Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability Among Young Adults At High Or Low Risk For Depression, Balázs Bence Nyárády, Miklós Vértes, Edit Dósa, Xiao Yang, Charles J. George, Enikõ Kiss, Iidiko Baji, Krisztina Kapornai, Maria Kovacs

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Depression has been shown to have adverse effects on blood pressure (BP) and is associated with high blood pressure variability (BPV). In turn, high short-term BPV has been related to eventual cardiovascular risk. But it is not clear how early in adulthood the detrimental effects of depression on BPV may be discerned, if being at high risk for depression also compromises BPV, and whether the clinical features of depression moderate its adverse effects. We investigated these three issues among young adults using an office-like setting. Methods: In total, 218 subjects with a history of childhood-onset major depressive episodes (probands), …

Neuroticism Mediates The Association Between Autistic Traits And Choice Reaction Time Among Young Adults, Kassandra De Jesus Cintron, Xiao Yang

Psychology Faculty Publications

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that influences an individual’s cognitive functions and social interaction. While most studies have focused on children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD, elevated levels of autistic traits in subclinical populations may also influence individuals’ daily functioning. Autistic traits are also linked to the Big Five personality. In particular, neuroticism (emotion instability) has been shown to be positively associated with autistic traits, which may contribute to behavioral symptoms of autistic traits. The present study aimed to investigate the association between autistic symptoms and sensorimotor processing among a subclinical population. One hundred young adults (M …

Facilitating Thought Progression To Reduce Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial, Shai-Lee Yatziv, Paola Pedrelli, Shira Baror, Sydney Ann Decaro, Noam Shachar, Bar Sofer, Sunday Hull, Joshua Curtiss, Moshe Bar

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background:

The constant rise in the prevalence of major depressive disorder calls for new, effective, and accessible interventions that can rapidly and effectively reach a wide range of audiences. Recent developments in the digital health domain suggest that dedicated online platforms may potentially address this gap. Focusing on targeting ruminative thought, a major symptomatic hallmark of depression, in this study we hypothesized that delivering a digital health-based intervention designed to systematically facilitate thought progression would substantially alleviate depression.

Objective:

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of a novel digital intervention on the reduction of depressive symptoms. This intervention was …

First Week Out..., Rashad El

Writing Beyond the Prison Living Archive

Poem on Re-entry, Rehabilitation; Drugs; Mental Health; Popular culture (Music); Religion/Morality

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 …

Evaluating The Impact Of Instruction Mode And Experience On Meditation Intentions And Outcomes In Self-Taught Meditators And Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Completers, Leah Howard

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Objectives: The widespread availability of mindfulness-based practices has led to growing concern about the potential for misuse, namely the use of such practices as a control-based strategy rather than in an acceptance-based manner consistent with research. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate factors (e.g., mode of instruction, meditation experience, psychological [in]flexibility [PF/PI]) that may relate to intentions guiding meditation use. Methods: Self-taught (ST) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) meditators (N = 122, Mage = 46.54, SDage = 16.49, 65.6% Female) completed a battery of measures assessing meditation intentions (control- or acceptance-based), meditation experience (in months), PF/PI, psychological distress, …

How The Lockdown Of Covid-19 Influenced The Neurocognitive And Psychosocial Development Of Preschoolers, Kay Picson

Nursing | Senior Theses

COVID-19 caused schools to turn to online learning through platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet. The influence and effects caused by the transition to online lessons and quarantine were seen across all patient populations and demographics, but none more so than preschool children, who are regarded as one of the more vulnerable populations due to their susceptibility to change. This research aims to fill gaps in the existing literature by evaluating the similarities and differences of the neurocognitive and psychosocial development of preschoolers exposed to the pandemic and those who were not. This study involves a comparative cohort approach …

Telehealth: A Rising Intervention For Latina Mothers Experiencing Prenatal And Postpartum Depression, Britney Gutierrez

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is high among Latina women but often goes unrecognized and untreated. Recognition and management of PPD in this population is crucial as PPD contributes to negative health effects on the mother and infant. Purpose: This research aims to look into telehealth to improve screening methods and treatment for Latina mothers through a Spanish mobile health application that will provide screening and education on PPD. Method: This mixed-method quality improvement study will include 300 participants from an OB-GYN and Pediatrics community clinic, > 18 years old, of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, Spanish speaking, currently pregnant, or had a child within …

Identifying Patterns For Neurological Disabilities By Integrating Discrete Wavelet Transform And Visualization, Soo Yeon Ji, Sampath Jayarathna, Anne M. Perrotti, Katrina Kardiasmenos, Dong Hyun Jeong

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Neurological disabilities cause diverse health and mental challenges, impacting quality of life and imposing financial burdens on both the individuals diagnosed with these conditions and their caregivers. Abnormal brain activity, stemming from malfunctions in the human nervous system, characterizes neurological disorders. Therefore, the early identification of these abnormalities is crucial for devising suitable treatments and interventions aimed at promoting and sustaining quality of life. Electroencephalogram (EEG), a non-invasive method for monitoring brain activity, is frequently employed to detect abnormal brain activity in neurological and mental disorders. This study introduces an approach that extends the understanding and identification of neurological disabilities …

Findings Of Ptsd-Specific Deficits In Default Mode Network Strength Following A Mild Experimental Stressor, Christopher L Averill, Lynnette A Averill, Teddy J Akiki, Samar Fouda, John H Krystal, Chadi G Abdallah

Staff and Researcher Publications

Reductions in default mode (DMN) connectivity strength have been reported in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the specificity of DMN connectivity deficits in PTSD compared to major depressive disorder (MDD), and the sensitivity of these alterations to acute stressors are not yet known. 52 participants with a primary diagnosis of PTSD (n = 28) or MDD (n = 24) completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging immediately before and after a mild affective stressor. A 2 × 2 design was conducted to determine the effects of group, stress, and group*stress on DMN connectivity strength. Exploratory analyses were completed to …

The Seroprevalence Of Sars-Cov-2-Specific Antibodies In Australian Children: A Cross-Sectional Study, Archana Koirala, Jocelynne Mcrae, Philip N Britton, Marnie Downes, Shayal A Prasad, Suellen Nicholson, Noni E Winkler, Matthew V N O'Sullivan, Fatima Gondalwala, Cecile Castellano, Emma Carey, Alexandra Hendry, Nigel Crawford, Ushma Wadia, Peter Richmond, Helen S Marshall, Julia E Clark, Joshua R Francis, Jeremy Carr, Adam Bartlett, Brendan Mcmullan, Justin Skowno, Donald Hannah, Andrew Davidson, Britta S Von Ungern-Sternberg, Paul Lee-Archer, Laura L Burgoyne, Edith B Waugh, John B Carlin, Zin Naing, Nicole Kerly, Alissa Mcminn, Guillian Hunter, Christine Heath, Natascha D'Angelo, Carolyn Finucane, Laura A Francis, Sonia Dougherty, William Rawlinson, Theo Karapanagiotidis, Natalie Cain, Rianne Brizuela, Christopher C Blyth, Nicholas Wood, Kristine Macartney

Staff and Researcher Publications

Background: Following reduction of public health and social measures concurrent with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron emergence in late 2021 in Australia, COVID-19 case notification rates rose rapidly. As rates of direct viral testing and reporting dropped, true infection rates were most likely to be underestimated.

Objective: To better understand infection rates and immunity in this population, we aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Australians aged 0-19 years.

Methods: We conducted a national cross sectional serosurvey from June 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022, in children aged 0-19 years undergoing an anesthetic procedure at eight tertiary pediatric hospitals. Participant questionnaires were administered, and …

Towards Objective, Temporally Resolved Neurobehavioral Predictors Of Emotional State, Katherine E Kabotyanski, Han G Yi, Rahul Hingorani, Brian S Robinson, Hannah P Cowley, Matthew S Fifer, Brock A Wester, Bishal Lamichhane, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Anusha B Allawala, Sameer V Rajesh, Nabeel Diab, Raissa K Mathura, Victoria Pirtle, Joshua Adkinson, Andrew J Watrous, Eleonora Bartoli, Jiayang Xiao, Garrett P Banks, Sanjay J Mathew, Wayne K Goodman, Xaq Pitkow, Nader Pouratian, Benjamin Y Hayden, Nicole R Provenza, Sameer A Sheth

Staff and Researcher Publications

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Safety Of Zuranolone Co-Initiated With An Antidepressant In Adults With Major Depressive Disorder: Results From The Phase 3 Coral Study, Sagar V Parikh, Scott T Aaronson, Sanjay J Mathew, Gustavo Alva, Charles Debattista, Stephen Kanes, Robert Lasser, Amy Bullock, Mona Kotecha, Jungah Jung, Fiona Forrestal, Jeff Jonas, Theresa Vera, Bridgette Leclair, James Doherty

Staff and Researcher Publications

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder that can cause disability and functional impairment that standard-of-care (SOC) antidepressant therapies (ADTs) can take weeks to treat. Zuranolone is a neuroactive steroid and positive allosteric modulator of synaptic and extrasynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors approved as an oral, once-daily, 14-day treatment course in adults with postpartum depression and under investigation in adults with MDD. The phase 3 CORAL Study (NCT04476030) evaluated the efficacy and safety of zuranolone 50 mg co-initiated with SOC ADT (zuranolone+ADT) vs placebo co-initiated with SOC ADT (placebo+ADT) in adults with MDD. Patients were randomized …

The Why, When, Where, How, And So What Of So-Called Rapidly Acting Antidepressants, Alan F Schatzberg, Sanjay J Mathew

Staff and Researcher Publications

Developing antidepressants that are not only more effective but are rapidly acting is the Holy Grail for psychiatry. We review multiple issues that arise in determining rapid responses in antidepressant trials. The current status of purportedly rapid acting agents is first reviewed. Then, a number of key questions/issues are addressed: Is there a unifying definition for rapid response across studies? Should rapid response criteria be based on required measurable effects on overall improvement? On specific symptoms such as psychomotor retardation, depressed mood, or anhedonia? In associated symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia? When should onset be considered rapid-by Day 3? …

Psychedelic Trip Sitting, Dosages And Intensities: Supplementing Clinical Studies With Anecdotal Reports, Liam B. Engel, Sascha Thal, Stephen J. Bright, Mitchell Low

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Online communities provide insights into psychedelic consumption, assisting in identification of trends, informing both harm reduction provisions and clinical research. This study extracts forum data on psychedelic substances, dosages, and administration routes, categorising and analysing self-reported consumption to inform care services and guide clinical work with psychedelics. Methods: Posts (n = 660) from online psychedelic forums (The Shroomery and DMT Nexus) on 'trip sitting' were analysed. Using a Delphi-style expert panel review facilitated by LE, we created drug weight and intensity charts (threshold, light, common, strong and heavy dosages) for psychedelics discussed in these posts. The psychedelic …

Nutrition Counseling Practices Among Psychologists, Wibecke Stromsnes

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of treatment guidelines for how to address the impact of nutrition on clients’ mental health. Prior research is limited regarding psychologists’ practices of nutrition counseling and has mostly focused on practices of dieticians and medical doctors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychologists’ beliefs and attitudes about nutrition counseling, amount of training and use of nutrition counseling, self-rated knowledge in the use of nutrition counseling and perceived benefits and barriers to using nutrition counseling. Data was collected using an online survey of 76 licensed psychologists’ training in nutrition and use of nutrition counseling. Findings …

Is The Job Performance Of Tourism Academicians Related To Their Emotional Intelligence?, Leyla Tokgöz, Zennube Işık, Mehmet Fatih Işık

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The aim of the research is to determine whether the job performances of tourism academics in Türkiye are related to emotional intelligence. Further, this research is an endeavor to investigate whether emotional intelligence and job performance differ according to demographic variables. “Job Performance Scale” adapted by Yang and Hwang (2014) was used to measure the job performance of academicians. In addition to that “Rotterdam Emotional Intelligence Scale” developed by Pekaar, Bakker, Linden, and Born (2017) and adapted to Turkish by Tanrıöğen and Türker (2019) was used to measure their emotional intelligence. The research sample consists of academicians working in Tourism …

The Development Of A Scale To Measure The Fear Of Earthquake, Mustafa Filiz, Yusuf Karaşın, Yalçın Karagöz

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study aims to develop a scale to measure the fear level of individuals towards earthquakes. The population of the research consists of individuals who were directly and indirectly affected by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey on 6 February 2023. The sample of the research consists of 357 people who voluntarily participated in the survey. Data were collected through an online survey. Experts’ opinions, literature review and pilot study were utilized in the creation of the scale items. Psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed by test-retest, calculation of internal consistency coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory …

The Mediating Role Of Sense Of Coherence In The Relationship Between Positive Childhood Experiences And Alexithymia, Ummu Erturk Yıldız, İbrahim Taş

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examined the mediating role of the sense of coherence in the relationship between positive childhood experiences and alexithymia. The research was conducted with a total of 507 participants, including 259 women and 248 men aged over 18, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Positive Childhood Experiences Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Sense of Coherence Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25 and the PROCESS macro. The results indicated that positive childhood experiences significantly and positively predicted levels of sense of coherence, while they significantly and negatively predicted alexithymia. …

Adolescent Depression: Implementation Of Annual Screening To Improve Mental Health Referral Rates, Crystal R. Prewitt

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Adolescent depression is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States with an estimated 2.9 million adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years old affected by Major Depressive Disorder annually. Adolescent depression increases the risk of academic difficulties, substance abuse, and suicide. Depression screening in the primary care setting is an effective intervention to identify at-risk youth, but screening rates remain low. Primary care providers fail to identify up to 80% of adolescents with depression symptoms and more than 60% of adolescents do not receive needed mental health services. This DNP project implemented an evidence-based practice change for annual …