Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Expression Of Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms Across The Ovulatory Cycle: A Multilevel Investigation, Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a disabling condition characterized by chronic emotion dysregulation and behavioral impulsivity. Prospective studies that test proposed mechanisms of within-person change in BPD hold the key to improving symptom predictability and control in this disorder. A small body of evidence suggests that fluctuations in estradiol such as those occurring naturally at ovulation during the monthly female reproductive cycle may increase symptoms in women with BPD (DeSoto et al., 2003). Furthermore, there is preliminary evidence that both self-esteem and feelings of social rejection are highest at ovulation, when estradiol peaks (Durante and Hill, 2009; Eisenlohr-Moul et al., …

Prospective, Open-Label Trial Measuring Satisfaction And Convenience Of Two Formulations Of Lamotrigine In Subjects With Mood Disorders, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug indicated for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder and for various types of epilepsy. An orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) of lamotrigine was developed to provide a formulation option that might increase patient convenience and satisfaction. Methods: Subjects with mood disorders who reported difficulty swallowing currently prescribed lamotrigine immediate-release medication (baseline) were enrolled and treated with lamotrigine ODT for three weeks (end of treatment). Subject satisfaction and convenience were measured using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM). Also measured were global psychopathology using the Clinical Global Impression severity index (CGI-S) and depressive symptoms …

News Media Influence On Perceptions Of Veteran Mental Health, Elizabeth Faye Weber

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated how news media communications affect public awareness and perceptions of the mental health concerns of post-deployed military of the recent Iraq war. Focus group research included 22 adult participants from the same geographic location with discussions on news media consumption behaviors and their perceptions of the mental health issues of veterans. Results revealed that news media consumption is preferred at a national level versus a local level, and that online news sources are utilized more frequently than television or print news sources. Participants with the least news media exposure admitted to the lowest awareness of veteran mental …

Insights And Blind Spots: A Qualitative Analysis Of Risk In Psychiatric Security Review Board Hearings, Abby Kealani Balfour

Dissertations and Theses

The prevalence and consequences of the insanity plea, titled "guilty except for insanity" in the State of Oregon, are fraught with misconceptions. The use of the plea requires a complex set of interactions between the mental health and criminal justice systems, and comes with severe costs for people who use it. Most of the research on the psychological aspects of the insanity plea emphasizes empirical validity in the form of risk assessment instruments and/or the biomedical model with its focus on disease and illness. This thesis analyzes from community psychology and critical theory perspectives the decision process of hearings held …

The Effects Of A Summer Camp Experience On Factors Of Resilience In At-Risk Youth, Marybeth Merryman, Amanda Mezei, Jill A. Bush, Marcie Weinstein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This pilot study addressed the impact of a summer camp experience on at-risk middle school youth by exploring self-reported growth in skill development and resilience. Campers who attended a five-week summer day camp were compared to a control group who maintained typical activities throughout the summer. Results showed statistically significant differences in the campers’ belief of a good future for themselves (U = 179.40, P = 0.05). Campers reported sustained or positive growth in domains of social skills and positive values from the baseline to a six-month follow up. Three significant themes emerged from individual in-depth interviews including: (a) engagement …

Understanding The Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Study Abroad Students, Ashley Schaffer

Theses and Dissertations

Using the Triandis Model of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB) this study examined the influence of environmental and individual characteristics on predicting risky sexual behaviors of study abroad students. This study utilized a two-stage, qualitative and quantitative methodological framework. First, focus groups with previous study abroad students were held in order to gather data that informed the development of assessment. Second, data was subsequently collected from 128 study abroad students. The TIB significantly predicted a participant's intentions to engage in risky sexual behavior with the construct labeled subjective social norms emerging as a significant predictor. The model also significantly predicted engaging in …

Research Brief: "Impact Of The Seeking Safety Program On Clinical Outcomes Among Homeless Female Veterans With Psychiatric Disorders", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the effect of the Seeking Safety program's services on improvement in PTSD, psychiatric symptoms, and social support among homeless female veterans. In policy and practice, clinicians should be trained on how to use the program to better serve homeless female veterans, and policymakers should push for clinician training for those who work with homeless veterans. Suggestions for future research include applying this study and the Seeking Safety program to non-VA healthcare systems, assessing substance use within the program, and assessing the long-term effects of the Seeking Safety program.

Art As A Cure: Analyzing Healthcare Treatment For The Mentally Ill Through The Lens Of Art Therapy Programs In Dakar, Senegal, Sofia Porter-Castro

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mental illness is a malady that affects roughly 2.3 million people in Senegal ("Statistics by Country” 2012), but the wide and sometimes opposing range of healing practices suggests that the attitudes surrounding mental illness are still largely contested. This is especially true in Senegal’s capital, where advances in medicine in big city hospitals are growing while ties to traditional beliefs and practices remain strong. Alternative therapies, such as art therapy, provide an opportunity for practitioners to explore different techniques for treating the mentally ill while still integrating elements of the local culture. It is precisely this integration that this paper …

Family Aided Community Treatment As An Intervention For The Treatment Of Early Psychosis: A Proof Of Concept Study, Ryan P. Melton

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Major psychotic disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, having severe impacts on the people who suffer from the conditions, their families and society. There is evidence that if these conditions are identified and treated early, the prognosis is improved. The purpose of this study is to produce findings related to the use of year long trial of family aided community treatment (FACT) with individuals who are experiencing a first episode psychosis as defined by the SIPS. Using a proof of concept design with multiple repeated measure t tests, this study focused on first-episode psychotic disorder participants …

Interpersonal Control In Dating Relationships: How Is It Affected By Trust In One's Partner And Adult Attachment Style?, Melissa Franz

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. spends billions of dollars each year treating victims of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. A majority of college women (up to 75 percent) reported having experienced psychological or emotional abuse. These acts are intended to demean, criticize, and dominate one's partner. Control is one facet of psychological abuse and is intended to regulate one's partner. Control and psychological abuse are related to numerous negative outcomes in its victims. This study examines the influence of attachment style and trust on one's use of IPC in a relationship. One hundred forty seven participants were recruited (1) via a social networking …

The Impact Of Sexual Self-Esteem On Sexual Risk Detection In College Women, Lauren Lucente

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual assault victimization has been associated with poor risk recognition and low sexual self-esteem (Gidycz, McNamara, & Edwards, 2006; Schwartz & Shipiro, 1997). Evidence suggests that sexual self-esteem may precede risk recognition subsequently impacting victimization (Mayers, Heller, & Heller, 2003; Zeanah & Schwartz, 1996). The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct predictive impact of global and specific components of sexual self-esteem on risk recognition. Participants engaged a laboratory analog to measure risk detection and completed a series of questionnaires to measure sexual self-esteem. Results indicated that global sexual self-esteem is not predictive of risk recognition. In regard …

Impact Of Sunlight On The Age Of Onset Of Bipolar Disorder, Michael Bauer, Tasha Glenn, Martin Alda, Ole A. Andreassen, Raffaella Ardau, Frank Bellivier, Michael Berk, Thomas D. Bjella, Letizia Bossini, Maria Del Zompo, Seetal Dodd, Andrea Fagiolini, Mark A. Frye, Ana Gonzalez-Pinto, Chantal Henry, Flávio Kapczinkski, Sebastian Kliwicki, Barbara König, Mauricio Kunz, Beny Lafer, Carlos Lopez-Jaramillo, Mirko Manchia, Wendy Marsh, Monica Martinez-Cengotitabengoa, Ingrid Melle, Gunnar Morken, Rodrigo Munoz, Fabiano G. Nery, Claire O'Donovan, Andrea Pfennig, Danilo Quiroz, Natalie Rasgon, Andreas Reif, Janusz Rybakowski, Kemal Sagduyu, Christian Simhandi, Carla Torrent, Eduard Vieta, Mark Zetin, Peter C. Whybrow

Marriage and Family Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: Although bipolar disorder has high heritability, the onset occurs during several decades of life, suggesting that social and environmental factors may have considerable influence on disease onset. This study examined the association between the age of onset and sunlight at the location of onset.

Method: Data were obtained from 2414 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, according to DSM-IV criteria. Data were collected at 24 sites in 13 countries spanning latitudes 6.3 to 63.4 degrees from the equator, including data from both hemispheres. The age of onset and location of onset were obtained retrospectively, from …

Schizotypy And The Role Of Coping Behaviors In The Experience Of Positive And Negative Affect, Jessica Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether (a) schizotypy is positively related to negative affect and negatively related to positive affect, (b) whether individuals with high levels of schizotypy use more maladaptive coping behaviors than those low in schizotypy, (c) that maladaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and negative affect, and (d) that adaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and positive affect. A sample of 435 undergraduate participants completed self-report measures including The Brief Cope, The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, and The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Bivariate correlations resulted in levels …

The Use Of Humor For Emotion Management On The Job: An Exploration Of 911 Communication Centers, Jennifer Dell Mclaughlin

Dissertations

This study sought to understand how humor affects a person’s ability to cope and manage their emotions in a high stress organizational environment. 911 communication centers are work environments where stress is commonplace, and the work environment can instantly become erratic and chaotic.

This study explored the role humor has in assisting organizational members with emotion management in a high stress job and the types of humor used by members to handle their job and cope with the stress.

The results suggest that humor is pervasive in 911 communication centers, and dispatchers use humor for personal coping, co-worker bonding, and …

From Portland To Paris: Clinical Perspectives On Supporting Young People Suffering From Early Psychosis, Craigan Usher, Ryan P. Melton, Sarah Lynch

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This workshop examines the Early Detection and Prevention of Psychosis Program (EDIPPP) that focuses on reducing the incidence of major psychotic disorders in a defined population, by early detection and treatment.

Research Brief: "Psychiatric Status And Work Performance Of Veterans Of Operations Enduring Freedom And Iraqi Freedom", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study examines the relationship between psychiatric status and work impairment among OEF/OIF veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. In practice, mental health services are a high priority for the Veterans Administration, which is now focused on integrating behavioral health services into primary care so OEF/OIF veterans face fewer obstacles in obtaining and sustaining psychiatric care. In policy, policymakers should integrate veterans’ health programs with systematic assessment functioning, and develop treatment geared towards addressing impaired job performance. Suggestions for future study include focusing on whether workers with depression and other psychiatric conditions participate fully in the labor market and function effectively …

Suicide In Young Men, Alexandra Pitman, Karolina Krysinska, Michael King

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Potential Risk Factors Of Depression Among Latina Breast Cancer Survivors, Claudia Ximena Aguado Loi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women with breast cancer commonly experience depression. However, this condition often goes unrecognized, undertreated, and understudied, especially in ethnic minorities. If left untreated, co-existing depression in women with cancer can complicate cancer treatment, lead to poor treatment adherence for both conditions, and decrease survival. These negative consequences are considerably higher among Latinas. With the growing number of Latinos and diversity within the Latino community, the literature has identified the need to disaggregate Latinos by region of origin. Unfortunately, few studies account for these differences and no study to date has examined risk factors of depression among Latinas diagnosed with breast …

Stress, Coping And Suicide Ideation In Chinese College Students, Xiaoyun Zhang, Haiping Wang, Yan Ruth Xia, Xiaohong Liu, Eunju Jung

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

The study was to examine 1) whether stress and coping styles could significantly predict the probability of suicide ideation; 2) and whether coping styles were mediators or moderators on the association between life stress and suicide ideation. The survey was conducted in a sample of 671 Chinese college students. Approximately twenty percent students reported having suicide ideation. Life stress, active coping styles, and passive coping styles all had independent effect on the probability of suicide ideation. Passive coping styles, especially fantasizing, mediated the relation between life stress and suicide ideation. Moderation hypotheses were not supported. Implications of the findings and …

The Closure Of New Orleans' Charity Hospital After Hurricane Katrina: A Case Of Disaster Capitalism, Kenneth Brad Ott

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Amidst the worst disaster to impact a major U.S. city in one hundred years, New Orleans’ main trauma and safety net medical center, the Reverend Avery C. Alexander Charity Hospital, was permanently closed. Charity’s administrative operator, Louisiana State University (LSU), ordered an end to its attempted reopening by its workers and U.S. military personnel in the weeks following the August 29, 2005 storm. Drawing upon rigorous review of literature and an exhaustive analysis of primary and secondary data, this case study found that Charity Hospital was closed as a result of disaster capitalism. LSU, backed by Louisiana state officials, …