Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Early-Stage Major Neurocognitive Disorder: A Case Study Of The Experiences Of Elder Men Who Attended A Peer-Led Support Group, Laurie Knight Kjoller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to understand how elder men ages 65 and older with a diagnosis of early-stage major neurocognitive disorder experienced their participation in a peer-led support group series held at a neurology clinic in Barnstable, Massachusetts. The theory guiding this study asserts elder individuals contending with a chronic and debilitating illness like major neurocognitive disorder need to experience a sense of belonging and psycho-emotional support to attain resilience and quality of life and is found in the works of Hassani, Izadi-Avanji, Rakhshan, & Majd (2017) as it relates to the experience of elder …

Evaluation Of The Distress Thermometer In Older Patients With Cancer, Charlotte Zuber, Kristine Swartz, Andrew Chapman, Lora Rhodes, Tingting Zhan, Kuang-Yi Wen

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The Geriatric Depression Scale is a useful tool in screening for depression in older adults, a particularly vulnerable population in oncology. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer (DT) has been validated as a fast and effective screening tool for psychological distress in general oncology populations, and it could possibly be used as a surrogate for the longer Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) test in older adults with cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study in older adults prior to starting cancer treatment, we evaluated the relationship between the DT and GDS by comparing 242 older adults …

Connections Between Co-Occurring Symptoms Of Eating Disorders, Gut Dysbiosis, Anxiety, And Depression, Erin L. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eating disorders (ED) are a pervasive mental health condition that puts individuals at risk for long-term physical consequences or even death, and current treatment methods typically do not offer long-term efficacy. The current study aims to examine relationships between co-occurring symptoms of EDs, gastrointestinal distress, anxiety, and depression to add to the scientific literature and point towards directions that may increase the benefits of treatment efforts. A total of 72 participants were asked to complete an online survey that consisted of measures from each variable and took about 20 minutes to finish. Participating individuals had to be at least 18 …

Lived Experiences Of Adults Who Were Removed From Primary Caregiver And Placed In Foster Care Before Age Three, Jillian Eve Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The capacity to form attachments early in life with important and primary caregivers can significantly influence a child’s psychological development in numerous areas across the life span. Healthy attachments early in life have been shown to be essential; however, due to various situations, many children have trouble developing healthy attachments or experience disruptions with primary/important caregivers. This transcendental phenomenological study focused specifically on the lived experiences of adults ages 18-64 (born between 1960 and 2004) who were removed from their primary/important caregiver during the first three years (even temporarily) and placed into foster care. In these circumstances, it could be …

Improving Management Of Suicidality Within An Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Program Through Standardization Of A Suicide Rating Scale Among Clinical Staff Members: An Evidenced-Based Practice Project, Nicole Neale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Standardization of suicide assessment protocols is essential for maintaining standards of care and optimizing patient safety. However, many healthcare organizations lack a universal protocol for suicide assessment, likely due to the absence of a gold-standard method or tool. This evidence- based practice project aims to enhance the accuracy and consistency of suicide assessments for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders as well as other mental health disorders, ultimately improving patient safety measures and outcomes within an eating disorder treatment center. This project includes a thorough literature review of suicide risk factors, assessment methods, and available tools, followed by the education and …

Standardized Transitional Process In Adolescent Behavioral Health: Evidence-Based Practice Project, Tiffani L. Cotton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hospital admissions and readmissions significantly impact the quality of care provided to adolescent psychiatric patients. This evidenced-based project aims to review a standardized transition process in support of reducing hospital readmissions. Nurse practitioners, nurse care managers, and social workers collaboratively collaborate with adolescent patients and their families admitted to inpatient behavioral health units to establish discharge plans. Establishing a standardized process for patients transitioning from the behavioral health unit addresses critical areas in the discharge process to ensure that the adolescent patient has the necessary tools for success. The project leader used the IDEAL Transition Strategy (ITS) developed by the …

Labeled, Hannah E. Manoj

EMET Projects

To explore the extent to which stigma permeates the field of psychiatry, this project, entitled “LABELED”, involved writing a series of structured poems for ten commonly stigmatized mental illnesses: anorexia nervosa, antisocial personality disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. The shortest poems in each set focus on stereotypes and first impressions commonly held about these disorders while the longer poems center around the identity of these individuals beyond their diagnoses. Amongst each set of poems, there is a recontextualization of the words shared between …

Fact Sheet: Ketamine, Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Jenna Hawks, Alyssa Ferrin

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses ketamine, which has pain-relieving properties and has gained recent attention for its antidepressant effects. However, as a Schedule III substance, it has a risk of strong psychological and physical dependence. Recreational use can lead to short- and long-term effects on health and risk of overdose and death.

Crossing The Chasm: Engaging Black Men Survivors Of Gun Violence In Mental Health Services, Erin Major, Celina Thomas, Charlotte Healy, Amy Vanderstoep, Joseph B Richardson, Thomas M Scalea, Melike N Harfouche

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Despite being high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, Black men survivors of gun violence, and particularly young men aged 18-24, seldom participate in mental health services after injury. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to participation in mental health services for this population.

METHODS: Over a 2-year period, 1 hour-long focus group was conducted with three counselors of the local hospital-based violence intervention program and 21 individual, semistructured in-depth interviews were held with Black men who were hospitalized for a firearm-related injury. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using open coding and grounded …

Identifying Common Patterns In The Time Of Day Of Mindfulness Meditation Associated With Long-Term Maintenance, Ryan Fowers, Aurel Coza, Yunro Chung, Hassan Ghasemzadeh, Sara Cloonan, Jennifer Huberty, Vincent Berardi, Chad Stecher

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Forming a habit of practicing mindfulness meditation around the same time of day is one strategy that may support long-term maintenance and in turn improve physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to identify common patterns in the time of day of meditation associated with long-term meditation app use to assess the importance of temporal consistency for maintaining meditation over time. App usage data were collected from a random sample of 15,000 users who had paid for an annual membership to a commercial meditation app in 2017. We constructed three measures of temporal consistency in the time …

Effects Of Social Isolation On Locus Coeruleus Opioid Receptor Expression And Affective Behavior, John Tkaczynski, Jordan Riser, Maya Patel, Nicole Shellenbarger, Jin Park, Daniel Manvich, Daniel J Chandler

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Social isolation is a stressor that impairs homeostatic neuroendocrine functions and is associated with the development of several mood disorders characterized by persistent negative affect. Persistent feelings of loneliness have been growing public health concerns for several years and were greatly exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem has grown so severe the U.S. Surgeon General recently declared loneliness to be an epidemic health concern that is associated with poor mental and somatic health outcomes. Therefore, identifying mechanisms of neuroadaptation that contribute to the development of persistent negative affect is a critical step in the identifying better …

Protocol And Design Of The Repose Study: A Double-Blinded, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Suvorexant To Improve Postoperative Sleep And Reduce Delirium Severity In Older Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery, John Michael Fallon, Mona Hashemaghaie, Christy E. Peterson, Dieplinh Tran, Sophie R. Wu, Jonathan M. Valdes, Nicole M. Pedicini, Melissa E. Adams, Marjorie Soltis, Wissam Mansour, Mary Cooter Wright, Karthik Raghunathan, Miriam M. Treggiari, Cina Sasannejad, Michael J. Devinney

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative delirium occurs in up to 40% of older surgical patients and has been associated with prolonged hospital stays, long-term cognitive impairment and increased 1-year postoperative mortality. Postoperative sleep disturbances may increase the risk of delirium, but studies investigating pharmacotherapies to improve postoperative sleep to prevent delirium remain limited. Suvorexant is a selective antagonist of orexin 1 and 2 receptors and is approved for insomnia pharmacotherapy by the Food and Drug Administration. It has the potential to improve postoperative sleep and reduce postoperative delirium rates, but randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to determine the efficacy of postoperative suvorexant …

Impact Of Acute Stress On Circadian Rhythm Regulation Of Locomotor Activity In Syrian Hamsters, Raquel A. Villarreal, Laura E. Garcia, Mario Gil

Research Symposium

Background: Disruptions of circadian rhythms, caused by factors such as environmental changes or stress, are linked to health conditions, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and mood disorders. Circadian rhythm disturbances are particularly relevant for understanding the etiology of conditions like insomnia, depression, and anxiety. The circadian rhythm, primarily regulated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in the hypothalamus, coordinates biological processes to align with daily environmental cycles. Acute stress, especially when experienced immediately upon waking, has been shown to disrupt these rhythms, impair sleep regulation, and exacerbate mood dysregulation. Given the significant clinical implications, understanding how stress impacts circadian rhythms is …

Harmony In Healing: Investigating The Impact Of Music Therapy Reduction, Literature Review, Joshua K. Mcelliott, Nina Mourao, Bethany Woolman, Shizue Mito, Ney Alliey Rodriguez

Research Symposium

Background: Various treatments exist for treating anxiety disorders, and a therapy that appears to show promise is music therapy (MT). This includes using methods such as listening to music, structured musical activities, and improvisational musical activities. MT has shown efficacy in a wide range of settings including individuals with severe mental illness, cancer patients1,2, children, adults, in-patient care, and out-patient care.

Methods: This literature review aimed to evaluate current research on the efficacy of music therapy for treating anxiety. The guidelines for selecting which studies to review are as follows:

1. Publication date: only studies published after 2000 were included to …

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The Athletes’ Plate: Understanding Influences Of Athletes’ Eating Attitudes, Exercise Behaviors, And Body Image Satisfaction, Delanie Patterson, Brooklynn Raacke, Ryssa Schlaefli

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Delanie Patterson¹, Brooklynn Raacke¹, and Ryssa Schlaefli²

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Faculty Sponsors: Brooke Mann¹, Ph.D. and Jessica Phelan², Ph.D.

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Introduction: Disordered eating (DE), compulsive exercise (CE), and body image satisfaction (BIS) negatively affect male and female athletes. These variables each have a core symptomology but continue to evolve with the increased usage of social …

Cultivating A Trauma-Informed Lens Into Outpatient Supportive Oncology Via The Interdisciplinary Team, Ramona Sitko, Msw, Lcsw

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

Background
A cancer diagnosis often brings with it a profound sense of existential threat. For individuals with a history of trauma, it can activate a trauma response, manifesting as anxiety, depression, difficulty processing information, and challenges in adhering to a medical treatment plan. Health care providers in oncology settings should strive to recognize these responses to more effectively address patient concerns and help minimize potential barriers to care. Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is a framework developed by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) which can help providers realize, recognize, respond, and resist retraumatization of patients.

Objectives
Examine the …

Narcissistic Personality Indicators As Predictors Of Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A Cross-Cultural Study, Wael M. F. Abuhassan, Brigid Unim, Zulfiqar Ullah Siddiqui, Shaheen Falki, Karavadi Vidusha, Fayez Mahamid, Fakher Nabeel Mohammad Khalili, Kamel H. Katalo

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Background: Individuals affected by narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are characterized by lack of empathy, grandiosity, low self-esteem, and a need for attention and special treatment that leads to unstable interpersonal relationships, occupational problems, and significant psychosocial distress. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate which Narcissistic Personality (NP) dimensions are the strongest and most significant predictors of NPD. Methods: The present study followed a cross-cultural research design aimed at determining the strongest and most significant predictors of NPD, therefore the shortened version of the Narcissistic Personality Indicators (NPI) questionnaire (NPI-40) developed by Raskin and Terry (1988) was administered online to those …

Awareness On Environmental Air Pollution Among Adults In Rural Mysuru, Rakesh M, Jesymol Joy, Sunil Kumar D

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction

Air pollution is a major environmental threat and one of the main cases of death among all risk factors known so far. Health effects also include preterm and low-birthweight, asthma as well as cognitive and neurological impairment basically having the potential to impact our whole body, way beyond our lungs. The proposed study focusses on to assess the awareness on air pollution and factors associated with it among adults in South Mysuru which can put a light on the preventive measures and policies to be taken by the individuals as well as the authorities.

Methodology

A Community-based cross-sectional study …

Self-Inflicted Chronic Laparoscopic Wounds In Endometriosis - Unveiling Major Depressive Disorder- A Case Report., Mwangi Maryanne, Charles Muteshi

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: There is no case in literature reporting an adolescent with endometriosis with major depressive disorder manifesting as chronic laparoscopic wounds. Major depressive disorder in patients with endometriosis is a common occurrence, but self-directed violence is rare.

Case presentation: We present the case of an adolescent female with chronic pelvic pain and who was treated with medical management that proved ineffective. She then underwent laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. Post-surgery she continued to experience oozing of a brown colored discharge from the primary umbilical port site, and it became a chronic non-healing wound with associated pelvic pain. Four months later she …

Unmonitored Online Exams: Valid Assessment Or Score Inflation?, Daniel G. Lannin, Taylor Flinn, Alexandra Ilie, Dan Ispas

Faculty Publications – Psychology

Background: The validity of unmonitored online exams has raised concerns about academic integrity and grade inflation, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence–powered tools.

Objective: This study evaluates the validity of unmonitored online exams by comparing student performance between two sections of an undergraduate personality psychology course: one section completed an unmonitored online multiple-choice final exam while the other completed an in-person multiple-choice final exam.

Method: A quasi-experimental design was used with two undergraduate personality psychology course sections. Section 1 (Spring 2022, n=153) took an in-person final exam, while Section 2 (Spring 2023, n=160) took an unmonitored online final exam. …

Just As Expected? Older Adults’ Aging Expectations Are Associated With Subjective Cognition, Nikki Hill, Sakshi Bhargava, Justin Do, Emily Bratlee-Whitaker, Monique Brown, Renata Komalasari, Rachel Wu, Jacqueline Mogle

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between older adults' expectations regarding aging and subjective cognition. Specifically, we examined whether the three domains of aging expectations (physical health, mental health, and cognitive function) were associated with two aspects of subjective cognition: current subjective cognition and subjective cognitive decline (SCD).

METHOD: An online survey was conducted among U.S. adults aged 65-90 (N = 581; M_age=71.4, SD ± 4.81; 51% female). Measures included the 12-item Expectations Regarding Aging scale, the 8-item PROMIS Cognitive Abilities scale (current subjective cognition), and the 12-item Everyday Cognition scale (SCD). We used generalized linear models …

Sources Of Well-Being And Cardiovascular Health: A Mixed Methods Investigation From The Midus Study, Julia K. Boehm, Monica Adams, Jennifer Morozink Boylan

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

Methods

Sex Differences In Grip Strength From Birth To Age 16: A Meta-Analysis, James L. Nuzzo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In 1985, Thomas and French published results of a meta-analysis that examined sex differences in grip strength in children 5 years of age and older. Their analysis included results from only four studies, and no update has been published. The purpose of the current study was to use meta-analysis to examine sex differences in grip strength from birth to age 16. The analysis included 808 effects from 169 studies conducted in 45 countries between 1961 and 2023. The total sample was 353,676 (178,588 boys, 175,088 girls). From birth to 16 years of age, grip strength was consistently greater in boys …

Building Capacity For Trauma-Informed Care: Enhancing Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practice Of Trauma-Informed Care Among Nurses, Kim G. Cudjoe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Exposure to trauma is a global and pervasive phenomenon that is known to have negative consequences on the health, health outcomes, and well-being of individuals and at-risk populations to include Veterans. The implementation of trauma-informed care concepts and principles in the delivery of healthcare services among all staff and across the span of healthcare allows healthcare professionals to realize the impact of trauma on individuals, to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, to respond to trauma through improved practices, procedures, and policies; and to prevent re-traumatization while receiving care. The purpose of this evidence-based project is to develop and …

A Phenomenological Study Of Syrian Refugees’ Experiences Seeking Mental Health Care In Lebanon, Mark Christopher Todd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of Syrian refugees living in Tyre, Lebanon as it related to seeking mental health care. The theory guiding this study is the phenomenological approach of Moustakas (1994) as informed by the transcendental phenomenology of Husserl (Moustakas, 1994) in that it seeks to describe the essence of the phenomenon by putting aside all preconceptions and looking anew at the phenomenon through the lens of human experience. This study was also strongly influenced by transformative frameworks (Creswell & Poth, 2019) and decolonization theory (Smith, 2021) as it looked for answers …

Standardizing Resident Teaching In Psychiatry: A Guide For Student Engagement, Faiza Ahmad, Lesley Chapa

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Residents play a crucial role in shaping medical students’ learning experiences and career decisions. However, interns enter residency with varying levels of teaching experience and may struggle to engage students while managing their clinical workload. This variability often leads to inconsistent educational experiences across rotations. In Psychiatry, students frequently find the Mental Status Examination (MSE) particularly challenging due to time constraints in clinical teaching, often resulting in a superficial understanding and rote documentation. As residents advance, their increasing clinical responsibilities and distance from Step 2/Shelf-relevant material can further limit their ability to provide effective teaching. This project aims to bridge …

Alcohol And Cannabis Use For Pain Management: Translational Findings Of Relative Risks, Benefits, And Interactions, Sumin Lee, Scott Edwards

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Chronic pain affects over 20% of the global population and contributes to the vast burden of psychiatric illness. While effective treatments for chronic pain remain limited, both alcohol and cannabis have been used for centuries to manage pain and closely associated negative affective symptoms. However, persistent misuse of alcohol and/or cannabis in such a negative reinforcement fashion is hypothesized to increase the risk of severity of substance use disorders (SUDs). The current review describes neurobiological evidence for the analgesic efficacy of alcohol and primary cannabis constituents and how use or co-use of these substances may influence SUD risk.

Intersect Between Brain Mechanisms Of Conditioned Threat, Active Avoidance, And Reward, Muhammad Badarnee, Zhenfu Wen, Mira Z Hammoud, Paul Glimcher, Christopher K Cain, Mohammed R Milad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Active avoidance is a core behavior for human coping, and its excess is common across psychiatric diseases. The decision to actively avoid a threat is influenced by cost and reward. Yet, threat, avoidance, and reward have been studied in silos. We discuss behavioral and brain circuits of active avoidance and the interactions with fear and threat. In addition, we present a neural toggle switch model enabling fear-to-anxiety transition and approaching reward vs. avoiding harm decision. To fully comprehend how threat, active avoidance, and reward intersect, it is paramount to develop one shared experimental approach across phenomena and behaviors, which will …

Accuracy Of Task-Based Electrocorticography Brain Mapping And Relationships With Postoperative Cognitive-Linguistic Changes Following Eloquent Glioma Resection, Kyle R. Noll, Israt Tasnim, Priscella Asman, Katherine Connelly, Chandra Swamy, Matthew Muir, Mathew Hall, Jeffrey Wefel, Sahil Bajaj, Giuseppe Pellizzer, Nuri F. Ince, Suji S. Prabhu

Cancer Survivorship Research Retreat

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2025 Cancer Survivorship Research Retreat

Assessing The Effects Of Long-Covid On Mental Health In The United States: A Population Based Study, Anusua Datta

School of Business Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: While most individuals recover fully from COVID-19, a significant proportion of survivors experience prolonged symptoms lasting three months or more, a condition commonly referred to as long-COVID. Long-COVID conditions have been associated with reduced quality of life. By utilizing a nationally representative sample of nearly a million Americans, this study provides insights into the prevalence and impact of long-COVID on anxiety and depression in the U.S.

METHODS: We utilize the Household Pulse Survey data, which provides the first population-based sample on the prevalence of long-COVID, beginning with its June 2022 wave. This survey also includes questions on respondents' mental …