Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Exploring A Trainee's Response To Visiting Refugees In Jordan: A Bifocal Art Exploration, Daniela Marie Montañez

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This arts-based research investigated the personal responses of a trainee art therapist working with displaced refugees in Jordan. This inquiry is based on the belief that it is important for a new trainee to cultivate a broader appreciation of cross-cultural issues for both personal and professional applications. The art-based data, analyzed through Betensky's (1995) phenomenological approach, inspired a profound exploration of the refugee experience while simultaneously exploring the role and identity of the trainee. The author presented seven prominent themes that emerged from the refugee and trainee experiences: displacement, survival, connection, loss of control, safety, competence, and countertransference. Between both …

A Cross-Cultural Exploration Into Kinetic Family Drawings, Kathleen Deanna Baxter, Sharon Brooke Uy, Stella Mina Yun

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore cultural similarities and differences that could be found from analyzing the images of the Kinetic Family Drawing and their accompanying narratives. The current literature on the Kinetic Family Drawing as an assessment tool and the literature on the role of culture in psychotherapy were examined. The researchers have collected Kinetic Family Drawing images and narratives from groups of college students from the United States and groups of college students from two different areas in Mexico. Participants were asked to perform the Kinetic Family Drawing, title the drawing, write a brief narrative about …

Common Threads: An Integrated Hiv Prevention And Vocational Development Intervention For African American Women Living With Hiv/Aids, Liza Marie Conyers, Yung-Chen Chiu, Aisha Shamburger-Rousseau, Vanessa Johnson, Mark Misrok

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Current policies and initiatives call for the integration of social determinants of health into HIV/AIDS prevention and care interventions. According to the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health, the lower a person’s socioeconomic status, the worse the health outcomes. One way to alleviate poverty among African American women with HIV/AIDS is to help foster their vocational development and economic empowerment. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Plan specifically directs federal agencies to find ways to integrate people living with HIV/AIDS into broader employment initiatives. The purpose of this manuscript is to examine medical, psychosocial, financial/legal and vocational social …

Are There Gender Differences In Perceived Sexual Self-Efficacy Among African-American Adolescents?, Michelle L. Redmond, Rhonda K. Lewis

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: African American adolescents accounted for more than half of all HIV/AIDS cases in 2009. Behavioral Strategies are needed to help lessen the incidence of HIV/AIDS among this population.

Purpose: The aim of his study was to examine sexual self-efficacy practices and beliefs among African American adolescents. We also examined gender differences between African American adolescents to better understand their perceptions of sexual self-efficacy, condom use intention, and other safer sex practices and beliefs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 214 African American adolescents using survey instruments to examine their beliefs, perception and intentions on the use of condoms, …

Our Failure To Understand Mental Illness Has Debilitated Nearly 60 Million Americans, Alaina Bernard

UCF Forum

Abraham Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway, Robin Williams and Michelangelo are a few examples of brilliantly inspiring individuals who shaped our culture, artistry and society. Looking at this list of names, it is hard to see a connection between these unique individuals. The sad truth is that each one suffered from mental illness, a debilitating disease that disrupts one’s thinking, feelings and interactions with others.

Conflict In Families And Nursing Home Placement: A Phenomenological Study, Stephen John Pidwysocky

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

In the limited qualitative research about families who have placed a family member in a nursing home, conflict is identified as a significant problem (Lashewicz & Keating, 2009; Lashewicz et al., 2007). Whether it is related to absence of filial responsibility on the part of adult children, (Ganong & Coleman, 2005; Piercy, 1998), adult child ambivalence (Bengtson et al., 2002; Lüscher & Pillemer, 1998), female and male gender caregiving roles (Spitze & Trent, 2006; Dayton-Ingersoll, 2003; Aronson, 1992), differences in levels of commitment on the part of adult children to assist older parents (Silverstein et al., 2008), adult children being …

Uncovering The Concealed Part Of Motherhood-Postpartum Depression In Mothers, Hunaina Hadi, Shamsa Hadi

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Introduction: Motherhood is the most pleasing experience of a woman's life. Birth of a child gives birth to new hopes and ambitions. But Post-partum Depression is a condition when this blessing turns into curse. It can affect the mother, the partner and the child and can even lead to infanticide as well as maternal death, often by suicide.

Method: A qualitative systematic review was conducted through electronic medium to explore the relevant literature. Various databases i.e. Pubmed, Google search engines, Science Direct, JPMA, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature CINHAL and SAGA were used. Manual search was …

The Effects Of Environmental Prompts On Stair Usage, Lori Andersen, Tim Bungum, Sheniz Moonie Phd

Nevada Journal of Public Health

Experts have advocated exercise with little success, and have turned to encouraging physical activity by incorporating it into daily activities such as taking the stairs over elevators. Much literature exists suggesting that environmental prompts can encourage the use of stairs and literature has established that some messages may be more effective than others. This study aimed to assess the effects of selected signage prompts on stair usage. Methods: Stair and elevator use were monitored in three, two-story buildings. One building served as a control, while a fitness message was placed in another building, and the final building received a weight …

Environmental Health In Southern Nevada, Courtney Coughenour, Jennifer Pharr, Shawn Gerstenberger

Nevada Journal of Public Health

There are a multitude of environmental factors that influence public health. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate the Southern Nevada community with respect to environmental conditions and health, including both positive and negative traits, and develop realistic goals and strategies aimed at improving these conditions. Southern Nevada is located in one of the most arid regions of North America. Since annual rainfall averages less than four inches per year, Southern Nevada depends upon the Colorado River for its water supply. It is predicted that water flow to the area will decrease by 5% to 20% by 2050. As …

Community Health Indicators In Southern Nevada, Courtney Coughenour, Jennifer Pharr, Shawn Gerstenberger

Nevada Journal of Public Health

Community design and access to services are essential components of healthy and sustainable communities. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate Southern Nevada with respect to community design and access, including both positive and negative traits, and to suggest realistic changes that could be made to improve these conditions. The region’s network of parks and open space recreation areas is one of its strongest assets. Clark County enjoys over 42 million acres of federal and state lands which offer a large variety of recreational opportunities. The region has an extensive trail system, with a total of 179 miles of …

Effective Smoking Cessation Methods Among Smokers With Diabetes In Nv, Salome Kapella-Mshigeni, Eunice Kimunai, Peter Anderson, Elizabeth Fildes, Tam Villar

Nevada Journal of Public Health

Smoking and diabetes could both be prevented if individuals would abstain from smoking, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. Smokers with diabetes have an increased risk of serious health outcomes, hence effective smoking cessation interventions are critical. The transtheoretical model was used in this quantitative study analyzing secondary data from the state of Nevada Quitline to examine the relationships between smoking cessation method (counseling versus counseling and medication) and quitting smoking for 720 smokers with/without diabetes. Participants were Nevada residents, ages 18+, men and women, English or Spanish speakers. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and a test of two proportions were conducted. …

Education And Educational Attainment In Southern Nevada, Jennifer Pharr, Courtney Coughenour, Shawn Gerstenberger

Nevada Journal of Public Health

Failure to complete high school has a direct impact on a person’s earning potential and quality of life. Higher levels of education are associated with better health. Because of this association, it is important for children and adults to have access to quality education. The percentage of adults who have successfully pursued higher education in Southern Nevada is lower than the peer Mountain West metropolitan areas and the national average. Nevada high school graduation rates are the lowest in the nation. High school graduation rates and dropout rates vary by race/ethnicity in the Clark County School District. High school graduation …

Exposure To Kynurenic Acid During Adolescence Increases Sign-Tracking And Impairs Long-Term Potentiation In Adulthood, Nicole E. Deangeli, Travis P. Todd, Stephen E. Chang, Hermes H. Yeh, Pamela W. Yeh, David J. Bucci

Dartmouth Scholarship

Changes in brain reward systems are thought to contribute significantly to the cognitive and behavioral impairments of schizophrenia, as well as the propensity to develop co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Presently, there are few treatments for persons with a dual diagnosis and little is known about the neural substrates that underlie co-occurring schizophrenia and substance abuse. One goal of the present study was to determine if a change in the concentration of kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite that is increased in the brains of people with schizophrenia, affects reward-related behavior. KYNA is an endogenous antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptors and …

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Robert H. Rice

Nursing Faculty/Staff Publications

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the merging of behavioral and cognitive therapies that mostly focuses on working with the client in the present. Although there are many approaches to CBT, there tend to be some common features. For example, CBT is generally a directive approach to psychotherapy that helps clients to challenge their problematic thoughts and to change the behaviors associated with those thoughts. In addition, most approaches to CBT are structured and time limited and include some type of homework where the client can practice the cognitive and behavioral strategies learned in the therapeutic setting. This entry focuses mostly on …

Narrative Therapy, Robert H. Rice

Nursing Faculty/Staff Publications

Narrative therapy (NT) is a strengths-based approach to psychotherapy that uses collaboration between the client or family and the therapist to help clients see themselves as empowered and capable of living the way they want. In the face of crisis or trauma, NT helps clients achieve a “This too will pass” attitude, while positioning the therapist as an appreciative ally in the process. NT is useful with individuals and is used extensively with families due to its ability to separate clients from problems and unite families against problematic patterns. NT also lends itself well to joining with families because it …

Family Therapist Connecting And Building Relationships With Substance Abusers In The Seminole Tribe Of Florida: An Ethnographic Study, Sunny Nelli Khachatryan

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to examine the process of a family therapist entering and then navigating the cultural system of working with substance abusing Seminole tribal clients. The study also utilized two tribal members sharing their opinions about how Seminoles view therapy. As noted in the interview questions and responses, the research presented guidelines for family therapists to follow when working with tribal members. Because there has been no study conducted with family therapists providing clinical services to tribal members, this study introduced tools for clinicians to keep in mind and utilize when working with tribal clients. …

The Lived Experiences Of Adult Children Of Mid To Later-Life Parental Divorce: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Joan Collins Ricketts

Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

This study examined the lived experiences of adult children of mid-later life parental divorce. It was designed and conducted to address the gap in the current literature regarding this phenomenon. The experiences of 5 Adult Children of Divorce (ACD) ages 25 to 45, who experienced mid-later life parental divorce, were examined using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The researcher employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of which the findings illustrated various outcomes for adults experiencing their parents’ mid-later life divorce. The results of this study showed that parents’ waiting until the children are “grown” does not mitigate potentially detrimental outcomes for these …

Mental Health Disorders In Child And Adolescent Survivors Of Post-War Landmine Explosions., Mohammad Ali Hemmati, Hamid Shokoohi, Mehdi Masoumi, Shahriar Khateri, Mohammadreza Soroush, Ehsan Modirian, Mahtab Poor Zamany Nejat Kermany, Maryam Hosseini, Batool Mousavi

Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: To describe the mental health status of 78 child and adolescent survivors of post-war landmine explosions.

METHODS: Child and adolescent survivors of landmine explosions who were younger than 18 years old at the time of the study were identified and enrolled in this study. The mental health status of the participants was assessed by general health assessment and psychiatric examinations. Psychiatric assessment and diagnosis were undertaken using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for mental disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. A psychiatrist visited and interviewed each survivor and identified psychiatric disorders.

RESULTS: Seventy-eight child and adolescent survivors with a mean age of …

Telepsychiatric Assessment Of A Mariner Expressing Suicidal Ideation., Alexander Lee, Neal Sikka, Francis O'Connell, Allen Dyer, Keith Boniface, James Betz

Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

This case report highlights the successful use of telepsychiatric consultation by secure video chat to remotely assess a mariner expressing suicidal ideation. As a result of this intervention, telemedicine providers initiated psychiatric stabilisation while the mariner was still aboard the vessel, determined that he was safe for repatriation under the care of qualified medical escorts, and facilitated admission to a psychiatric facility near his home in the United States. Mental health emergencies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among mariners. Telepsychiatry is a validated method of establishing a psychiatric diagnosis and disposition as well as assessing risk of …

Insistence On Sameness Relates To Increased Covariance Of Gray Matter Structure In Autism Spectrum Disorder., Ian W Eisenberg, Gregory L Wallace, Lauren Kenworthy, Stephen J Gotts, Alex Martin

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical development of cortical and subcortical gray matter volume. Subcortical structural changes have been associated with restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB), a core component of ASD. Behavioral studies have identified insistence on sameness (IS) as a separable RRB dimension prominent in high-functioning ASD, though no simple brain-behavior relationship has emerged. Structural covariance, a measure of morphological coupling among brain regions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has proven an informative measure of anatomical relationships in typical development and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this study, we use this measure to characterize the relationship between brain …