Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

The Epidemiology Of Traumatic Event Exposure Worldwide: Results From The World Mental Health Survey Consortium, Corina Benjet, E Bromet, E G. Karam, R C. Kessler, K A. Mclaughlin, A M. Ruscio, V Shahly, D J. Stein, M Petukhova, E Hill, J Alonso, Lukoye Atwoli, B Bunting, R Bruffaerts, J M. Caldas-De-Almeida

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Considerable research has documented that exposure to traumatic events has negative effects on physical and mental health. Much less research has examined the predictors of traumatic event exposure. Increased understanding of risk factors for exposure to traumatic events could be of considerable value in targeting preventive interventions and anticipating service needs.

Method: General population surveys in 24 countries with a combined sample of 68 894 adult respondents across six continents assessed exposure to 29 traumatic event types. Differences in prevalence were examined with cross-tabulations. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether traumatic event types clustered into interpretable factors. …

Using A “Messy” Problem As A Departmental Assessment Of Undergraduates' Ability To Think Like Psychologists, Patricia Marten Dibartolo, Lauren E. Duncan, Minh Ly, Alan N. Rudnitsky

Psychology: Faculty Publications

This paper presents a case study of faculty in a psychology department whose shared questions about pedagogy and learning informed a data-driven curricular review and revision using an open-ended assessment that privileged deep learning. This paper describes the development of this assessment and how its results across the arc of the major led to a revision of the department’s curriculum, including the creation of new courses that focused on developing students’ abilities to ‘think like psychologists.’ The study indicates that faculty intuitions of potential problems in student learning can be successfully assessed and then addressed through curricular changes.

Hoarding Among Outpatients Seeking Treatment At A Psychiatric Hospital In Singapore, Clarissa Ong, Vathsala Sagayadevan, Siau Pheng Lee, Rebecca Ong, Siow Ann Chong, Randy O. Frost, Mythily Subramaniam

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Hoarding symptoms commonly co-occur with other psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder, and have been observed across cultures. Yet, few studies have examined hoarding in other disorders or in an Asian context. The present study aimed to determine: (1) the prevalence of clinically significant hoarding, (2) differences between participants with and without significant hoarding, and (3) predictors of hoarding severity in a Singaporean clinical sample. Five hundred outpatients with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and pathological gambling completed a battery of questionnaires on hoarding, anxiety, depression, functional impairment due to clutter, and quality of life. Thirty percent of our …

Objectification In Action: Self- And Other-Objectification In Mixed-Sex Interpersonal Interactions, Randi L. Garcia, Valerie A. Earnshaw, Diane M. Quinn

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although the process of sexual objectification is theorized to occur within interpersonal interactions, we believe this is the first study to examine sexual objectification and self-objectification in actual (nonconfederate) interpersonal encounters. Men and women were brought into the laboratory and interacted in mixed-sex dyads. We used dyadic analysis to detect whether partners’ objectification of each other affected state self-objectification, and the resulting feelings of comfort and authenticity during the interaction. After the interaction, participants completed a cognitive performance task, a measure of career aspirations, and a measure of relationship agency. Results showed that for women only, being objectified by their …

Examining The Impact Of Comorbid Serious Mental Illness On Rehospitalization Among Medical And Surgical Inpatients, Nancy P. Hanrahan, Sara Bressi, Steven C. Marcus, Phyllis Solomon

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

Multiple barriers to quality health care may affect the outcomes of postacute treatment for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). This study examined rehospitalization for medical and surgical inpatients with and without a comorbid diagnosis of SMI which included psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder and major depression

Relation Between Harsh Parenting Exposure In Childhood And Adult Externalizing Symptoms : Moderating Role Of The Autonomic Nervous System, Samantha Aldea Barry

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Though literature suggests that many individuals with childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) report having symptoms of the respective disorder as adults, little is known about potential predictors of adulthood externalizing symptoms. The proposed study examines the impact of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), as measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), as measured by skin conductance levels (SCL), on the link between harsh parenting experienced during childhood and ADHD and ODD symptoms during young adulthood. Results yielded a significant two-way interaction between harsh parenting and resting RSA, which significantly accounted for …

Exposure To Interparental Aggression During Youth And Internalizing Psychopathology In Adulthood : The Moderating Role Of The Autonomic Nervous System, Alison J. Rivers

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The present study examines the impact of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, and skin conductance level (SCL), an indicator of sympathetic nervous systems (SNS) activity, on the relationship between interparental aggression exposure in childhood and adolescence and internalizing psychopathology (anxiety, depression symptoms, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) in young adulthood. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding youth interparental aggression exposure and current young adult psychopathology. Participants included 188 adults (mean age = 19.45 years old; 72% Caucasian/white; 55% female). Results demonstrate that co-activation of the PNS and SNS in the context of high interparental …

Re: "Job Strain And The Cortisol Diurnal Cycle In Mesa: Accounting For Between- And Within-Day Variability, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Renzo Bianchi

Publications and Research

Rudolph et al. (2016) examined the association between job strain and cortisol profile. Several potential confounders were considered, including sociodemographic characteristics, income-wealth index, financial strain, physical health, physical activity, and medication use. No relationship between job strain and the cortisol awakening response was observed. We have 4 comments on the methods used in the study. First, although the authors related the modifications in cortisol profiles to job strain, they did not assess and statistically control for a number of nonoccupational strain factors (e.g., family- or couple-related chronic stress). Second, depressive symptoms and disorders were not considered in the study. Depression …

Borderline Personality Traits Predict Poorer Functioning During Partial Hospitalization: The Mediating Role Of Depressive Symptomatology, Stephanie Jarvi Steele

Psychology: Faculty Publications

A number of factors contribute to the difficulty providers experience in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD). One complicating factor for treatment effectiveness is the presence of comorbid affective psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety). Participants were 176 adults (60% female; Mage=32.20) in a partial hospital program. Using a mediation model, the current study examined the relationship among traits of BPD, affective symptomatology, and general functioning post-treatment. Additional analyses explored whether change in the perception of therapeutic skill implementation moderated the relationship among traits of BPD, affective symptomatology, and general functioning. Little improvement/worsening of depression during partial hospitalization, but not changes in anxiety, …

Is Hypnotherapy An Effective Treatment In Smoking Cessation In Comparison To Alternative Methods?, Dana Luciano

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not hypnotherapy is an effective treatment in smoking cessation in comparison to alternative methods?

Study Design: Systematic review of 3 English language primary studies, published between 2013-2014.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published on/after 2013 comparing the use of hypnotherapy to alternative methods in the treatment of smoking cessation. The other methods include nicotine replacement therapy, relaxation therapy and single versus group hypnotherapy and were obtained using the Cochrane Library and PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: The outcome of each study measured the effects of hypnotherapy by …

Speaking Through The Silence: Narratives, Interaction, And The Social Construction Of Sexual Selves, David Wayne Wahl

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to study the construction of sexual selves. The research entails understanding how sexual selves emerge, develop, alter, sustain, transform or deconstruct. In all cases of sexuality, sex is something we, as active agents, do. It is for this reason that I adhere, in this work and otherwise, to the tenets of symbolic interactionism as this activity involves; (1) active agents who are composed of many different categorizations of selves including sexual selves, (2) the reflexive nature between the individual and the social realm wherein sexuality, in causal terms, takes the position of a dependent …

Challenging Psychology: Reflecting On Riley's 'Manifesto For Change', D Darlaston-Jones

Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This paper reflects on the personal and professional implications for the colonization project of psychology critiqued by Rob Riley’s seminal address at the 1995 Australian Psychological Society conference.

Social Problems, Biomedical Answers? How Causes Of Social Problems Affect Choice Of Solutions, Bianca C. Dreyer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

With rapid advances in behavioural genetics, scientists are identifying an increasing array of genetic influences on human behaviour. Public misconceptions about the function of genes often lead to the oversimplification of the role of genes in behaviour (Dar-Nimrod & Heine, 2011). To date, no study has systematically investigated whether simply learning about genetic causes of behaviour affects people’s preferred solutions to problematic behaviours. The present research program includes three studies that were designed to examine the psychological effects of exposure to genetic etiology for problematic behaviour, in particular aggression, and investigated how this information influences endorsement of solutions, rating of …

Perceived Threat Associated With Police Officers And Black Men Predicts Support For Policing Policy Reform, Allison L. Skinner, Ingrid J. Haas

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Racial disparities in policing and recent high-profile incidents resulting in the deaths of Black men have ignited a national debate on policing policies. Given evidence that both police officers and Black men may be associated with threat, we examined the impact of perceived threat on support for reformed policing policies. Across three studies we found correlational evidence that perceiving police officers as threatening predicts increased support for reformed policing practices (e.g., limiting the use of lethal force and matching police force demographics to those of the community). In contrast, perceiving Black men as threatening predicted reduced support for policing policy …

Relationship Of Autonomy Social Support To Quitting Motivation In Diverse Smokers., Christi A. Patten, Kathy Goggin, Kari Jo Harris, Kimber Richter, Karen Williams, Paul A. Decker, Andrea Bradley-Ewing, Delwyn Catley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Research examining relationships between social support and smoking cessation has paid little attention to non-treatment seeking smokers and not considered the role of autonomy support for fostering quitting motivation. This study examined if autonomy support received from family and friends was associated with quitting motivation and making a quit attempt among diverse smokers with varying levels of quitting motivation. Demographic characteristics associated with autonomy support were explored.

METHODS: Participants (N=312) responded to advertisements seeking smokers "not quite ready to quit," and were primarily Black, low-income, and unemployed. Most (255) enrolled in a clinical trial of smoking cessation induction strategies …

Two Sudden And Unexpected Deaths Of Patients With Schizophrenia Associated With Intramuscular Injections Of Antipsychotics And Practice Guidelines To Limit The Use Of High Doses Of Intramuscular Antipsychotics, Nasratullah Wahidi, Katie M. Johnson, Allen Brenzel, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

Intravenous haloperidol has been associated with torsades de pointes (TdP). These two sudden deaths were probable adverse drug reactions (ADRs) following intramuscular (IM) antipsychotics. The autopsies described lack of heart pathology and were highly compatible with the possibility of TdP in the absence of risk factors other than the accumulation of antipsychotics with a high serum peak after the last injection, leading to death within hours. The first case was a 27-year-old African-American male with schizophrenia but no medical issues. His death was probably caused by repeated IM haloperidol injections of 10 mg (totaling 35 mg in 2 days). The …

The Effects Of A Trauma-Informed Care Training Program On Mental Health Professionals Knowledge, Skills, And Attitudes With The Smi, Angelina Pelletier

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Trauma has been found to be highly prevalent among individuals diagnosed with SMIs. Mental health professionals have been reported to misdiagnose or avoid addressing trauma in this population. There is a need to provide information about trauma and to foster awareness among mental health professionals who are treating individuals diagnosed with SMIs. With a TIC approach, operating from a recovery-oriented philosophy, there have been interventions created to address trauma and SMIs with the aim of developing awareness about trauma and the impact it may have on someone’s life. With these factors in mind, mental health professionals should be competent in …

Embodied Creative Arts Therapy Interventions With Trauma: A Qualitative Study, Brian Timothy Harris

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

With the primary purpose to extend therapists’ knowledge base, open dialogue on treatment efficacy, and stimulate creative yet effective interventions, this two-phase qualitative study pursued the guiding research question, How do creative arts therapists use embodied interventions in the treatment of psychological trauma? Phase One of the study was conducted with music therapists who had extensive experience with trauma and reported on their experiences with and awareness of embodied trauma treatment through a broad spectrum of creative modalities. Phase Two was grounded in theories of body awareness and creative arts therapy applications and included therapists specializing in music, dance/movement, art, …

Developing A Dance/Movement Therapy Approach To Qualitatively Analyzing Interview Data, Tomoyo Kawano

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a model for an embodied-artistic approach to analyzing interview data that could contribute to an enhanced narrative account and/or offer an alternate perspective. A new model was formulated by adapting and/or critically applying a combination of previously developed analytical frameworks. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) skills that encompass ways of listening through an embodied, empathic, aesthetic manner; and a movement observation and assessment tool, Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) were at the core of this explicatory process. The researcher’s movement preferences were identified in the preparatory phase with a certified movement analyst (CMA) as a …

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …