Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Disrupted Relatedness And Shifting Perceptions Of Others: Changing Moods Over Time For People Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Joanna Farr, Jonathan A. Smith, John E. Rhodes

The Qualitative Report

For people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the relationship between mood episodes and interpersonal life is critical. Yet little is known about how their experience of other people changes during and between episodes of depression and mania. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the experience of interpersonal change during depression, mania and euthymia (stability). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three women at two time points and were analysed using longitudinal interpretative phenomenological analysis. One longitudinal theme, “Changing sense of others impacts relatedness,” demonstrates profound changes in participants’ experiences of other people within and between episodes. During depression, participants experienced other people …

Psychological Impact Of Ulcerative Colitis On Pregnancy And Postpartum Period, Stephanie C. Carver

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) poses significant challenges during pregnancy, affecting both physical and mental health. While the physiological effects of UC during pregnancy are well documented, less is known about its impact on maternal mental health. This study aims to investigate the psychological effects of UC on pregnant women, focusing on stress levels, postpartum depression (PPD) incidence, and the role of multidisciplinary care in improving mental health outcomes.

Objective

The primary objective of this research proposal is to evaluate the psychological impact of UC during pregnancy and determine whether disease activity increases the risk of PPD and stress. A secondary …

Improving Maternal Mental Health: The Role Of Specialized Support For Queer Women With Postpartum Depression, Dan-Tam Pham

Nursing | Senior Theses

Queer women face disproportionately high rates of postpartum depression compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals. Studies showed that queer women face heightened mental health challenges, including higher rates of depression and anxiety due to factors like discrimination, limited support systems, and negative healthcare experiences. There is a need for culturally competent, LGBTQ+-affirming interventions to improve maternal mental health outcomes; despite the health disparities faced by this population, research on specialized postpartum interventions is limited, revealing gaps in effective mental health care for queer mothers. The key search terms for the articles used in the study included: postpartum depression, queer women, …

Is Suicide Among The Elderly Population Warranted Or Preventable, Ericka King

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 2nd place Winner

Growing old is perceived differently among world cultures. In some cultures, elders are revered and celebrated. However, in other cultures, growing old is dreaded and feared. Current Western culture depicts aging negatively through media, beauty marketing, and in general society. The elderly population is also a lost population as they are often forgotten about and overlooked. With aging comes with illness, depression, change in activities of daily living, financial stressors, isolation, societal changes, and death of loved ones, and eventually self. Chronic illness(es) can make it harder for the elderly to maintain …

Addressing The Opioid Epidemic Across The United States And In West Virginia, Kailyn Smith, Addison Hughes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The opioid crisis had a profound impact on public health across the United States and West Virginia, with overdose deaths reaching unprecedented levels by 2021. Traditional abstinence-only rehabilitation programs demonstrated limited success, largely due to high relapse rates and insufficient mental health support. These programs often overlooked the complex relationship between opioid addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are common among those with substance use disorders. In contrast, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), when supplemented with behavioral therapies and antidepressant medications, has shown greater success in improving recovery outcomes and reducing relapse rates. This …

School Personnel Perceptions Of School-Based Mental Health Prevention And Interventions, Kelsey Lytle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite millions of children across the United States experiencing at least one mental health disorder about half do not receive any sort of treatment or counseling. Within schools, many children receive formal intervention services once they are identified. However, there are many other children who would benefit greatly from learning social emotional skills who have not been identified. Prevention could be a great resource to prevent children from falling through the cracks. The purpose of this study was to assess personnel perceptions on the school’s role in student mental health, mental health interventions and prevention, evidence-based practices, and barrier to …

The Effect Of Maternal Anxiety Of Breastfeeding Exclusivity And Duration, Zoe E. Treat

2025 Honors Symposium

This study examined whether postpartum anxiety affects breastfeeding exclusivity and duration among mothers in Northwest Arkansas. While maternal anxiety was not a significant predictor, child age and infant birth order were associated with breastfeeding outcomes.

1st Place Research Paper: Increasing The Accessibility Of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Tf-Cbt) For Adolescents With Developmental Language Disorder: A Pilot Study, Lauren A. Fillet

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

Research has demonstrated that adolescents with developmental language disorder (AWDLD) perform more poorly compared to typically developing peers on measures of narrative production.This limitation may not only impact education and social life, but also possibly post-traumatic stress recovery, as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) involves a Trauma Narrative production activity (D’Amico et al., 2022). A limited amount of research has been conducted on adapting TF-CBT for children with intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (D’Amico et al., 2022; Anderson & Cook, 2015). However, there is currently no available research explicitly addressing how TF-CBT can be individualized to …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

Developing Staff Training Modules To Enhance Neurodiversity-Affirming Care In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Haley Morris

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Introduction: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are admitted to psychiatric hospitals at higher rates and for longer durations compared to neurotypical individuals (Kuriakose et al., 2018). Externalizing behaviors, such as aggression and self-injury, significantly increase hospitalization risk, yet standard psychiatric interventions (e.g., traditional process groups) are often ineffective for this population. A key barrier is the lack of ASD-specific training among hospital staff (Siegel & Gabriels, 2012). This capstone project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing an educational training program to improve patient-centered, neurodiversity-affirming care across all inpatient psychiatric units. The primary aims were to: …

Mistrust Among Injured Immigrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework, Maude Arsenault, Daniel Côté, Jessica Dubé

Revues de littérature, synthèses de connaissances

Background

In Quebec, injured workers have access to medical assistance, wage replacement indemnities, and rehabilitation measures, with most injuries resolved easily. However, a small percentage of cases require a lengthy rehabilitation process, which is particularly complex when involving immigrants. The therapeutic alliance is at the heart of the process, involving mutual trust and confidence and a degree of consensus about the therapeutic interventions to be used and, ultimately, the return to work.

Objective

This article delves into the concept of mistrust as more than the absence of trust, and sheds light on its role in the rehabilitation process of immigrant …

Mindfulness & Mental Health: Balanced Time Perspective As A Mediator, Eddie Trueblood

Masters Theses

Mindfulness is a practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental way. Being more mindful can decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, among other mental and physical health improvements. (Donald et al., 2016; Hofmann et al., 2010; Kabat-Zinn et al.,1992). This study examined if balanced time perspective (BTP) is one of the mechanisms of action of mindfulness in its relationship with depression, anxiety, and stress. BTP refers to a person’s ability to flexibly adapt their time perspective (attention to the past, present, or future, and positive or negative attitudes toward each) to suit the current …

Examining Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives On The Acceptability Of Pain-Mitigation As A Tool To Manage Needle Fear, Sarah C M Morton

Theses and Dissertations

Needle fear affects up to 63% of the global adult population and is associated with significant fear-based medical care avoidance (e.g., blood donation refusal, vaccine hesitancy, insulin injection adherence). Current behavioral treatments have low acceptance in this population, and often fail to address the experience of pain associated with needle procedures. Despite the existence of evidence-based pain-mitigation for needle procedures, these interventions are not commonly used in clinical settings. The current study used qualitative methods to examine patient and provider perceptions of: 1) current methods of needle fear management, and 2) the acceptability of pain-mitigation as an effective tool to …

The Chemical Straightjacket: Institutional Over-Use Of Psychotropic Drugs On Children In Lieu Of Therapeutic Community Mental Health Services, Marisa Leib-Neri

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

This Article argues that the abysmal state of children’s mental health in America is in part due to an overreliance on and over prescription of psychotropic drugs inside psychiatric residential institutions in lieu of community based mental health services. This overreliance on residential institutions and psychotropic drugs has allowed a new form of chemical restraint to flourish—the chemical straitjacket. This Article uses the medication lists of twelve children in seven different North Carolina psychiatric residential treatment facilities to demonstrate how the chemical straitjacket operates: the prescription of drugs not approved for pediatric populations, counter to evidence-based practices for particular diagnoses, …

Ministry Organization Response To The Mental Health Crisis, Bryn L. Wood

Senior Honors Theses

The mental health crisis has been negatively affecting individuals across the globe for about half a century, only growing in its impact each year. However, following the Covid-19 pandemic, mental health crises skyrocketed. This is especially true for youth and young adults as physical isolation has altered many facets of their lives. This thesis will explore the mental health crisis, as well as the way it has impacted youth and young adult organizations. Specifically, it will discuss research on recommended ways for these organizations to respond to the mental health crisis through unique programming and how these practices have been …

The Impact Of Structured Weekend Group Therapy On Restraints, Seclusion And Length Of Stay On Inpatient Psychiatric Units, Victoria Grau

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Group therapy is an essential part of inpatient psychiatric treatment, with documented positive effects including better medication compliance, lower readmission rate, and improved self- esteem. Patients who are admitted for an inpatient psychiatric stay have a small window of time in which behavioral health staff can work with them. Group therapy can help patients develop a plan for these issues and provide a foundation for successful discharge and symptom management. The project site is a mid-size teaching hospital in an urban community with higher rates of mental health diagnoses than the national average. Group therapy was conducted initially Monday – …

Investigating The Role Of Dynamic Signaling Of Nrg3-Erbb4 In The Prefrontal Cortex In Mediating Nicotine Withdrawal Phenotypes, Emily Prantzalos

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

While several pharmacotherapies are currently available for nicotine use disorder (NUD), smoking cessation success rates remain below 10% each year. The molecular mechanisms underlying failed quit attempts continue to represent a critical gap in our knowledge. However, recent advances in understanding the genetic contributions to nicotine dependence offer a promising avenue for developing more effective cessation therapies. Prior research has identified genetic variation in Neuregulin 3 (Nrg3) and its cognate receptor ErbB4 as potential contributors to affective nicotine withdrawal (WD) phenotypes and cessation outcomes. Therefore, this dissertation aims to systematically investigate the region-specific, functional role of the Neuregulin Signaling Pathway …

Multidisciplinary Lethal Means Safety Counseling Design And Implementation: Training And Identifying Barriers In A Children's Hospital, Cassandra L. Stegall, Brendon Carnell, Jaime M. Golden, Rupa Kapoor, John H. Fanton, Paul C. Mullan, Alexandra P. Leader

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background

Access to lethal means contributes significantly to suicide completion. Lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) is an injury prevention strategy to limit access to firearms, medications, and other means of injury. Not previously evaluated in the trauma setting, this study aims to design and implement a standardized LMSC protocol for pediatric patient discharge education in emergency (ED), trauma, and inpatient psychiatry settings.

Methods

A single-center quality improvement study at an academic pediatric urban tertiary Level-one trauma center was performed from July 2023 to February 2024. Protocol was implemented for pediatric patients discharged from three departments: ED, surgery trauma service, and …

Female Brain And Endocrinological Research–Veteran (Fember-Vet) Study: A Study Protocol For Identifying Endocrinological, Lifestyle And Psychosocial Determinants Of Brain Health Outcomes In Female Veterans For Future Intervention Success, Tamlyn Watermeyer, Elliott Atkinson, Glyn Howatson, Gill Mcgill, Christina Dodds, Paul Ansdell, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated a greater risk of dementia in female veterans compared to civilians; with the highest prevalence noted for former service women with a diagnosis of psychiatric (trauma, alcoholism, depression), and/or a physical health condition (brain injury, insomnia, diabetes). Such findings highlight the need for increased and early screening of medical and psychiatric conditions, and indeed dementia, in the female veteran population. Further, they call for a better understanding of the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms that might confer heightened risk for female veterans, to tailor preventative and interventional strategies that support brain health across the lifespan.

Methods …

Investing In Equitable Healthy Aging: Why Africa Must Reform Social Pension Schemes To Improve Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia Outcomes, Cyprian Mostert, Najat El Mekkaoui, Shehzad Ali, Chinedu Momoh, Olivera Nesic, Karen Blackmon, Thomas Thesen, David Andai, Zul Merali, Mary Karanja

Brain and Mind Institute

The eligibility criteria for social pension schemes in Africa hinder equitable and healthy aging. In 2019, women in 14 sub-Saharan African countries had an average life expectancy of 67 years but a healthy life expectancy of only 57 years, leaving them 5 years in poor health before receiving a pension at age 62. Men had a similar situation—a life expectancy of 62 years and a healthy life expectancy of 53 years, spending 10 years in poor health before becoming eligible for pensions at age 63. Many men do not receive pensions due to early death. Delays and low pension payouts …