Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Addressing Healthcare Disparities Faced By Aging Down Syndrome Populations, Rhea Mistry

Pitzer Senior Theses

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal genetic condition that impacts the development of the body and brain. The life expectancy of individuals with DS has drastically improved over the decades, increasing from 9 years in 1929 to 25 years in 1983 and further reaching 60 years by 2002. Individuals with DS face a variety of prominent co-occurring health conditions that are subject to change over time, including cognitive, visual, and hearing impairments, sleep apnea, cardiovascular defects, Down syndrome regression disorder, and dementia. Despite this increase in life span, DS is still most familiar to pediatric care providers, resulting in healthcare …

Utilizing Ai Integrated Neuroimaging Technology To Expand Upon Machine Learning In Positron Emission Tomography Technology With The Aim Of Detecting Amyloid Beta Biomarkers Early In The Onset Of Alzheimer's., Ethan S. Terman

Undergraduate Research Posters

Early intervention in Alzheimer's is vital for treatment. The earlier a professional can detect symptoms and make a diagnosis the earlier a prognosis can be implemented. With the prevalence of data in our day-to-day world combined with Artificial intelligence (AI), utilizing both for machine learning can pave the way for more accurate and efficient detection of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. AI combined with Machine learning (ML) increases diagnostic efficiency and reduces human errors, making it a valuable resource for physicians and clinicians alike. With the increasing amount of data processing and image interpretation required, the ability to use AI …

Detecting Cognitive Decline In High-Functioning Older Adults: The Relationship Between Subjective Cognitive Concerns, Frequency Of High Neuropsychological Test Scores, And The Frontoparietal Control Network, Justin E. Karr, Jonathan G. Hakun, Daniel B. Elbich, Cristina N. Pinheiro, Frederick A. Schmitt

Neurology Faculty Publications

Objective: Neuropsychologists have difficulty detecting cognitive decline in high-functioning older adults because greater neurological change must occur before cognitive performances are low enough to indicate decline or impairment. For high-functioning older adults, early neurological changes may correspond with subjective cognitive concerns and an absence of high scores. This study compared high- functioning older adults with and without subjective cognitive concerns, hypothesizing those with cognitive concerns would have fewer high scores on neuropsychological testing and lower frontoparietal network volume, thickness, and connectivity.

Method: Participants had high estimated premorbid functioning (e.g., estimated intelligence ≥75th percentile or college-educated) and were divided based on …

The Menstrual Cycle In Psychotherapy: Interventions, Therapist Engagement, And Blind Spots, Rozita Alaluf

Dissertations and Theses

There is a dearth of literature on psychotherapy and menstruation, except for the treatment and diagnosis of issues associated with premenstrual distress. This study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the frequency and context of discussions about the menstrual cycle, the factors influencing therapists’ engagement with this topic, and the therapeutic approaches utilized to address the menstrual cycle within psychotherapy.

In phase 1, 118 psychotherapists from various theoretical backgrounds completed a survey on menstruation in clinical practice. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. In phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 psychotherapists, primarily identifying their theoretical orientation …

Racial Disparities In Plea Bargaining: An Examination Of Coercive Dynamics In The Negotiation Process, Naszya Iman Heidi Bradshaw

Scripps Senior Theses

This research addresses the enduring concerns about the ethical and legal intricacies of coercion in plea bargaining within the U.S. criminal justice system, with a focus on its correlation with racial disparities. This study acknowledges an existing research gap in comprehending the subtle dynamics of coercion and its differential impact on Black and Latin individuals. By employing the Cumulative Disadvantage Theory and Dual Processing Theory, the research aims to investigate the differential susceptibility to coercion during plea bargaining among individuals from Black and Latin communities compared to their white counterparts. Variables such as the severity of criminal charges, the quality …

Creation Of A Survey And Study On Sleep Habits Of College Students, Sierra Stein

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Sleep is extremely important in all aspects of life. From the time someone is born to the time they pass they need sleep. It is crucial for their abilities to function and live their day to day lives. However, in different parts of life sleep is more crucial than ever. Young adults/college age students are one of those groups who need sleep but tend to pass up on adequate sleep. Throughout this, there will be the detailed importance of sleep and one way in which sleep can be studied in correlation to academics, physical health, eating habits, mental health and …

An Examination Of Coping Resources And Strategies Among Appalachian Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Adults And Youth, Zachary Ramsey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background. The body of literature shows that TGNC adults and youth face a multitude of health disparities (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, body dysmorphia) due to their marginalization. Neither Meyer’s Minority Stress Model nor Testa’s Gender Minority Stress and Resilience Model sufficiently examines coping and the ways it interacts with other concepts within the model. Aims. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the coping resources and strategies of Appalachian transgender and gender nonconforming individuals. The three aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate the relationship of coping resources and strategies between TGNC Youth and cisgender …

Associations Between Positive Affect And Physical Activity From Young Adulthood To Midlife: A 25-Year Prospective Study, Farah Qureshi, Laura D. Kubzansky, Ying Chen, Jackie Soo, Eric S. Kim, Donald Lloyd-Jones, Julia K. Boehm

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: Positive affect may influence health by promoting physical activity, but evidence evaluating this association is mostly cross-sectional and cannot discern directionality. This study used a counterfactual-based framework to estimate the causal effect of positive affect on physical activity patterns over 25 years, accounting for potential reverse associations. Method: Data were from 3,352 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. Repeated assessments of positive affect and physical activity were collected from 1990 to 2016. Longitudinal associations were evaluated in two ways: (a) using baseline positive affect in traditional linear mixed models that accounted for reverse causal …

The Effect Of Presenting Concerns On Providers’ Assessment Of Patients' Suicide Risk, Alexandria Brunkow

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Objective: Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the U.S. with nearly 50,000 people per year dying by suicide. Public health approaches to suicide prevention focus on screening people in primary and mental health care settings and offering treatment to those who screen positive. Research shows that mental health providers may not recognize risk factors for suicide and miss opportunities to screen patients who may be at risk. Providers’ mental representations of suicide risk may be influencing their perception of patient risk and contributing to low screening rates. This study used an experimental vignette case design to …

From Suicidal Ideation To Suicide Attempt: Clarifying The Role Of Painful And Provocative Events, Mallory Stephenson

Theses and Dissertations

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide hypothesizes that capability for suicide is acquired in part through exposure to physically painful and/or fear-inducing experiences, referred to as painful and provocative events (PPEs). Studies of PPE exposure offer an opportunity to characterize potential targets for suicide prevention and inform efforts to identify individuals at elevated suicide risk. However, the literature on PPE exposure and risk for suicidality has been limited by a reliance on cross-sectional designs, lack of genetically informed research, inclusion of risk-taking behaviors as potential PPEs, and focus on risk over resilience. In this dissertation, we aimed to address these knowledge …

Childhood Unpredictability Is Associated With Increased Risk For Long- And Short-Term Depression And Anhedonia Symptoms Following Combat Deployment, Christopher Hunt, Meghan Vinograd, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis, Tallie Z. Baram, Hal S. Stern, Caroline M. Nievergelt, Bruna Cuccurazzu, Cindy Napan, Dylan Delmar, Dewleen G. Baker, Victoria B. Risbrough

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

High unpredictability has emerged as a dimension of early-life adversity that may contribute to a host of deleterious consequences later in life. Early-life unpredictability affects development of limbic and reward circuits in both rodents and humans, with a potential to increase sensitivity to stressors and mood symptoms later in life. Here, we examined the extent to which unpredictability during childhood was associated with changes in mood symptoms (anhedonia and general depression) after two adult life stressors, combat deployment and civilian reintegration, which were assessed ten years apart. We also examined how perceived stress and social support mediated and /or moderated …

Artistic Workshops With Patients Of A Psychiatric Day Hospital In France, Ivan Magrin-Chagnolleau

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

This article delineates a study conducted within a psychiatric day hospital in France, adhering to the principles of institutional psychotherapy and therapeutic clubs that originated from the anti-psychiatric movement of the 1970s. The study specifically explores two activities within this framework: a music club and a video club. The primary objective of each club was to establish activities involving both the patients and the care staff to dissolve the boundaries between them. Additionally, these activities aimed to engage both patients and care staff in the conceptualization and execution processes, thereby fostering a collaborative approach within the psychiatric care setting.

In The Words Of Early Adolescents: A Novel Assessment Of Positive Psychological Well-Being Predicts Young Adult Depressive Symptoms, Julia K. Boehm, Farah Qureshi, Laura D. Kubzansky

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Methods

Cm-Ii Meditation As An Intervention To Reduce Stress And Improve Attention: A Study Of Ml Detection, Spectral Analysis, And Hrv Metrics, Sreekanth Gopi

Master of Science in Computer Science Theses

Students frequently face heightened stress due to academic and social pressures, particularly in de- manding fields like computer science and engineering. These challenges are often associated with serious mental health issues, including ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and an increased risk of suicide. The average student attention span has notably decreased from 21⁄2 minutes to just 47 seconds, and now it typically takes about 25 minutes to switch attention to a new task (Mark, 2023). Research findings suggest that over 95% of individuals who die by suicide have been diagnosed with depression (Shahtahmasebi, 2013), and almost 20% of students …

‘Things That You Can’T Really Suppress’: Adverse Childhood Experiences In The Narratives Of People With Opioid Use Disorder, Sydney Silverstein, Josef Rivera, Danielle Gainer, Raminta Daniulaityte

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

While numerous studies have established relationships between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and adult substance use, few qualitative studies have explored the differing ways in which experiences of childhood adversity are emplotted into narratives of drug use and recovery. This paper analyzes qualitative data collected as part of a mixed-methods longitudinal study of people with opioid use disorder. Narratives of adverse childhood experiences emerged unprompted. After coding qualitative data for mention of ACEs, we thematically analyzed coded data using a framework of critical phenomenology and constructed a four-part typology to differentiate the ways that ACEs were emplotted into narratives. Our …

Importance Of Geriatrics In Psychiatric Postgraduate Education, Dr Anand R, Dr Kishor M, Dr Murali M R

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction

To assess the importance of Geriatrics in Psychiatric postgraduate education

Methodology

Marks allotted in question papers from Geriatrics in Psychiatry postgraduate examination from a university for a 5-year period was evaluated.

Discussion

1-6% of entire theory evaluation was related to Geriatric mental health topics predominantly on dementia and related disorders.

Covid‑19‑Related Risk, Resilience, And Mental Health Among Mexican American Mothers Across The First Year Of The Pandemic, Amy L. Non, Elizabeth S. Clausing, Sandraluz Lara‑Cinisomo, Kimberly L. D’Anna Hernandez

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Background Latina mothers have been especially affected by the pandemic and historically exhibit high rates of depression and anxiety. However, few longitudinal studies have assessed the effect of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. We hypothesized that COVID-19-related stressors would associate with psychological distress among Latina mothers across the first year of the pandemic.

Methods We investigated COVID-19-related impact, stigma, and fears across two critical time points and changes in these measures in relation to changes in maternal anxiety and depression among mothers of Mexican descent living in Southern California (n=152). Surveys were administered within 5–16 weeks of …

Reduced Grey Matter Volume In Adolescents With Conduct Disorder: A Region‑Of‑Interest Analysis Using Multivariate Generalized Linear Modeling, Ru Zhang, Robert James R. Blair, Karina S. Blair, Matthew Dobbertin, Jaimie Elowsky, Johannah Bashford‑Largo, Ahria J. Dominguez, Melissa Hatch, Sahil Bajaj

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Background

Conduct disorder (CD) involves a group of behavioral and emotional problems that usually begins during childhood or adolescence. Structural brain alterations have been observed in CD, including the amygdala, insula, ventrolateral and medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and fusiform gyrus. The current study developed a multivariate generalized linear model (GLM) to differentiate adolescents with CD from typically developing (TD) adolescents in terms of grey matter volume (GMV).

Methods

The whole‐brain structural MRI data were collected from 96 adolescents with CD (mean age = 16.188 ± 1.259 years; mean IQ = 104.292 ± 8.107 ; 63 males) and 90 …

Specialized Late Cingulo-Opercular Network Activation Elucidates The Mechanisms Underlying Decisions About Ambiguity, Jordan E. Pierce, Nathan M. Petro, Elizabeth Clancy, Caterina Gratton, Steven E. Petersen, Maital Neta

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Cortical task control networks, including the cingulo-opercular (CO) network play a key role in decision-making across a variety of functional domains. In particular, the CO network functions in a performance reporting capacity that supports successful task performance, especially in response to errors and ambiguity. In two studies testing the contribution of the CO network to ambiguity processing, we presented a valence bias task in which masked clearly and ambiguously valenced emotional expressions were slowly revealed over several seconds. This slow reveal task design provides a window into the decision-making mechanisms as they unfold over the course of a trial. In …

One Size Doesn’T Fit All: Attitudes Towards Work Modify The Relation Between Parental Leave Length And Postpartum Depression, Christine Y. Chang, Sabrina R. Liu, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental leave length and maternal depressive symptoms at six- and twelve-months postpartum and whether this relation was influenced by women’s attitudes towards leave, whether leave was paid or unpaid, and the reason they returned to work. The sample included 115 working women recruited during pregnancy as part of a larger longitudinal study. Analyses revealed that maternal attitudes toward leave influenced the association between leave length and depressive symptoms. Specifically, longer leaves were associated with increased depressive symptoms for women who missed their previous activities at work. Furthermore, women who missed work …