Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Exploring The Role Of Yoga In Improving The Quality Of Life Among Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia And Intellectual Disability, Laura Tolbaños-Roche

Journal of Applied Yoga Studies

Background and objectives

There is large evidence of the positive effect of yoga in mental health disorders, mainly anxiety and depression. However, the studies on the role of yoga in schizophrenia and intellectual disability are sparse and inconclusive. The objective of this study is exploring the role of a specific yoga intervention, based on the Gitananda Rishiculture Asthanga Yoga Tradition, in improving the quality of life (QoL) of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and intellectual disability in a mental health institution of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=5) and patients diagnosed with intellectual disability (n=4) …

A Review Of The Association Between Dietary Intake And Brain Iron Levels In Older Adults: Preliminary Findings And Future Directions., Valentinos Zachariou, Christopher E. Bauer, Colleen A. Pappas, Brian T. Gold

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Non-heme iron is essential for critical neuronal functions such as ATP generation, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and myelin formation. However, as non-heme iron accumulates with age, excessive levels can contribute to oxidative stress, potentially disrupting neuronal integrity and contributing to cognitive decline. Despite growing evidence linking high brain iron with poorer cognitive performance, there are currently no proven methods to reduce brain iron accumulation in aging or to protect cognitive function from iron’s negative effects. Recent studies suggest that nutrition may influence brain iron levels, though the evidence remains limited and mixed. Methods: In this review, we explore recent findings, …

Sibling Relationships Through The Lens Of Culture And Inclusion Of Other In The Self, Laura Aguilar

Honors Thesis

Sibling relationships are formative for identity development and well-being. These relationships vary in closeness due to factors such as age, gender, family dynamics, parenting style and cultural context. Existing literature has shown that siblings from interdependent cultures have closer relationships than those from independent cultures. This thesis proposes that sibling relationships can be examined through the lens of the self-expansion model, focusing on the Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) scale. It hypothesizes that those from interdependent cultures will have more inclusion of other in the self than those from independent cultures. Participants from Japan representing the interdependent culture …

The Contributions Of Motor Skill Proficiency To Cognitive And Social Development In Early Childhood, Catherine M. Capio, Norman B. Mendoza, Rachel A. Jones, Rich S.W. Masters, Kerry Lee

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

With limited evidence from intervention studies, causal relationships between motor competence and cognitive and social development have yet to be clearly established. In this research, we investigated whether a targeted training programme to improve fundamental movement skills (i.e., object control, locomotor) in young children would also lead to improvements in the cognitive (i.e., executive function) and social (i.e., socioemotional competence) domains. Using a two-arm group randomised intervention design, 185 children aged 36 to 60 months (mean 47.51, SD 8.11 months) were allocated to a motor skill intervention group or an active control group. The intervention was implemented over one school …

Early Referral For Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy For Treatment Of Trauma-Induced Anxiety And Emotional Distress, Christa Jones

Doctoral Projects

Trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress are significant health concerns affecting millions globally and resulting in significant healthcare burdens. Despite the considerable efforts in addressing problems, most high-risk cases often go unidentified or unaddressed promptly. Besides standard trauma diagnosis, treatment, and management protocols, some patients often require specialized support. Recently, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has emerged as a promising alternative for treating anxiety, trauma, and emotional distress conditions, yet many patients who are at high risk are often not identified early for referral. Additionally, many healthcare facilities, especially those in rural settings, fail to include appropriate screening tools.

This …

Investigating The Effects Of Workload Management Strategies On Nurse Practitioner Burnout And Job Satisfaction, Erica G. Smith

Doctoral Projects

Burnout is a critical issue among psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), worsened by excessive workloads, productivity demands, and the emotional intensity of patient care (Chi et al., 2024). The negative effects of burnout included diminished job satisfaction, reduced quality of care, and increased turnover (Chi et al., 2024). As the demand for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) grew, addressing these challenges was essential for maintaining a sustainable workforce and ensuring quality patient care.

This doctoral project aimed to assess the impact of a workload management strategy on reducing burnout and improving job satisfaction among PMHNPs in a hospital …

Improving Outcomes Of Patients Being Seen In The Emergency Room For Mental Health Crisis, Kimberly Hudson

Doctoral Projects

Mental health is a significant problem, especially in males aged 20 to 50 years old (Omary, 2019). Lack of a primary mental health care provider, lack of proper treatment and follow up appointments for this population, and bottlenecking patients in the emergency room are all factors that contribute to the problem. As a result, these patients experience negative outcomes such as not receiving proper care and/or causing harm to themselves or others. In this doctoral project we will explore the option of patients having better outcomes if seen immediately by a psychiatric health care provider.

Having psychiatric healthcare providers in …

Investigating The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Quality Of Life And Anxiety Levels In College Students, Ope L. Oyeyemi

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Anxiety disorders are becoming more common among college students, seriously affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. This study sought to investigate how current mindfulness practices and willingness to engage in mindfulness relate to psychological outcomes in college students. Participants (N=432) were students ≥ 17 years old recruited from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Analyses compared differences in levels of anxiety, quality of life, depression symptom severity, cognitive dysfunction, and stress based on participant self-reported willingness to engage and current time spent engaging in mindfulness practices. It is expected that students who currently engage in more mindfulness will …

A Machine Learning Approach To Multifactorial Modeling Of Episodic Memory Performance, Evan Fletcher, Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, Emily Hokett, Yi Lor, Umesh Venkatesan, Paola Gilsanz, Rachel Whitmer, Ruijia Chen, Kristen George, Zvinka Zlatar

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive health is influenced by multiple modifiable and non-modifiable lifestyle factors. Machine learning tools offer a promising approach to better understand complex models of cognitive function. We used extreme gradient boosting (XG Boost), an algorithm of decision-tree modeling, to analyze the association between 15 late-life lifestyle and demographic factors with episodic memory performance. METHOD: Our dataset consisted of 2247 participants from the KHANDLE and STAR cohorts. Participants included 841 men and 1406 women, an ethnoracial diversity of 413 Asian, 987 Black, 349 Latinx, and 496 White adults with age range 54-90 (mean = 74). XG Boost models of continuous …

Effect Of Pilot Mental Health On Passenger Willingness To Fly, Isabella L. Deloach, Sara E. Bergamini, Dowon Choi, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study explored how passengers' willingness to fly is affected by the mental health condition of pilots, providing insight into public perception of the mental health condition of pilots. Results showed significant differences between all scenarios except the medication scenario vs. therapy scenario.

Pavlovian Conditioned-Reinforcer Training As A Means Of Reducing Impulsive Choice, Emma Visser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Impulsive choice is associated with a host of human maladaptive behaviors warranting investigations aimed at reducing impulsive choice. Pavlovian conditioning was explored in 22 male Wistar rats. The experimental group was exposed to a stimulus that signaled a large delay-reduction to an food, whereas the control group experienced a stimulus that was controlled by a random schedule that did not predict food. Subsequently, a test of conditioned reinforcement was conducted, indicating a difference in conditioning between groups. Finally, a test of impulsive choice failed to find effects of training on impulsive choice.

The Effects Of Family Dynamics On Relationships, Alexus Nunley

Honor’s College Freeman Research Journal

For my Advanced Statistics class, Professor Floyd assigned us to research and collect data on a topic that we were interested in. Since my goal for my future career is to become a marriage and family therapist, I decided to research if individuals choose their significant other based on their parents. The results of my research led me to wonder about the effects of family dynamics on relationships. Understanding how family dynamics affect relationships matters because it helps explain why individuals choose the partners they do. This research can help reduce relationship departures. Critics argue that family dynamics strongly influence …

The Personality Profile Of Libya’S Muammar Gaddafi, Aubrey Immelman

Psychology Faculty Publications

This research report, prepared for the France 5 television documentary “Le Monde en face: Kadhafi, la folie d’un dictateur,” presents the results of an indirect personality assessment of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi from the conceptual perspective of personologist Theodore Millon.

Domestic Violence And Mental Health In Pregnant Women, Arabella M. Co

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Domestic violence can include verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, which can lead to long-term mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Purpose: This research includes a literature review, as well as a proposed research design to examine the significance of intimate partner violence in relation to mental health by implementing screening methods and interventions. Method: Participants will be recruited from prenatal clinics around the Bay Area. A quantitative, randomized, controlled-trial cohort study will investigate the effectiveness of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS). A screening tool used in determining intimate partner violence within the …

Improving Consistency Of Quality-Of-Life-Assessments In Schizophrenia Patients Through Structured Education For Healthcare Providers, Dorothy Stewart

Doctoral Projects

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating mental disorder that significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). Effective management of schizophrenia requires not only symptom control but also a comprehensive assessment of QoL to guide treatment plans. The Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 (SQLS-R4) is a specialized tool designed to evaluate the unique challenges faced by patients with schizophrenia. However, inconsistencies in the administration and interpretation of the SQLS-R4 by healthcare providers have led to variability in patient care. This doctoral project aimed to address this gap by implementing a structured educational intervention for healthcare providers that focused on …

Predictors Of Mystical Experiences In The Electronic Dance Music Scene, Cody Edward Lesniak

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the nature and frequency of reported mystical experiences within the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene and the roles psychedelic and psychedelic-like substances, set, and setting play in facilitating these experiences. Participants were recruited using posts on a variety of EDM-related Facebook groups (EDM, EDM Universal, EDM Festivals and Raves, etc.) and Reddit threads (bonaroo, electricdaisycarnival, RavesAndRavers, etc.). Participants completed a self-report survey consisting of questions pertaining to their involvement in the EDM scene, motives for attendance at EDM events, motives for drug use, importance of the values of peace, love, unity, and respect (PLUR), the proportion …

Development Of A Multidimensional Index Of Fall Risk For Older Adults: The Cache County Study, Alexandra G. Hammond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

One out of four adults over the age of 65 are estimated to fall each year in the U.S. alone, with that number expected to rise to 52 million falls per year by the year 2030. Improving accuracy for identification of older adults at a higher risk of falling is increasingly important and may be integral in informing the distribution of limited resources and assist in preventing falls in older adults. This project examined the relationship between previously identified risk factors and fall risk to create multidimensional fall risk indexes for older adults, specific for each sex.

Factors best associated …

The Life And Discoveries Of Yellapragada Subbarow, Nikhil R, Varuni Pragya, Subramanian Ramaswamy, Shiva Prasad B N, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Dr. Yellapragada Subbarow was a researcher, teacher, and a wizard of wonder drugs who constantly made efforts in the discoveries/ inventions such as vitamins, anti-vitamins, antibiotics, and many more by disentangling the mysteries of nature for the betterment of the people. He inspired the youngsters to take up the challenges and to stand up above mediocrity. The reward for his achievement was delayed. The article describes a true humanist's journey, discoveries, and his achievements that are largely unknown to date.

Comprehensive Community Medicine, Alexander Walther

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Comprehensive Community Medicine (CCM) is a theoretical framework designed to address the complex needs of individuals with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance use disorders (SUDs). Dual diagnosis is highly prevalent, particularly among populations experiencing homelessness, and is associated with poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare service utilization. Structural inequities, including a fractured healthcare system, exacerbate the challenges faced by this vulnerable group. Research indicates that effective care for dually diagnosed individuals requires a layered approach addressing clinical, systemic, legal, and housing barriers.

The development of CCM has been informed by interviews with local stakeholders, including County EMS board …

Bridging The Gap: Fostering Open Dialogue On Resource Access And Service Needs, Cameron Castillo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project investigates whether there are additional resources desired by clients or are needed to better support said clients in their recovery at the Interim, Inc. organization. This agency is a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to build community connections through providing services to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. While there is a wide range of programs available, there may still be clients with unmet needs. The purpose of this project was to identify any service gaps by conducting separate surveys of clients and staff members. Through the use of open-ended questions, the expectation of receiving …