deployment tour. The neural basis of this type of resilience is largely unknown, and few longitudinal studies exist on neural adaptation to combat in resilient individuals for whom a pre-exposure measurement was collected. Here, we delineate changes in the architecture of functional brain networks from pre- to postcombat in psychopathology-free, resilient participants.

Methods: Tier 1 infantry recruits (n = 50) participated in this longitudinal, functional magnetic resonance imaging study together with a comparison group of university students …

Structural Brain Differences Associated With Panic Disorder: An Enigma-Anxiety Working Group Mega-Analysis Of 4924 Individuals Worldwide, Laura K. M. Han, Willem B. Bruin, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam, Nynke A. Groenewold, Kevin Hilbert, Anderson M. Winkler, André Zugman, Takeshi Asami, Jacques P. Barber, Francesco Benedetti

Human Genetics Publications

Neuroanatomical findings on panic disorder (PD) are typically difficult to replicate, with inconsistent effects. These concerns prompted a paradigm shift towards large-scale collaborations, focused on harmonized data extraction and processing for robust examination of PD brain correlates. Hence, leveraging the largest-ever multi-site neuroimaging database on PD (Age: 10–66 years; global sites: 28), compiled by the ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group, we report on cortical and subcortical differences in individuals with PD (N = 1146) versus healthy controls (HC: N = 3778). The analyses revealed lower thickness and smaller cortical surface area within fronto-temporo-parietal regions in PD (Cohen’s ds: −0.08–0.13), along with lower …

Treatment For Women With Mental Health Disorders Associated With Reproductive Health: An Opportunity For Interprofessional Collaboration, Ellen Modlin Phd, Otr/L, Bcp, Caps, Deana Goldin Phd, Dnp, Arnp, Fnp-Bc, Pmhnp-Bc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: This article proposes an opportunity for interprofessional collaboration between mental health practitioners (MHPs) and occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) for the treatment of women experiencing mental health disorders (MHDs) associated with reproductive health (RH) changes throughout the lifespan. This collaborative approach have the potential to optimize women’s health care and mitigate the risk of fragmented care, as these conditions are highly complex.

Method: Peer- reviewed literature from mental health and occupational therapy (OT) research was reviewed and summarized. The search focused on the barriers and potential opportunities for collaboration between MHPs and OTPs in women affected with MHDs associated …

Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Via Telehealth For Anxiety In Survivors Of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Kevin T. Liou, Joke Bradt, M. Beatriz Currier, Raymond Baser, Katherine Panageas, Jodi Macleod, Desiree Walker, Susan Q. Li, Ana Maria Lopez, Kelly Mcconnell, Jun J. Mao

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Anxiety is prevalent, disruptive, and undertreated among survivors of cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, but not all individuals have access, respond to treatment, or prefer this option because of stigma. Music therapy is effective for short-term anxiety reduction, but it is unknown whether it is noninferior to first-line CBT for long-term anxiety reduction.

METHODS: This comparative effectiveness trial randomly assigned English- or Spanish-speaking survivors of cancer to seven weekly telehealth sessions of music therapy or CBT. The coprimary end points were changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety score at weeks 8 …

Affect Regulation In The Context Of Sexual And Gender Minority Stress: A Scoping Review Protocol, Daphne Y. Liu, Benjamin A. Swerdlow, Shao Yuan Chong, Nadia Kako, Alex Rubin, Nicholas S. Perry

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Objective

To provide a broad, comprehensive picture of affect regulation in the context of sexual and gender minority stress, this scoping review aims to identify and synthesize methods, methodologies, and available evidence pertinent to emotion regulation and coping in the context of minority stress among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people.

Introduction

SGM people face disproportionately high rates of mental health problems due to experiences of minority stress and lack of social safety. Theories and growing evidence suggest that affect regulation plays a critical role in SGM people’s well-being in the face of minority stress. Researchers have largely studied emotion …

The Black Mother-Daughter Developmental Model: A Life Course Framework For Understanding Matrescence, Identity, And Attachment In Black Family Systems, Brianna A. Baker

Publications and Research

This study introduces the Black Mother-Daughter Developmental Model (BMDDM), a life course framework that theorizes the evolving relational, psychological, and cultural dynamics of Black mother-daughter relationships across generations. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 Black women aged 18 to 65 and analyzed to examine patterns of attachment, identity development, rupture, and relational repair over time. Findings yielded a five-stage developmental model: (1) Black Matrescence and Prenatal Conditions, (2) Initial Attachment, (3) Separation and Detachment, (4) Negotiation and Reattachment, and (5) Matrescence Redux and Grandmatrescence. Across stages, participants described how gendered racial socialization, maternal …

Modern Approaches To Mental Health: App-Based Cbt Versus Traditional Psychotherapy, Samira Shende

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Background: Digital mental health tools are becoming widely used as flexible alternatives to in-person therapy. A key question is how effective they are compared to traditional therapy for people with depression and anxiety.

Objective: To compare how effective digital interventions, like app-based CBT or telehealth, are compared to in-person psychotherapy in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults.

Methods: A structured PubMed search was conducted using specific search terms, limited to English-language randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2025. After screening 116 articles, four high-quality studies were selected for review.

Results: Of the four …

Enhancing Resilience And Reducing Burnout In Oncology Nurse Practitioners Through The “Three Good Things” Intervention, Ernestine A. Muanya

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Burnout among oncology nurse practitioners (NPs) threatens clinician well-being, care quality, and workforce retention. The World Health Organization (2019) defines burnout as a workplace condition caused by chronic unmanaged stress. Nationally, over half of healthcare professionals report burnout symptoms, with high rates in oncology (Deriglazov et al., 2025). In Texas, nearly 48% of advanced practice providers report emotional exhaustion and job-related stress (Patel et al., 2024). Objective: This single-group pre–post quality improvement project evaluated an eight-week, app-based Three Good Things (3GT) intervention to reduce burnout and enhance resilience among 19 breast medical oncology nurse practitioners at a comprehensive …

Gritty Residents: Starting Residency With Resiliency, R Levi Sundermeyer, Brock Cardon

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Music Interventions For Critically Ill Patients: Evaluating Effects Of Music On Psychoemotional Symptoms In Critically Ill Patients Receiving Respiratory Support, Allyson Crighton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Critically ill adults receiving respiratory support in intensive care units (ICUs) frequently experience psychoemotional disturbances such as agitation, anxiety, and delirium, which contribute to prolonged ventilation, increased sedative use, and adverse patient outcomes. While pharmacologic management remains standard practice, associated risks including oversedation and delirium highlight the need for safe, complementary interventions. Emerging evidence suggests that music-based interventions may offer a non-invasive, cost-effective strategy to reduce psychological or emotional distress in this vulnerable population. This integrative literature review examined the effects of music interventions, including passive music listening and structured music therapy, on agitation and related psychoemotional outcomes in critically …

Implementing A “Naloxone Hub With Many Spokes” Model In Kentucky: Partner Agency Perspectives On Implementation Strategies, Hannah K. Knudsen, Michael Goetz, Shaquita Andrews-Higgins, Sandra Back-Haddix, Olivia A. Davis, Patricia R. Freeman, Douglas R. Oyler, Sharon L. Walsh

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background: Overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is a vitally important evidence-based practice for addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic. During the HEALing Communities Study in Kentucky, OEND was dramatically scaled up in eight counties using a “hub with many spokes” model and multifaceted implementation strategies. This aim of this manuscript is to describe qualitative perspectives of partner organizations regarding the utility of the implementation strategies used to expand OEND.   Method: Twenty small-group and 24 individual qualitative interviews were conducted with staff from 44 agencies that implemented OEND through partnerships with the study team. Interviews were conducted 6–8 months after the …

Derivation Of An Intrinsic Brain Activity Biomarker For The Earliest Prediction Of Cognitive Decline, Leslie S. Prichep, Syed N. Zaidi, Kara Brink, Saloni Kanakia, Bo Liang, Yang Jiang, Ruben Armañanzas

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Early identification of cognitive decline in the elderly is essential for timely and effective intervention. Current neuroimaging and clinical biomarkers have largely focused on patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementias, and though effective, have not been demonstrated to be sensitive to the earliest signs of functional abnormalities. The electroencephalogram (EEG), with a millisecond time base, allows a precise exploration of synaptic dysfunction even at the initial stages of the damage. This study introduces a novel non-invasive EEG-based biomarker to predict cognitive decline of participants showing only subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). Baseline EEG recordings from 88 SCI participants who …

Toward A Predictive Model Of Success In Contingency Management: A Proof Of Concept Study Utilizing Behavioral Economic, Clinical Severity, And Alcohol Use Severity Measures, Haily K. Traxler, Christopher T. Franck, Mikhail N. Koffarnus

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

As contingency management (CM) moves from research to practice, researchers have a responsibility to outline the minimum procedural necessities that lead to an effective, sustainable treatment that can be implemented as a mainstream therapy for substance use disorders. To begin identifying the minimum requirements, the purpose of the current study was to provide framework and a first step toward building a risk calculator that predicts treatment outcomes in CM, and can predict the optimal incentive size to prescribe by evaluating behavioral economic factors, demographic variables, and use severity measures in individuals who completed CM treatment for alcohol use. Participants were …

Reverse Koebner Phenomenon In Linear Scalp Morphea Following Punch Biopsy: A Rare Therapeutic Response, Suhas C. Gowda, Akshay Samagani, Shreyas C. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Morphea is a chronic immune-mediated fibrosing disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin. Linear morphea of the scalp (en coup de sabre) commonly demonstrates the Koebner phenomenon, wherein lesions develop at sites of trauma; however, the reverse Koebner phenomenon—trauma-induced regression—is exceptionally rare. We report an unusual case of linear scalp morphea showing early regression following a diagnostic punch biopsy. A 71-year-old male presented with an asymptomatic, indurated linear plaque on the scalp of two months’ duration. Histopathology from a 3.5-mm punch biopsy confirmed morphea, demonstrating dense collagen bundles with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. At follow-up eight days after …

The Tilt Continuum: Investigating The Relationship Between Emotions And Peformance In Esports., Rowan D. Steyn

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Despite widespread agreement in esports communities that tilt leads to poorer performance, this belief remains largely anecdotal. Most existing research relies on self-reported experiences of tilt and perceived decreases in performance, with very little to no empirical evidence supporting this consensus. This project seeks to provide the first systematic, within-person investigation of how varying levels of tilt relate to performance across competitive matches over time. By using post-match surveys and tracking objective performance indicators ( Match win/loss), the study will assess whether tilt consistently predicts poorer outcomes or if the relationship is more complex and nuanced, for example, a possible …

The Effects Of Antidepressant Medications On Sleep Quality In Dominican University Of California Students, Natalie L. Davis, Kenna Wohlford, Stephanie Lee

Physician Assistant Studies | Graduate Research Papers

We spend approximately one third of our life time sleeping or attempting to sleep. The quality of our sleep is equally, if not more important than the amount of sleep we get. This study assesses the effects that medications, specifically antidepressants, can have on sleep quality in Dominican University of California students. 118 participants completed a Qualtrics survey including questions regarding stress, sleep quality, medication lists, and demographics. This study utilized the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to quantify participants’ sleep quality as the outcome. Participant stress levels were assessed with a Likert scale question asking for stress levels on …

Felt Ambivalence Weakens The Attitude-Intention Pathway For Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity In Chinese Adolescents: A Three-Wavee Prospective Study, Yaogang Han, Yubing Wang, Pan Li, Guohua Zheng

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: Favorable attitudes toward regular leisure-time physical activity may not always translate into intention if adolescents feel ambivalent about the behavior. This study tested whether felt ambivalence weakens the prospective attitude–intention association and the indirect effect of attitude on later behavior through intention. Methods: Chinese adolescents (N = 1714; Grades 7–12; mean age = 15.0 years) completed a three-wave survey at approximately two-week intervals. Wave 1 assessed attitudes toward regular leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, felt ambivalence, and physical activity habit; Wave 2 assessed intention; and Wave 3 assessed leisure-time physical activity. Moderated mediation was tested in a structural equation model …

The Effects Of Expectancies And Attention To Placebo Relevant Sensations On The Open-Label Placebo Response, Miranda Connelly

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Placebo analgesia has shown promise in treating pain, but practitioners are reluctant to prescribe deceptive placebos. Open-label, or honestly prescribed placebos, offer an ethical alternative. Open-label placebos seem to work largely through experimenter-manipulated expectancy, as well as social/environmental factors. Additionally, verbally guided attention to relevant placebo sensations might bolster pain relief. In the present study, expectancy and attention were experimentally manipulated within a 2 (expectancy: high/low) x 2 (attention: high/low) between-subjects design with a no-treatment comparison group. Pain was experimentally induced in all five experimental groups using the well-established cold pressor task. The primary dependent variables were pain tolerance and …

Reward Deficits In Co-Occurring Social Anxiety And Depression: The Roles Of Anhedonia, Boredom, Loneliness, And Covid-19 Social Restriction, Nathan M. Hager, Alicia L. Milam, Hannah C. Hamrick, Benjamin Swanson, Matt R. Judah

Psychology Faculty Publications

Prior research points toward reward deficits as crucial to the link between social anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. However, studies have not explored specific types of reward deficits or how social-environmental factors may impact them. The current study examined whether the indirect effects of three reward deficits (anhedonia, boredom, and loneliness) accounted for the connection between social anxiety and depression. Questionnaires were collected in a sample of college students (N = 523) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing examination of environmental stressors (i.e., remote learning and current friend network size) on reward deficits. Indirect effect models …

Suicidality, Self-Neglect, And Medical Refusal In Advanced Illness: An Ethical Case Report, Austin Supak, Sarah Greene, Madeline Adelman, Whitney Snyders

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Zuranolone In The Treatment Of Postpartum Depression: An Evidence-Based Review, Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, Tasaduq Mir

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and potentially severe condition frequently managed in primary care, where delayed treatment adversely affects maternal and infant outcomes. Neuroactive steroid therapies targeting γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors represent a novel therapeutic class. Brexanolone, the first FDA-approved treatment for PPD, required prolonged inpatient administration and was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2025. Zuranolone is currently the only FDA-approved medication specifically indicated for PPD, offering a short-course oral treatment suitable for outpatient use. This review evaluated the efficacy of zuranolone and its applicability in primary care practice.

METHODS: This evidence-based review was conducted in …

Harmonizing Healing: Examining Music Therapy As An Adjunctive Treatment For Mental Health, Shalin Patel, Karen Foote

MidAmerica Division GME Healthcare Symposium 2026

No abstract provided.

Procedural Justice And Body Worn Cameras, Yael Granot

Psychology: Faculty Publications

The extensive and rapid roll out of body cameras across American police forces in the past decades was intended to improve issues of accountability and transparency in policing. Trust and perceptions of fairness of police are shaped, in large part, by how one is treated by officers and departments—the fundamental interpersonal work of procedural justice. This Article reviews findings on public and police support for body cameras, as well as research connecting body cameras to perceptions of procedural justice. It then elaborates on past research with a vignette experiment, aimed at isolating the unique and interactive effects of just policies, …

Ethical Considerations For Hospice Patients In Inpatient Settings: A Systematic Review And Thematic Analysis, Matthew D. Harry

Honors Theses and Capstones

Hospice care is intended to prioritize comfort, dignity, symptom management, and quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illness. However, when hospice-eligible patients are managed within inpatient hospital settings, significant ethical challenges frequently emerge due to the tension between comfort-focused care and the curative, intervention-driven structure of acute care medicine. This paper presents a systematic literature review and thematic analysis examining the ethical considerations surrounding hospice patients in inpatient settings, with particular attention to clinical decision-making, communication, prognostic uncertainty, moral distress among nurses, and conflicts involving patient autonomy and family wishes. A structured review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using …

Understanding Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (Asmr), Cecilia Zoutewelle

A. The Science of Sound

This 7-page report with illustrations and bullet-point summaries provides an introduction to the phenomena of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). Also included is a brief discussion on the benefits of ASMR for interpersonal listening.

Pillpetz: A Smarter Way To Encourage Medication Adherence In Children, John H. Begley

CMC Senior Theses

Medication adherence is usually framed as a problem of patient behavior, but this thesis argues that it is equally a problem of design. Children who take daily medication face barriers that adults often do not: developing executive function, dependence on caregivers, shifting school and home routines, privacy concerns, and stigma around being perceived as different. The standard prescription bottle, by contrast, was designed primarily for dispensing efficiency, safety, and accidental ingestion prevention—not for sustained daily use by a developing child.

This thesis proposes PillPetz, a smart pill case and digital companion that uses routine, play, dose confirmation, and caregiver-connected support …

Mindfulness Matters: Reducing Anxiety In Prelicensure Undergraduate Nursing Students Using Virtual Reality Meditation Prior To High Fidelity Simulation., Lindsey K. Hildreth

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 5-minute virtual reality (VR) meditation intervention in reducing self-reported anxiety among prelicensure nursing students immediately prior to their participation in a high-fidelity clinical simulation. Anxiety levels were measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and compared between students who participated in the VR meditation intervention and those in a control group receiving standard prebrief, and no VR meditation. It was hypothesized that students who engage in VR meditation would demonstrate a reduction in anxiety compared to students in the control group.

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …