Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Implementation Of Nurse Navigators For Behavioral Health, Theresa Papagna

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Mental health patients have been notoriously non-adherent with diligent medication conformity, office visit fidelity, candor about side effects, use of illegal substances for self-medication, and truthfulness about co-occurring conditions. This non-adherence makes treatment difficult for psychiatric providers, and all those who participate in the care of patients with mental illness. Patient non-adherence can cause frustration and can lead to provider burnout, which affects patients as well as providers. Also, there are concerning financial implications of excessive time and resources needed to adequately monitor mental health patients. Implications regarding 30- day re-admissions are tantamount to consideration of financial strains put on …

Connecting And Communicating To Support Youth Mental Health, Michele Davide

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The nation is experiencing a pediatric mental health crisis amid a shortage of pediatric mental health care providers. The Connecting and Communicating project explores a strategy pediatric primary care practitioners can employ to bridge this gap and maximize their impact on supporting youth mental health in a community.

For this project, a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner created a pilot educational video with the dual purpose of educating parents and school staff on the importance of connecting with adolescents using the proven evidence supported communication technique of validating strong emotions without judgement, and partnering with pediatric health stakeholders by requesting …

Wellness Review 2022, Part 1, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article represents the first of a two-part assessment of 2022 literature addressing wellness in healthcare professionals published from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.

Methods: Three editors conducted a similar keyword search in Pubmed, also adding manually curated articles. Focusing chiefly on clinical trials and other prospective research, we settled on a final 25 significant papers focusing on wellness in medical professionals to include in this review.

Literature Review: Recent literature into HCW wellness continues to describe burnout factors and COVID-19 impact, but includes more resilience-targeting interventions and systematic reviews of trials seeking bolstering of well-being. Subsections …

Surveying The Stigma: How The Plhiv Stigma Index Acts As A Validated Framework To Measure Healthcare Discrimination And How It Can Be Adapted To Quantify Mental Health Stigma, Keeley Lariviere

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The PLHIV Stigma Index is an ongoing, international study conducted by and for people living with HIV to measure the stigmatization that people living with HIV experience. As a model that has been proven successful in translating to targeted advocacy campaigns, this paper theorizes on how this Stigma Index could be broadened to capture other aspects of healthcare discrimination. With a growing demand for mental health support and a critically underdeveloped mental healthcare framework, understanding the stigma and discrimination that exist for people living with depression is a good place to start. Using mixed methods analysis from existing literature and …

Learning To Automate Follow-Up Question Generation Using Process Knowledge For Depression Triage On Reddit Posts, Shrey Gupta, Anmol Agarwal, Manas Gaur, Kaushik Roy, Vignesh Narayanan, Ponnurangam Kumaraguru, Amit Sheth

Publications

Conversational Agents (CAs) powered with deep language models (DLMs) have shown tremendous promise in the domain of mental health. Prominently, the CAs have been used to provide informational or therapeutic services (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) to patients. However, the utility of CAs to assist in mental health triaging has not been explored in the existing work as it requires a controlled generation of follow-up questions (FQs), which are often initiated and guided by the mental health professionals (MHPs) in clinical settings. In the context of `depression', our experiments show that DLMs coupled with process knowledge in a mental health questionnaire …

How To Survive College As An Acoa: The Effectiveness Of University Resources On Helping Acoas Socially And Psychologically Succeed During Their Academic Career, Kelly Buchan

Senior Theses

In 2019, 14.5 million people ages 12 and older had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), but only 10% received treatment (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 2022). Parental drinking problems can directly affect children, or “Adult Children of Alcoholics.” Of the few studies targeting ACoAs, results show that ACoAs not only have higher risks of mental illness, but they also have lower GPAs and social health (Schroeder & Kelley, 2008). Thus, this study assessed the extent to which perceptions of the college drinking environment are related to higher depression rates in ACoAs, certain drinking motivations, and reluctance to use …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Social Support In Males And Females Experiencing Issues With Infertility., Maya Pinzon, Shawna Rotoli

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate and compare male and female experiences of infertility in the context of social support.

METHODS: A Qualtrics survey (Qualtrics, Provo, Utah, United States) was posted to online fertility support groups and the responses were thematically analyzed. Only participants that completed the qualitative component of the survey were included in the study. Responses were subsequently thematically analyzed.

RESULTS: A sample of 110 participants (13 males and 97 females) were included in the present study. Thematic analyses revealed that isolation and loneliness, stigma, sentiments of misunderstanding, insensitive reactions, and others' unhelpful attempts …

A Case Of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 With Severe Mood And Behavioral Symptoms, Eduardo Espiridion, Aakash Padodara, Alexa Primavera, Danielle Hovington, Adeolu Funso Oladunjoye

Transformative Medicine

INTRODUCTION: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the NF1 gene. In addition to physical manifestations, complications such as cognitive and behavioral deficits have been described. CLINICAL FINDINGS: We describe a case of a 14-year-old male with a past psychiatric history of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and multiple suicide attempts, who presented with suicidal ideation and command hallucinations. The patient became aggressive, physically assaulting hospital staff, and required sedative medication and physical restraints for several days. He required inpatient hospital admission due to rhabdomyolysis. Throughout his admission, the …

Correlates Of Caffeinated Energy Drinks, Substance Use, And Behavior Among Adolescents, Lauren N. Maziarz, Lauren A. Dial, Bradley Fevrier, William Ivoska

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Caffeinated energy drinks (CCEDs) are frequently consumed by adolescents aged 10-19, yet the effects of consumption on adolescent behavior are not well understood. Previous research has identified positive associations between CCED use and other substances such as alcohol and marijuana but studies among adolescents are lacking. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using data collected from the 2019 Alcohol, Drug Addition, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board/Wood County Educational Service Center’s youth survey. Ten public schools in Wood County, Ohio participated (n=6,152). Results: CCED use was common among our sample (43.4% overall). Reported consumption increased with age and was …

Resilience Development In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Role Of The Occupational Therapist And The Interdisciplinary Team, Kayla Frederick

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Research has revealed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have a negative effect on a child’s development and put a child at an increased risk of physical and mental health problems in adulthood including obesity, diabetes, depressed mood, and attempted suicide (Anda et al., 2006; Felitti et al., 1998; Gilbert et al., 2015; Putamen, 2006). Some children have been able to counteract the negative effects of ACEs and achieve positive life outcomes using a principle called resilience (Zolkoski & Bullock, 2012). While researchers have begun to identify the key skills and character traits associated with resilience in children, few have explored …

Hidden Struggles Within The Mental Healthcare Workplace, Tammy V. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have reported on the worldwide pervasiveness and increasing societal costs associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). A recent post on the WHO website cited recent scientific research (2022) indicating the magnitude of harmful effects attributed to ACEs, even classifying them as “violence against children.” Esaki and Larkin (2013) indicate that ACEs are prevalent among many social service professionals, including mental health clinicians.

This study uses mental health clinicians as the sample population to identify the impact of ACEs on job performance. Findings from a volunteer …

Possible Gender Differences In The Level Of Perceived Social Support In Couples Who Are Experiencing Issues With Infertility., Maya Pinzon, Shawna Rotoli

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Objective The purpose of this study is to examine whether there are gender differences in the level of perceived social support in couples experiencing issues with fertility. Methods A total of 938 participants aged 18-47 years, with self-reported issues of infertility, were evaluated using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) which comprises three subscales which correspond with distinct sources of social support: significant other (SO), family, and friends. Differences between sexes for total score and for all subscale scores were subsequently analyzed using SPSS Statistics (IBM Corp, Armonk, USA). Results Mean total scores and scores on all subscales …

Associations Between Cannabis, Psychosis, And Schizophrenia In Adolescents, Lauren Moment

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

The effects of cannabis use on the brain, mind, and body have been studied for decades. The developing brain, particularly the adolescent and young adult brain, undergoes critical development that makes it especially susceptible to the effects of cannabis use. Among the adverse effects of cannabis use in adolescence and young adulthood, psychosis and psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) have been examined. The association of cannabis use with schizophrenia was first elucidated in a Swedish study of army conscripts. Specifically, conscripts reported their cannabis use exposure and were followed longitudinally to assess the emergence of schizophrenia. The authors found that those …

Pre Covid-19 Pandemic Use Of Telemedicine For Adherence Promotion In Patients With Psychotic Disorders: A Literature Review, Alyssa M. Edwards, Jordan C. Petitt, Sanjana Kumar, Jennifer B. Levin, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Given the increasing use of telepsychiatry and to serve as a reference point informing future research, our team evaluated the literature on the use of telepsychiatry for medication adherence promotion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with psychotic disorders. Methods: A search of PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify telepsychiatry interventions to enhance medication adherence in patients with primary psychotic disorders. Both quantitative and qualitative data were extracted from the identified articles including study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Results: In total, 230 articles were obtained through electronic literature search, …

Meditation Program For First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Feasibility Study, Anumeha Bhagat, Anita Sinha Malhotra, Ajeet Kumar Sidana

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Prevalence of stress among Indian medical undergraduate students is currently higher than the global stress level. Notably, although India is considered home to yogic practices, attempts at incorporating them in the daily routines of medical students have been lacking. In Raj Yoga Meditation (RYM), the steps for meditation are clear and explicit, so it is easy to practice. The study aimed to assess the feasibility of daily practice of RYM by medical undergraduates and find out if there is an improvement in the mental health and stress levels of the participants.

Methods: We chose 80 students randomly from two …

Therapeutic Jurisprudence In Practice: Applying Goffman’S Dramaturgical Approach To Mental Health Courts, Karen A. Snedker

Sociology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"This chapter draws on qualitative data from two MHCs [mental health courts] to show how team members translate the tenets of therapeutic jurisprudence into the performance of their social roles in both formal and informal court settings. I argue that the successful operation of teamwork lies at the heart of MHC effectiveness. Judges, acting as both audience and team member, can undermine the work of the team. MHCs clearly rely upon a well-functioning collaborative team, working partially in backstage settings, with a judge willing to alter frontstage performances for the sake of collaboration and therapeutic effects for clients."

Early Intervention In Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Need For An International Approach, Amina Abubakar, Patricia Kipkemoi

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Globally, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 100 children. Ideally, a diagnosis is made with the onset of symptoms before 3 years of age; however, a diagnosis may sometimes be delayed until 6 years or later. There has been an increase in ASD research over the last few decades, with many systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesizing research evidence for ASD interventions in children. Evidence tends to support the notion that intervention for ASD must occur as early as possible, close to the critical periods when early social and communication skills are developing. Therefore, early screening and intervention could …

Genetic Structure Correlates With Ethnolinguistic Diversity In Eastern And Southern Africa, Elizabeth G. Atkinson, Shareefa Dalvie, Yakov Pichkar, Allan Kalungi, Lerato Majara, Anne Stevenson, Tamrat Abebe, Dickens Akena, Melkam Alemayehu, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

African populations are the most diverse in the world yet are sorely underrepresented in medical genetics research. Here, we examine the structure of African populations using genetic and comprehensive multi-generational ethnolinguistic data from the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis study (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) consisting of 900 individuals from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. We find that self-reported language classifications meaningfully tag underlying genetic variation that would be missed with consideration of geography alone, highlighting the importance of culture in shaping genetic diversity. Leveraging our uniquely rich multi-generational ethnolinguistic metadata, we track language transmission through the pedigree, observing the disappearance of several …

Positive Digital Communication Among Youth: The Development And Validation Of The Digital Flourishing Scale For Adolescents, Jasmina Rosič, Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles, Luca Carbone, Bojana Lobe, Laura Vandenbosch

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Research has extensively studied the negative effects of digital communication on adolescents’ well-being. However, positive digital experiences and behavior in adolescence are still poorly understood. The recently developed Digital Flourishing Scale addresses this gap and focuses on the positive perceptions of a user’s experiences and behaviors in digital communication among adults. In this paper, we developed an adolescent version of this scale. Study 1 demonstrated the internal consistency of the scale and the same factor structure for adolescence as for adulthood: connectedness, civil participation, positive social comparison, authentic self-presentation, and self-control. Study 2 confirmed the identified factor structure with a …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Depression In Pregnant Adolescents In Nairobi, Kenya, Albert Tele, Joseph Kathono, Shillah Mwaniga, Vincent Nyongesa, Obadia Yator, Onesmus Gachuno, Dalton Wamalwa, Beatrice Amugune, Zul Merali, Manasi Kumar

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Adolescent parenthood can be associated with a range of adverse outcomes for young mothers such as depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Identification of depression and understanding risk factors among pregnant adolescents is important for development of appropriate interventions and programs focused on adolescent mental health. This paper reports on the findings of the prevalence of depression and its associated risk factors among pregnant adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods: We recruited 153 pregnant adolescent (14-18 years) who were accessing maternal health services in one of two Nairobi County primary health care facilities in the cross-sectional survey …