Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Of Online-Delivered Act-Enhanced Behavior Therapy For Trichotillomania In Adolescents, Michael P. Twohig, Julie M. Petersen, Jeremiah Fruge, Clarissa W. Ong, Jennifer L. Barney, Jennifer Krafft, Eric B. Lee, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Student Research

Treatment of adolescent trichotillomania is understudied, and treatment providers are difficult to find. In this pilot study, we compared ACT-enhanced behavior therapy to a waitlist, with treatment delivered over Zoom, to 28 adolescents who met criteria for trichotillomania. This study partially occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. A detailed description of the treatment protocol is provided for ACT-enhanced behavior therapy adapted to a Zoom format for adolescents. Pretreatment assessments were completed over Zoom by an assessor unaware of study condition; pretreatment and posttreatment questionnaires were completed online. Results indicated that therapy was delivered with fidelity and competence over Zoom, with 100% …

Exploring The Covid-19 Experience Of Young Adult Latinos In Rural California: Insights Into Mental Health & The Immigrant Health Paradox, Vivianna Plancarte

Pomona Senior Theses

This study expands the COVID-19 and Latino Immigrants in Rural California (CLIMA) Study at UC Merced by exploring how the mental health of young adult Latinos in rural CA has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and comparing the experiences of US-born Latinos to those of Latino immigrants to investigate an Immigrant Health Paradox. A convergent mixed methods design was first employed whereby qualitative and quantitative data was collected concurrently, and then merged. Then, the data collected from young adult Latinos was compared to that from Latino immigrants collected by CLIMA Study to explore the Immigrant Health Paradox in the …

The Role Of Vocal Hostility On Mood: Initial Development Of An Alternative Stress Paradigm, Jaquoy Sowell, Jennifer Gray, Christa C. Christ

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

Maltreatment, such as physical or emotional abuse, can alter one’s later emotional regularity and responses to stimuli. To be able to study the effect of maltreatment on later stimuli response, appropriate laboratory paradigms need to be available, which is not currently true. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of vocal hostility stimuli on mood change as preliminary steps toward the creation of a laboratory paradigm. Participants were recruited from a regional university in southeast United States and asked to react to recorded audio with a hostile tone. Study 1 found that participants’ mood did not differ …

Using A Psychopharmacology Education Program To Increase Primary Care Provider Comfort With Treating Basic Psychiatric Disorders, Latesha Reed

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Almost 1 in 5 people have been diagnosed with a mental health illness but the supply of psychiatric providers does not meet patient’s needs. Multiple reasons contribute to this shortage and nurse practitioners are part of the solution. Even with nurse practitioners specializing in psychiatric mental health there is still a shortage. Primary care is where most patients first present their mental health issues.

METHODS: Literature review informed the development of the educational intervention presented to the primary care providers using a digital, asynchronous learning format. A gap analysis of organizational needs and weaknesses was used to determine the …

Reflections On The Bgj Anti-Racism Seminar, Michelle Billies

Publications and Research

In this Letter to the Editor, Billies (2021) responds to critical and supportive opinion pieces in the British Gestalt Journal (BGJ) following their plenary presentation at BGJ’s 2018 annual seminar (see Asherson Bartram, 2019; O’Malley, 2019). As author of the companion article "How/ Can Gestalt Therapy Promote Liberation from Anti-Black Racism?” (Billies, 2021), Billies, who identifies as white, discusses the intent at the seminar to support white people to increase accountability and reduce harm in dialogue with people of color, while supporting the work and needs of people of color on their terms from a Gestalt perspective. Describing a fishbowl …

Illness Perception And Social Support Among Cardiac Patients Attending Rehabilitation Programme And Their Experiences, Sukhbeer Kaur Darsin Singh

Student Works (2020-2029)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) have emerged as the leading causes of death in Malaysia. In developed countries, heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in Europe, CHD accounts for an estimated 1.95 million deaths each year. In Europe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO 2012), it is recorded that 42 percent of deaths were caused by CVD and 41 percent was by CHD which was 2,655,364 people has died. Secondary prevention through cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a key component of the ongoing care of these patients, immediately following discharge from …

The Role Of Protective Factors For Nonsuicidal Self-Injury In Sexual Minorities, Kendra Rigney

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sexual minorities have been shown to have increased risk of suicide in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts. This demographic has also been shown to have decreased levels of protective factors, which function as a measure to protect an individual from attempting suicide. The goal of the present study was to examine how individuals with sexual minority status differ from heterosexual individuals on suicide attempts and the protective factors of resilience, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness within a sample who all have NSSI history. A sample of 2,130 undergraduate students completed an online survey assessing nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide behaviors, …

Testing Encoding Specificity And The Diagnostic Feature-Detection Theory Of Eyewitness Identification, With Implications For Showups, Lineups, And Partially Disguised Perpetrators, Curt Carlson, Jacob A. Hemby, Alex R. Wooten, Alyssa R. Jones

Faculty Publications

The diagnostic feature-detection theory (DFT) of eyewitness identification is based on facial information that is diagnostic versus non-diagnostic of suspect guilt. It primarily has been tested by discounting non-diagnostic information at retrieval, typically by surrounding a single suspect showup with good fillers to create a lineup. We tested additional DFT predictions by manipulating the presence of facial information (i.e., the exterior region of the face) at both encoding and retrieval with a large between-subjects factorial design (N = 19,414). In support of DFT and in replication of the literature, lineups yielded higher discriminability than showups. In support of encoding specificity, …

Ability Status, Self-Advocacy, And Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Neurodiversity-Informed Training For Professionals And Caregivers, Allison N. Simpson

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Ability status in U.S. society is a critical social and cultural identity. “Disability” is often viewed through the lens of pathology as an illness. This kind of view affects not only the personal identity of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities, but also their treatment by others in the community, employers, caregivers, and others in their system of interaction. Even individuals who are strong self-advocates can be silenced by this kind of lens. A more empowering way to view individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities is through the lens of neurodiversity in order to see their abilities, needs, wishes, and lives. The current project …

Harming The Help-Seeking: Necessity For Assessing Harmful And Biased Attitudes Toward Clients With Substance Use Disorder, Crystal D. Mcdowell, Crystal Dawn Mcdowell

Psychology Doctoral Specialization Projects

Numerous times, as a new clinician, I have witnessed the substance use disorder population referred to as not being dependable, dangerous, burnt out, and even hopeless. Often times I have heard mental health professionals make statements amongst themselves that the client could not be helped, referred to them as a “frequent flyer,” (meant to convey they frequently present for treatment, relapse, and return for treatment), and complain how tax dollars are being wasted to support the client. I felt empathy and a sense of hopelessness for these clients as they were seeking treatment in order to get help and yet …

Digital Media And Social Connection In The Lives Of Children, Adolescents, And Families, Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Yalda T. Uhls, A. Third

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Observational Measurement Of Attachment In Toddlers With Disruptive Behavior Using The Strange Situation Procedure And Attachment Q-Set, Corey C. Lieneman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Child-caregiver attachment is an important factor in healthy child development and is often targeted by early intervention programs. To assess the efficacy of these interventions, attachment must be accurately measured across the toddler years in populations referred for treatment of externalizing behavior problems. The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth et al., 1978) and Attachment Q-Set (AQS; Waters, 1987) are empirically-validated measures of child-caregiver attachment, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Previous research has reached mixed conclusions on relations between the observer-report AQS and SSP, depending on sample and study characteristics, and a review of the literature did not produce any …

Effects Of Acute And Chronic Nicotine Administration On Choice Of Probabilistic Outcomes, Katya A. Nolder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Risky choice can be operationally defined as the choice for a larger, uncertain reinforcer over a smaller, certain reinforcer. Research suggests smokers engage in more risky or maladaptive decisions when compared to nonsmokers. The relation between nicotine and risky choice could benefit from further investigation, since nicotine is the active substance of tobacco products that maintains tobacco addiction. Acute nicotine administration has shown to alter risky choice; however, since the everyday smoker uses nicotine repeatedly, more research on chronic administration is warranted and would allow for assessment of tolerance or sensitization of these effects. The present study investigated effects of …

The Efficacy Of Mdma-Assisted Psychotherapy Compared To The Efficacy Of Traditional Psychotherapy In Treating Anxiety-Related Symptoms In 18–40-Year-Old Adults Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Blake Beasley

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: MDMA, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a psychoactive chemical which stimulates the release of serotonin, oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol. Up until it became a Schedule I drug in 1985, making the chemical completely illegal in the US, MDMA was used as an “adjunct to the therapeutic process” in therapeutic settings, though no known controlled therapeutic studies were performed up until that point. More recently, research has been conducted studying the effects of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy on helping to eliminate the fear responses common in patients afflicted with PTSD. Some researchers have further hypothesized that MDMA has a stronger, longer lasting effect …

Naloxone/Buprenorphine, Methadone, Naltrexone And Their Role In Medication Assisted Treatment, Robert Barrett

Capstone Showcase

Abstract

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an increasingly common diagnosis that has drastically increased in the last 5 years. Though multiple treatment modalities exist for treating OUD (naltrexone, buprenorphine, methadone), few studies have compared treatment outcomes in adults on long term therapy. This is an important topic to understand as providers as we will undoubtedly come into contact with patients either actively abusing opioid antagonists or in recovery from opioid abuse. Since the introduction of Oxycontin and subsequent over prescription of opioid analgesics, opioid overdoses have increased by over twelve-fold. Once providers began to realize a widespread pattern of abuse, …

In Patients With Mild To Moderate Alzheimer’S, Does Music Therapy Help To Decrease Mood Disturbances When Compared To Those Not Participating In Music Therapy?, Lauren Bauer

Capstone Showcase

Abstract:

Introduction: Affecting both memory and cognitive abilities, Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem as the baby boomer population ages. Clinical trials for new medications fail or are slow going, researchers have sought alternatives to alleviate symptoms for patients of this disease. This paper will address the effect of music therapy on mood disturbance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Method: A literature search was completed in November of 2019 using PubMed, EBSCO Search, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Six articles were chosen based on relevance to the research question, study design, outcome, and results.

Results: Based on review, music …

The Effects Of Psychological Intervention On Pregnant Women With Elevated Cortisol Levels And Adverse Birth Events, Megan Mellon

Capstone Showcase

Elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy are thought to influence cortisol levels. Dysregulations in cortisol, as a byproduct of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, have been associated with preterm birth and adverse birth outcomes. Studies have demonstrated poorer long-term effects of antenatal stress on child neurodevelopment, temperament, and cognition. Psychological interventions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and gratitude have shown to have a positive effect on psychological wellbeing across various populations. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze a collection of randomized-controlled trials to conclude if psychological interventions during pregnancy for women with elevated levels of …

A Conceptual Proposal For The Epigenetically Causal Relationship Between Parental Ptsd And Inflammatory Disease In Post Hoc Offspring., Emma Griffith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Could a combat veteran's horrific experiences in early-2000s Afghanistan have a direct, biological impact his now-adult daughter's risk of a heart attack later in her life? This concept would have been unapologetically mocked a mere twenty years ago, and it has only been in the past decade that the new field of epigenetics has revealed a distinct possibility for this event to actually take place—for parents' experiences to profoundly influence the biology of their children. The major objective of this research project is to argue for the legitimacy of this theoretical phenomenon by discussing the latest data regarding PTSD's interaction …

Examining The Factor Structure And Validity Of The Triarchic Model Of Psychopathy Across Measures, Katherine L. Collison, Joshua D. Miller, Donald R. Lynam

Department of Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications

The triarchic model of psychopathy proposes 3 distinct trait domains underlying psychopathy: boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. The original (and most widely used) measure developed from this model is the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), which yields a total psychopathy score as well as scores on each of the 3 domains. Recently, researchers have derived several alternative measures from other inventories to assess these 3 domains; however, the purported underlying 3-factor structure of the alternative scales has been relatively untested. In the present study, 431 participants completed the TriPM and its alternative measures via Amazon Mechanical Turk, and items within the scales …

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: …

Beyond The Bump: Reconceiving The Philosophy Of Pregnancy, Hazel T. Bianas, Leni Dlr Garcia, Ninotchka Mumtaj B. Albano

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

French philosopher Hélène Cixous (1976) stressed the importance of feminine writing. She believes that women should take part in sharing their experiences from their own novel points-of-view. We discuss that while pregnancy is an experience unique to women; it has been misappropriated by patriarchal structures throughout the years. The pregnancy bump; which is more than just evidence of the uterus stretching to accommodate the fetus; is a symbol of a woman's triumphs and struggles all throughout conception; pregnancy and childbirth. We show that women have already gone beyond the bump and challenged existing patriarchal systems through different means; as Cixous …

The Green Rx: An Intervention In Nurse Anxiety And Depression, Melissa Dawley

DNP Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Physical Activity On The Mental Health Of Pre-Nursing Students And Undergraduate Student Nurses, Larinda J. Fandrich

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Mental health concerns are on the rise among the college-aged student. College students face a great deal of stress, which can lead to depression and anxiety. Nursing students, as a sub-group of college students, are under even greater stress related to rigorous course work and the responsibility of caring for other people, which can lead to greater depression and anxiety. This study aimed to determine what effect, if any, physical activity has on depression and anxiety scores using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 instruments in pre-nursing and nursing students. In this study, physical activity is defined as is “any bodily …

The Science Of Happiness And Its Effect On Professional Quality Of Life In Mental Health Providers, Mona E. Yeary

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The science of happiness is part of the field of positive psychology, which should not be confused with positive thinking, self-help, or religious beliefs, but is considered a scientific evidence- based practice. The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, study was to examine the relationship of education on the science of happiness and a gratitude intervention on subjective happiness and professional quality of life of mental health care providers.

METHODS: The mental healthcare providers for this study included psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, physician’s assistants, psychologists, social -work and registered nurses in a large medical system in Tennessee …

Identification Of Infant Feeding Practices In Eastern Kentucky And Southern West Virginia That Correlate With High Weight-For-Length, Havilah R. Adkins

DNP Projects

Background: Approximately 20% of children in the United States are obese. West Virginia and Kentucky rank in the top 10 for obesity rates in children as young as 2-4 years old. Obesity increases the risk for numerous short-term health problems and impacts long-term health, development, quality of life, and life expectancy. Research indicates that obesogenic behaviors can be addressed prior to the development of obesity or significant health problems to prevent, rather than treat. Interventions targeting caregivers of infants younger than 2-years can promote early development of healthy feeding habits that persist through the developmental stages of nutrition. Before a …

Precarious Enjoyment: Suicide Contra Schizophrenia, Mohammed Rawwas

Honors Program Theses

Mainstream psychology denies the unconscious, and is therefore unequipped to properly address the problematic of mental health, instead providing the coordinates for the symptom-formation of mental unwellness as a reaction to the inherent split of the subject, through the installation of the myth of the self-identical I. This same myth is perpetuated through capitalist individualism and the imperative to enjoy, and in the University through the discourse of science. The aim of psychoanalysis is to traverse the fantasy of this symptom-formation, and return the split to the subject. Finally, suicide is posited as the inevitable result of a self-identical notion …

A Hopeless Illness Representation Style: Examining Chronic Illness And Depression With Coping As A Mediator, Dana Arnold

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The self-regulation theory of illness representations (Leventhal et al., 2003) and the hopelessness theory of depression (Abramson et al., 1989) were used to observe how hopeless illness representations, depression, and coping styles interact. 238 participants with a chronic illness lasting three months or more were observed through the VOICE (Verification of Illness and Coping Experience) survey. Mediation was used to analyze the relationship between hopeless illness representations and depression, with passive coping as the mediator. All regressions in the mediation analysis were significant, and partial mediation was found. Patients with hopeless illness representations were more likely to use passive coping …

Parents' Attitudes And Beliefs Towards Dietary Behaviors Of Children With Autism Aged 5-13 Years, Subashree Narayanan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that may affect nutritional management of children with autism. Parent’s attitudes and their behavior towards healthy eating reflects on the child’s eating habits and thus, their nutritional health. This study aimed to describe the diet quality of children with autism using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores. It also aimed to assess the relationship between parent’s perceived barriers and self-efficacy and children’s dietary behavior and dietary intake (age 5-13 years). The relationship was assessed using 2 questionnaires, Nutrition and Health Awareness and BAMBI questionnaire for parent’s attitudes and beliefs and dietary behavior, respectively. Dietary intake …

Juvenile Justice And The Criminalization Of Mentally Ill Individuals, Michael Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile justice systems in the United States are using incarceration as a solution to the problem of youths with mental health disorders who commit violent crimes. Juvenile justice systems across the United States have a revolving door effect that arrests, adjudicates, and incarcerates youth offenders but fail to address the factors that contribute to recidivism. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to identify which treatment procedures were most appropriate for juvenile offenders who committed violent offenses in an effort to reduce recidivism for this offender population. For this study, an ecological psychology theory was used as a lens …

The Role Of Alexithymia And Affective Lability In Disordered Eating Behaviors, Anna Marie Lilia Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Affective distress may influence eating disorder behaviors in multiple ways. Affective lability refers to the tendency to experience frequent and striking fluctuations in mood. There is considerable evidence that it predicts eating disorder symptoms. Further, alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying and describing feelings and an externally oriented thinking style. Alexithymia has also been implicated in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. To date, these risk factors have been studied separately. Given the evidence that both alexithymia and affective lability are affective components associated with eating disordered behaviors, it may be important to examine possible relationships among alexithymia, affective …