Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Patients With Depression In Different Socioeconomic Status In Different Age Groups, Alexander Kowalski, Harsh Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on depression and how different age groups and socioeconomic classes were affected. The PHQ-9 survey was used to assess depression levels amongst 64 individuals of different age groups and socioeconomic statuses. Results indicated that the higher socioeconomic class had less impact on depression symptoms compared to lower socioeconomic classes. Younger age groups and lower socioeconomic classes were found to have a bigger impact on depression symptoms. However, the study acknowledges that numerous factors, such as lifestyle factors, financial stability, and social support, need to be considered while interpreting the results. Overall, …

Stimulant Prescriptions For Adhd Treatment In Children, Victoria Murray, Miranda Reed, Sonya Priven, Dan Rios, Jan Widerman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

ADHD has become a much more common neurobehavioral disorder in the US, but access to both psychotherapy and medication remains limited, exacerbating socioeconomic disparities in multiple life domains, including education, employment, and substance use disorder. Equity in access to care is an opportunity to substantially improve care.

Awareness & Prevention Of Health Hazards For Americans Embarking In Space Tourism, Krzysztof Zembrzuski

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Since the beginning of spaceflight, keeping humans healthy has been a serious concern. Prior to 2021, astronauts had to undergo an elite selection process to embark in space travel. Now that commercial spaceflight is a reality, the criteria to experience space has been significantly loosened, raising health concerns to a larger and unhealthier pool of travelers. Most commercial spaceflight clients are anticipated to be middle-aged adults, which implies many will suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease, both of which are frequent ailments in this age group. Because of the massive compression the body undergoes during takeoff and return, …

Case Report And Review: Promethazine ("Purple Drank") Abuse, Riya Tandra, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A 23 year old female was brought to the Emergency Department by EMS for confusion and aggressive behavior. The friends told EMS that the patient had been ingesting "purple drank" and that she had told her friends that she made the concoction with promethazine and opiate cough syrup with some vodka added. She mixed it in a carbonated soda. “Purple Drank” or “Lean” is a combination of codeine promethazine hydrochloride and soda or alcohol that has frequently been misused since the 1990s. This paper aims to highlight the recent resurgence of promethazine abuse occurring in the United States as well …

Caretaker Burnout In Nj In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study Focusing On Quality Of Life, Challenges And Coping Strategies., Abdullah Junayed, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

There is a scarcity of literature regarding caretaker burnout in response to Covid-19, however one cross section survey study in Italy explored the perceived burden of caretakers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease during the pandemic.1 Maria G. Maggio et al showed that an increase in caregiver burden allowed for a deterioration in personal health conditions causing an increase in perceived stress levels. 1 Along with impaired management of stress and low quality of life, many caretakers were found to utilize avoidance strategies.1 However, the authors pointed out that the dysfunctional coping strategies did not affect stress levels and this study …

The Correlation Between Traumatic Brain Injury And Incarceration Among Adult Males In The United States, Shadi Shams

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The United States has one of the largest growing prison populations in the world. A large amount of social and economic resources go towards the cost and maintenance of correctional facilities each year. Additionally, the current correctional programs are insufficient in assisting inmates with getting back to society; especially those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who often remain undiagnosed and are usually treated unfairly in the prison system instead of receiving the appropriate help. Prior scholarly work has shown that patients in the post-TBI stage are more likely to enter the judicial system. In the recent population-based cohort study, the …

Exploring Risk Factors For Major Depressive Disorder For Female Patients Aged 18 Or Older Living In Ocean County, New Jersey, James Mack

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The incidence and prevalence of major depressive disorder has been increasing worldwide, in the United States of America, and on a local level. The population of Ocean County, New Jersey, a predominantly Caucasian, female, middle-aged population, may be at increased risk of developing major depressive disorder.

Purpose: To explore the social determinants of health and risk factors for major depressive disorder for female patients aged 18 or older living in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Methods: This literature review mainly used PubMed and Scopus for journal articles and utilized governmental databases for additional population data.

Results: Analyses conducted on social …

Case Report: Abrupt Psychosis Or Nmda Receptor Encephalitis?, Alexis Dunn, Neelesh Parikh, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 46-year-old female who was initially committed to a psychiatric facility for new onset schizophrenia symptoms. She later had an extensive workup in the hospital due to leukocytosis and was believed to have NMDA Receptor Encephalitis as the cause for her new behavioral symptoms. This case report aims to educate EM (emergency medicine) physicians to keep a broad differential diagnosis on patients who present with new onset, unprovoked psychosis later in life.

Art Bibliotherapy: An Integrative Approach To Art Therapy And Bibliotherapy, Haven Wright

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

Art Therapy and Bibliotherapy are both subfields in the creative/expressive arts world of therapeutic practice. Individually, art therapy and bibliotherapy have unique attributes that have the potential to improve a client’s overall therapeutic outcome. However, in pursuit of evidence-based practice, art therapy and bibliotherapy could benefit from further high-quality replicable studies. An exploration of the current research and emergent shared themes were undertaken. A single participant case study demonstrated Art Bibliotherapy in practice. Participant outcomes were increased emotional regulation, increased positive experience in therapy sessions, and increased positive self-esteem.

Outcomes From An Addiction Medicine Elective For 2nd Year Pcom Do Students, Rachel Caulkins, Anna Klunk, Christopher Suttera, Kayleigh Vanduzer, Frederick J. Goldstein

Research Day

Introduction: According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older had a past-year substance use disorder (SUD). However, the median number of hours of content discussing this clinical issue in medical schools is seven hours. At the PCOM Philadelphia campus, 50 Second Year students (allowable limit) participated in the first Addiction Medicine Elective course in Winter 2022. This was a 6-week long program with one 2-hour session at night (6–8 pm) per week. Classes consisted of sessions with physicians having experience with SUD patients, testimony from those with SUD, Narcan training, …

Transcendence: Exploring The Connections Between Transgender/Gender Non-Conforming Identities And Experiences Of Nature Through Art, Mc Jackson

Undergraduate Theses

“Transcendence: Exploring the connections between transgender/gender non-conforming identities and experiences of nature through art” is the written portion of a creative thesis revolving around an immersive art installation and short film. Transcendence, the installation, was created to promote connection by exploring the overlap between transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) experiences and experiences of nature. Part of this installation is a short film of interviews conducted with transgender and GNC individuals about nature, their gender experiences, and the transcendent nature of the two. The written thesis analyzes existing literature on nature as a restorative, therapeutic, spiritual setting, offers insight into …

Targeting Social Connection In The Context Of Trauma: Functional Outcomes And Mechanisms Of Change, Andrew J. Smith, David Pincus, Bernard P. Ricca

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The current study presents and preliminarily tests a brief, theory driven intervention designed to target social connectivity as a transdiagnostic mechanism of health. We tested four hypotheses to examine whether and how explicitly targeting social behavior engagement (activating values-led behaviors towards specific network members) may improve other downstream aspects of social connectivity (i.e., social cognitions measured as loneliness, interpersonal closeness, perceived social support) and functioning (quality of life [QOL] and posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTS]). Methods. Participants included 15 patients (10 veterans, 5 firefighters) who completed the six-session intervention. Demographics: age (M = 46, SD = 17), 87% male, race (80% …

Association Of Prenatal Depression With New Cardiovascular Disease Within 24 Months Postpartum., Christina M Ackerman-Banks, Heather S Lipkind, Kristin Palmsten, Mariah Pfeiffer Rn, Mph, Catherine Gelsinger Rn, Katherine Ahrens Mph, Phd

Population Health

No abstract provided.

Meditation-Type Exercise For The Management Of Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Impairment In Breast Cancer Patients, Christine Cain

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), or “chemobrain”, is one of the most troublesome side effects of chemotherapy (Dijkshoorn et al., 2020). Ongoing CRCI may negatively affect relationships, confidence, sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and the ability to return to work activities leading to a decreased quality of life (Johns et al., 2016; Gokal et al., 2018). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to assess the efficiency of a meditation-type exercise intervention, chair yoga, on decreasing perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) in breast cancer patients. The PICOT question for this project was: In breast cancer patients with chemotherapy related cognitive impairment (P), …

Improving Depression Screening Completion Rates For Medicare Patients In A Primary Care Setting, Kenneth J. Haluska

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening the general adult population for depression (Siu et al., 2016). Despite increasing clinical practice guidelines recommending depression screening, only 40-50% of depressed older adults are recognized and treated (Phoh et al., 2017). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to implement a medical assistant (MA) depression screening protocol, using the PHQ-9 and staff education, to improve depression screening completion rates in Medicare patients in a primary care setting. An exhaustive literature search of eight databases yielded 14 pieces of evidence that made recommendations for best practice. The evidence was …

Examining The Utility Of The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (Copm) Vs. Cognitive Mapping And Motivational Interviewing (Cm/Mi) To Provide Person-Centered Care (Pcc) For People With Parkinson’S Disease (Pwpd), Mary Lagasca, Karen Aranha

Spring 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) limits occupational engagement and quality of life. Clinicians need tools to help understand the lived experiences of people with PD to provide more person-centered care (PCC). The Canadian Occupational Performance Model (COPM) is one tool used with this population, but its predetermined categories may be limiting. In contrast, Cognitive Mapping and Motivational Interviewing (CM/MI) is a non-standardized method that may provide more insight. Objective: To identify the benefits of the COPM to CM/MI in delivering more person-centered care (PCC). Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological self-study was used. Data collection compared the assessments and reflected on determining if …

Rural Appalachia And The Opioid Epidemic: Overcoming Current Barriers With New Solutions, Olivia Croft

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The opioid epidemic has damaged the lives of many Americans since the early 2000’s. As America continues to look for ways to fight the opioid epidemic and save this country, the idea of providing the rescue drug, naloxone, to the general public has been discussed and implemented in some areas. An overdose from opioids causes a person to have respiratory depression and eventually stop breathing. Without intervention, this quickly leads to death. Although the opioid epidemic is nationwide, some of the most significantly affected populations are the rural communities tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains. In rural areas of America, …

An Investigation Of Resistance Training Behavior, Non-Specific Psychological Distress, And Perceived Barriers To Resistance Training In Self-Identifying Female Undergraduate Students, Jody Sobel

Master's Theses

The prevalence and severity of depression symptoms amongst college students, specifically female identifying undergraduate students, is worrisome. There is a great deal of research that suggests a relationship between exercise, specifically resistance training (RT), and mental health. That said, current literature suggests that many female identifying students are not engaging due to perceived barriers. This, perhaps because of the plethora of barriers one can perceive. The purpose of this study was multifold 1) to examine the prevalence and severity of non-specific psychological distress; 2) to determine if there were differences between Kessler 6 Non-Specific Psychological Distress Scale (K6) categories (i.e., …

Measuring Awareness Of Spd And Interprofessional Collaboration And Practices Among Professionals In An Elementary Public School Setting, Kyra Resende

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to sensory information, which can lead to sensory dysregulation (Rodden, 2023). Because everyone constantly receives sensory input, having SPD can impact a child’s life in numerous ways, such as academic and social success. Research indicates that 5% to 16% of students may have this neurological condition (Bunim, 2013), which is significant enough to expect that school professionals have appropriate awareness about SPD. Additionally, there is usually an overlap of professionals who serve students experiencing SPD, resulting in a need for interprofessional collaboration (IPC) …

Quantifying The Effect Of Socio-Economic Predictors And The Built Environment On Mental Health Events In Little Rock, Ar, Alfieri Ek, Grant Drawve, Samantha Robinson, Jyotishka Datta

Sociology and Criminology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Law enforcement agencies continue to grow in the use of spatial analysis to assist in identifying patterns of outcomes. Despite the critical nature of proper resource allocation for mental health incidents, there has been little progress in statistical modeling of the geo-spatial nature of mental health events in Little Rock, Arkansas. In this article, we provide insights into the spatial nature of mental health data from Little Rock, Arkansas between 2015 and 2018, under a supervised spatial modeling framework. We provide evidence of spatial clustering and identify the important features influencing such heterogeneity via a spatially informed hierarchy of generalized …