Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Internal Family Systems And Codependency: Finding Self In Relationship With Another Person’S Addiction, Jillian Ostlund, Mandah Gombosuren

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Codependency is a concept that is currently not considered a disorder in the DSM-V, yet people have been identifying with the traits of codependency since the 1940's (Bacon et al., 2018). In IFS the concept of blending means Parts are not able to differentiate from one another, making it difficult to sense Self Leadership (Schwartz & Sweezy, 2020). The researchers for this proposal were not able to find literature on the treatment of codependency using IFS. It is believed that IFS can help a codependent person to gain access to Self and be able to recover from the effects of …

Therapist Secret Policies And Client Retention, Alexandria Packard, Allison Hanigan

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

No-secrets policies are commonly used by many couple therapists to ensure transparency between each individual and the therapist. The current literature is divided on whether the existence of a no-secrets policy creates barriers to treatment. The present study aims to assess the impact of a no-secrets policy on couple retention rates in therapy. We propose to study this by assigning a group of couples to a therapist without a no-secrets policy, and another group of couples to a therapist with a no-secrets policy. Therapy retention will be measured and analyzed as influenced by the independent variable: the no-secrets policy.

What Is The Comparative Effectiveness Of Specific Therapy Modalities In Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Black And Indigenous Clients?, Hailey Clum

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Black and Indigenous clients are frequently underrepresented in therapeutic research and treatment, despite the increase of individuals from these communities seeking therapy services. This qualitative study has been initiated to highlight the lack of supporting evidence for best treatment practices for Black and Indigenous-identifying clients. The goal of this study is to provide evidence-based treatment for master's and doctoral-level clinicians who work with Black and Indigenous patients. The study will analyze various treatment groups, including Black and Indigenous adult participants; and will utilize treatments and interventions from Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Art Therapy.

Navigating Transnational Ties And Belonging: An Intergenerational Family Therapy Approach With South Asian Immigrant Families, Shreya Rangwani

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The diversity of transnational experiences of families and the challenges to their sense of belonging have important implications for the broader sociocultural mental health system. This study aims to examine intergenerational family therapy to support South Asian immigrant families as they deal with the challenges of maintaining cross-cultural relationships. Family therapy for South Asian immigrants have focused on cultural stress and intergenerational conflicts, rather than family-level methods and systemic elements that form the reports of those transnational families. Through this research, the study targets to provide vital insights and realistic techniques for MFT therapists working with South Asian immigrant populations. …

Impact Of Sibling Support On Mitigating The Effects Of Parental Divorce On Children's Attachment Security, Alana Harris

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The study aims to explore the potential mitigating effects of supportive sibling relationships on the attachment security of children from divorced families. Utilizing the Child Attachment Interview (CAI) and Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ), attachment security and sibling relationship quality will be assessed. We anticipate that supportive sibling relationships will alleviate the adverse impacts of parental divorce on children's attachment security. This study will involve a sample of 80 siblings (40 sibling pairs) aged 7-17 years from divorced families. Findings may inform interventions enhancing attachment and resilience in children during family transitions, emphasizing sibling relationships as a valuable resource for well-being.

Exploring Intergenerational Attachment Transmission: How Are Children's Attachment Styles Affected By Changes In Their Caregiver’S Attachment?, Aisa Gibbons, Anahi Tapia

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Past studies have researched various connections between attachment styles of children and parents. However, no studies have explored how changing parents’ attachment style could impact change in children’s attachment style. This research proposal aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver attachment and child attachment change. We hope to recruit 100 parent-child pairings from schools and therapy clinics. Subjects will complete attachment measuring scales pre- and post parent-treatment. Parents will have 10-15 sessions of EFT to increase secure attachment. Attachment change differences will be analyzed through one-way ANOVA methods. We hypothesize that as parents’ secure attachment increases, their children’s will too.

Exploring The Impact Of The Blamer-Softening Change Event In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy On Partners' Self-Esteem: A Longitudinal Intervention Study, Grace Lee

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

It is no question that positive romantic relationships are connected to deep feelings of belonging, life satisfaction and positive self-esteem in individuals. However, throughout the course of the relationship, individuals can experience depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and negative affect. A significant marker of progress for couples in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is the presence of the blamer-softening change event. This event can help alleviate some of the negative symptoms partners experience. Given the well-accepted and understood importance of self-esteem on one’s overall mental health, this study seeks to understand the impact of the blamer-softening change event on each partner’s self-esteem.

Parenting Styles Of American And Filipino Mothers: Internal Family System’S Influence On Self-Leadership, Parent-Adolescent Communication, Conflict, Self-Esteem, And Depression, Maria-Sofia Paco, Gracie Cannon

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This abstract investigates the levels of Self-leadership among Filipino, European-American, and African-American mothers, and explores its implications for mother-daughter communication, conflict, depression, and overall self-esteem . Research has demonstrated that Filipino mothers have significantly higher mother-daughter communication and conflict compared to European-American and African-American mothers (Paco, 2007), positing a potential correlation between Filipino mothers (in the Philippines) and their Self-led nature compared to their European-American and African-American counterparts. Furthermore, this study proposes implementing Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy as a means to enhance Self-leadership and improve mother-daughter communication and self-esteem across these three racial groups, potentially mitigating conflicts and depression. …

Group Narrative Therapy For Adolescents With Eating Disorders, Ramsey Ramsey

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Eating Disorders tend to be treatment-resistant, moreover, adolescents with eating disorders tend to disengage from standard treatments, such as (CBT-E) the standard intervention in treating eating disorders. Research shows that children and adults have greater positive outcomes with the addition of narrative approaches to treatment. Studies show that children and adults have positive outcomes with the addition of narrative approaches to treatment, in addition, group narrative therapy with adults is effective at treating eating disorders beyond behavioral change. This proposal is to explore the efficacy and client engagement of a group narrative therapy curriculum alongside standard CBT-E group treatments.

Zoom Dysmorphia: An Eye-Tracking Study Of Self-View And Attention During Video Conferences, Kathleen H. Stimson

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

This study investigates Zoom Dysmorphia, a heightened self-awareness and self-criticism of perceived physical flaws due to prolonged self-view on video conferencing platforms, with associated behaviors resembling symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Drawing on Veale’s (2001, 2004) and Neziroglu’s (2004) cognitive-behavioral models of BDD and prior studies on BDD which suggest the development and maintenance of BDD through excessive self-focused attention and attentional bias, this study explores the potential cognitive and emotional implications of this phenomenon. Participants engaged in two mock video conferences with self-view enabled in one meeting and disabled the other for comparison. Eye tracking technology monitored their …

A Quantitative Study Examining The Mental Health Needs Of African American Students Compared To Their Counterparts In Higher Education, Luxury Bryant

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

African American students are entering into higher education institutions at higher rates. This population has specific needs and faces various challenges entering college at predominantly white institutions compared to their counterparts of different races. While college is already a stressful time with academic pressures as well as navigating a new setting, African American students also face unique experiences that can impact their mental health. It has been found that African American students are less likely to seek out mental health services especially those that are attending predominantly White institutions (Anderson, 2018). This study will highlight African American undergraduate students' perceptions …

Factors Associated With Intention To Implement Sbi And Sud Treatment: A Survey Of Primary Care Clinicians In Texas Enrolled In An Online Course, Alicia Kowalchuk, Tiffany G Ostovar-Kermani, Kylie Schaper, Larissa Grigoryan, Jacqueline M Hirth, Maria Carmenza Mejia, Kiara K Spooner, Roger J Zoorob

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) presents a range of public health challenges and consequences. Despite the prevention potential of screening and brief intervention (SBI) in the primary care setting, implementation is low. The purpose of this study was to assess associations of primary care clinicians' knowledge of SBI and SUD treatment, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control with intention to incorporate SBI and SUD treatment into regular clinical practice.

METHODS: This online survey was administered to primary care clinicians who practice in Texas between March 1, 2021, and February 5, 2023. Survey questions were mapped to factors in the Theory …

Glioblastoma Disrupts Cortical Network Activity At Multiple Spatial And Temporal Scales, Jochen Meyer, Kwanha Yu, Estefania Luna-Figueroa, Benjamin Deneen, Jeffrey Noebels

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The emergence of glioblastoma in cortical tissue initiates early and persistent neural hyperexcitability with signs ranging from mild cognitive impairment to convulsive seizures. The influence of peritumoral synaptic density, expansion dynamics, and spatial contours of excess glutamate upon higher order neuronal network modularity is unknown. We combined cellular and widefield imaging of calcium and glutamate fluorescent reporters in two glioblastoma mouse models with distinct synaptic microenvironments and infiltration profiles. Functional metrics of neural ensembles are dysregulated during tumor invasion depending on the stage of malignant progression and tumor cell proximity. Neural activity is differentially modulated during periods of accelerated and …

Brain Cell-Type Shifts In Alzheimer’S Disease, Autism, And Schizophrenia Interrogated Using Methylomics And Genetics, Chloe X Yap, Daniel D Vo, Matthew G Heffel, Arjun Bhattacharya, Cindy Wen, Yuanhao Yang, Kathryn E Kemper, Jian Zeng, Zhili Zheng, Zhihong Zhu, Eilis Hannon, Dorothea Seiler Vellame, Alice Franklin, Christa Caggiano, Brie Wamsley, Daniel H Geschwind, Noah Zaitlen, Alexander Gusev, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Jonathan Mill, Chongyuan Luo, Michael J Gandal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Few neuropsychiatric disorders have replicable biomarkers, prompting high-resolution and large-scale molecular studies. However, we still lack consensus on a more foundational question: whether quantitative shifts in cell types-the functional unit of life-contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Leveraging advances in human brain single-cell methylomics, we deconvolve seven major cell types using bulk DNA methylation profiling across 1270 postmortem brains, including from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism. We observe and replicate cell-type compositional shifts for Alzheimer's disease (endothelial cell loss), autism (increased microglia), and schizophrenia (decreased oligodendrocytes), and find age- and sex-related changes. Multiple layers of evidence indicate that endothelial …

A Pilot Acceptability Evaluation Of Mommind: A Digital Health Intervention For Peripartum Depression Prevention And Management Focused On Health Disparities, Alexandra Zingg, Amy Franklin, Angela Ross, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Health disparities cause significant strain on the wellbeing of individuals and society. In this study, we focus on the health disparities present in the condition of Peripartum Depression (PPD), a significant public health issue. While PPD can be managed through therapy and medication, many women do not receive adequate PPD treatment due to issues of social stigma and limited access to healthcare resources. Digital health technologies can offer practical tools for PPD management. However, current solutions do not integrate behavior theory and are rarely responsive to the transient information needs stemming from women's unique sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial profiles. We …

Determinants Of Implementation For Group Medical Visits For Patients With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review, Isabel Roth, Malik Tiedt, Carrie Brintz, Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Gayla Ferguson, Erum Agha, Jennifer Holcomb, Paula Gardiner, Jennifer Leeman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite the critical need for comprehensive and effective chronic pain care, delivery of such care remains challenging. Group medical visits (GMVs) offer an innovative and efficient model for providing comprehensive care for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify barriers and facilitators (determinants) to implementing GMVs for adult patients with chronic pain.

METHODS: The review included peer-reviewed studies reporting findings on implementation of GMVs for chronic pain, inclusive of all study designs. Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies of individual appointments or group therapy were excluded. The Mixed …

Prediction Of Disease-Free Survival For Precision Medicine Using Cooperative Learning On Multi-Omic Data, Georg Hahn, Dmitry Prokopenko, Julian Hecker, Sharon M Lutz, Kristina Mullin, Leinal Sejour, Winston Hide, Ioannis Vlachos, Stacia Desantis, Rudolph E Tanzi, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In precision medicine, both predicting the disease susceptibility of an individual and forecasting its disease-free survival are areas of key research. Besides the classical epidemiological predictor variables, data from multiple (omic) platforms are increasingly available. To integrate this wealth of information, we propose new methodology to combine both cooperative learning, a recent approach to leverage the predictive power of several datasets, and polygenic hazard score models. Polygenic hazard score models provide a practitioner with a more differentiated view of the predicted disease-free survival than the one given by merely a point estimate, for instance computed with a polygenic risk score. …

No Longer On Fire, Vikki M. Parker

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

Capturing the poetic, lyrical essence of the ethereal universe, the pencil portal births whispers of the self in these Sourcedoodle collections, beginning as intuitive drawings and revealing their deeper essence through digital wizardry, healing art comes through for remembering the soul's purpose. A journey to gently collect the fragmented parts of a broken self. Like little souls dancing, each image has a story, a capturing of energy, an anchoring of light intensity, a glorious weaving of fluidity and a playful curiosity. A permission to be whole & a celebration of source discovering embodiment underpins this spiritual quest for discovering existence …

A Microcosting Approach For Planning And Implementing Community-Based Mental Health Prevention Program: What Does It Cost?, Sharmily Roy, Henry Shelton Brown, Lisa Sanger Blinn, Sarah Carter Narendorf, Jane E Hamilton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Estimating program costs when planning community-based mental health programs can be burdensome. Our aim was to retrospectively document the cost for the first year of planning and implementing Healthy Minds Healthy Communities (HMHC), a mental health promotion and prevention multi-level intervention initiative. This Program is among the first to use the Community Initiated Care (CIC) model in the US and is aimed at building community resilience and the capacity for communities to provide mental health support, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our objective is to share our methods for costing a program targeting 10 zip codes that …

A Microcosting Approach For Planning And Implementing Community-Based Mental Health Prevention Program: What Does It Cost?, Sharmily Roy, Henry Shelton Brown, Lisa Sanger Blinn, Sarah Carter Narendorf, Jane E Hamilton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Estimating program costs when planning community-based mental health programs can be burdensome. Our aim was to retrospectively document the cost for the first year of planning and implementing Healthy Minds Healthy Communities (HMHC), a mental health promotion and prevention multi-level intervention initiative. This Program is among the first to use the Community Initiated Care (CIC) model in the US and is aimed at building community resilience and the capacity for communities to provide mental health support, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our objective is to share our methods for costing a program targeting 10 zip codes that …