Master of Arts / Department of English / Elizabeth C. Dodd / At the age of 12, I developed a condition that caused me to hyperventilate, black out, and on occasion, experience horrific visions. Though the visions were sparse at first, they quickly increased in number as weeks progressed. In the eighth grade, they became a daily occurrence. Though at the time I knew there was something wrong with me, I had no idea what was causing my symptoms. Because the episodes caused many inconveniences and embarrassments, I withdrew from social activities and stopped attending school altogether. Believing that my problems were the result of a physical illness, my parents had my blood tested for diseases such as mononucleosis. I also underwent an MRI, which checked for any tumors or abnormalities in my brain. When all of my tests came back negative, I was referred to a psychiatrist. I told the psychiatrist about my inclination to avoid social activities, but refrained from telling her about the hallucinations. Despite my withheld information, she determined I had an extreme case of clinical depression and agoraphobia. Though I was comforted by the notion that I had been granted a diagnosis, I still found it impossible to leave my bedroom without having the strange episodes. As my symptoms of depression increased, my interest in living decreased. But with the help of family and close friends, I was able to persevere and accept my circumstances despite the discomfort they created in my world.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Briana S. Goff / The purpose of this study was to review state disaster mental health response plans and actual disaster mental health responses to examine not only adherence to identified disaster mental health best practices, but also to highlight procedures being performed during deployment of disaster mental health response teams. This research study was developed to gain a thorough understanding of disaster mental health response in both the planning and implementation phases. Interviews with three state disaster mental health officials were completed and a review of each state’s disaster mental health state plan was completed. The study investigated the conclusiveness of state plans and their adherence to published best practices in three post 9/11 disasters: 2005 Hurricane Katrina response in Mississippi; 2007 Greensburg, Kansas tornado; and 2008 Indiana flooding. A phenomenological approach was used to identify themes in disaster mental health response that should be considered for future disaster mental health planning. Each state’s disaster mental health plan varied in compliance to identified best practices; however, it was noted that all states were more compliant to best practices in their response than in the written state disaster mental health state plan. Several themes for disaster mental health responses were identified that were not previously fully addressed in the published best practices. Such themes addressed issues in disaster mental health teams and training, local disaster mental health response, communication, research and data collection, relationships with external organizations, and long-term recovery. This research may serve as a guide for those developing disaster mental health plans and encourage further considerations in disaster mental health response.

Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Candyce S. Russell / As the number of Americans aged 60 and over increases substantially in the coming years, so is the incidence of depression among this age group. The purpose of this report is to explore the mental health needs of older Americans, the ways in which they are undiagnosed or under-diagnosed for depression, the clinical challenges associated with treating depression in the elderly, and the barriers that are in place due to social, psychological, financial and governmental factors. With the “Baby Boom” generation (those born between 1946-1964) entering their senior years, there will be an increased need for Marriage and Family Therapists to be cognizant of the rise in depression and familiar with the treatment options and limitations. Marriage and Family Therapists adhere to the Systems Theory and thus are uniquely qualified to act as a bridge between the medical and mental health communities. This report will promote the collaborative approach to healthcare and the way in which Marriage and Family Therapists can contribute to the treatment of depression in the aged.

<p> This is a history between 1960 and 2000 of asylums operated in the United States for children labeled as &ldquo;severely or profoundly mentally retarded,&rdquo; and &ldquo;emotionally and behaviorally disturbed.&rdquo; I use one primary case study of the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York. Willowbrook has already received some focus in the works of David and Shelia Rothman as well as Drs. David Goode, Darryl Hill, and William Bronston, and Geraldo Rivera&rsquo;s newscast in 1972. Primary focus has been given to it because it is both unique and indicative of asylums across the U.S. during the mid 20th Century. It was unique in some of the severity of treatment, which its residents experienced, but overall mirrors national trends in brutal and neglectful living conditions. It also signals larger national trends in the mid to late 70s, which carry over into the 80s and early 90s as part of the deinstitutionalization movement. I find that this movement was largely a response to the conditions for which Willowbrook became a national symbol. Furthermore, even in the wake of the deinstitutionalization movement, there are many problems with federal and state policy that disproportionately disaffect people of color as well as poor people. Finally, I argue that the historical canon must expand somewhat to take into account Deleuze and Guattari&rsquo;s ideas about Societies of Control. Many scholars, such as the Rothman, Tonya Titchkosky, Kim E. Nielsen, and others base their work on the Foucault&rsquo;s notion of a &lsquo;disciplinary&rsquo; society. But Deleuze (sometimes with Guattari) offers a sympathetic critique of Foucault&rsquo;s understanding of discipline that adds a great deal of depth to the study of asylums and deinstitutionalization in the mid to late 20th Century.</p>

The purpose of this study was to revise and expand the Managing Unpredictability Scale (MUS). The sample consisted of 225 heart transplant patients, 73.7% of the total in the primary study. An exploratory design was used to content analyze the qualitative data obtained from one open ended statement on the last page of the booklet from the primary study, "Predictors of Quality of Life in Heart Transplantation". Results substantiated the five original dimensions from the Managing Unpredictability Scale. The five dimensions are: Information Seeking, Setting Limits, Reliance on Selected Physicians, Containing Investment, and Markers. A sixth dimension, Creating Challenges, was generated.

The purpose of this study was the production of a handbook on ethics and law for mental health counselors in Arizona. The handbook is the summation of information from: professional literature, state statutes, professional codes of ethics, state agencies, a survey of Arizona counselors, evaluations by practicing counselors and graduate students in counseling, and personal interviews. A survey of Arizona Counselors Association members was conducted by a mailed questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire was to identify and assess typical counseling practices and to determine the perceived usefulness of the proposed handbook. Results of the survey indicate that respondent counselors' typical practices do not vary substantially from one Arizona metropolitan area to the next and that almost all of them would find the handbook useful. Some of the evaluators' suggestions for modifications of the proposed handbook have been incorporated in the version which is Appendix A to this thesis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between non-combat traumatic injury and the occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. The animal model of inescapable shock (IS) provided a physiological rationale for the nursing interventions discussed relative to decreasing the negative impact of a traumatic injury. Traumatically injured subjects (n = 33) completed the Modified Late Effects of Accidental Injury Questionnaire, Part I (MLEAIQ-I) to assess any late negative effects subsequent to the traumatic injury, Part II (MLEAIQ-II) to measure the incidence of symptomatology associated with PTSD, and the Revised Impact of Event Scale (RIES) to measure PTSD symptomatology as defined by intrusion and avoidance experiences. No statistically significant relationships were found between PTSD symptomatology and subject injury severity, length of hospital stay, or subject reported late negative effects from a traumatic injury. However, the level of PTSD symptomatology among the subjects was moderate to high.

The relationship of spiritual perspective, self-transcendence, and philosophical orientation of treatment program to level of depression was the focus of this research study. The research was guided by a lifespan developmental framework of spirituality in which spirituality is regarded as a resource for mental health that can emerge during critical life events such as hospitalization for major depression. Individuals answered questionnaires regarding their perspective on the above variables. Findings revealed that self-transcendence was significantly related to level of depression. No significant relationship between spirituality and level of depression was found when the group was analyzed as a whole; however, when analyzed by treatment group, the Christian treatment group did show a significant negative relationship. Self-transcendence accounted for 58% of the variance in predicting depression in adults hospitalized with major depression. Findings also revealed existing relationships between spirituality and education level, previous psychiatric hospitalizations, and perceived mental and physical health.

Research indicates that at least half of all women substance abusers were abused in childhood and this trauma negatively impacts substance abuse recovery. Professionals in the field agree that substance abuse counselors need to understand trauma, its effects, and treatment in order to work with their female clients. The purpose of this thesis was to develop a handbook to assist substance abuse counselors in private practice in assessing and treating child abuse trauma in women substance abusers. The handbook was developed through the historical research method and the action method of applied research. The handbook outline and completed manuscript were evaluated by substance abuse counselors in private practice with experience counseling trauma survivors. The evaluations indicated the handbook would be useful for substance abuse counselors. Recommendations for changes suggested by the evaluators will be made prior to publication. Implications for further research on women substance abusers and childhood trauma are presented.

This study was designed to examine the relationships between exercising while injured, and variables found to be relevant in the exercise dependence literature. It was also designed to test the utility of the Self-discrepancy model (Higgins, 1989) of motivation, cognition and affect. Twenty-six (N = 26) injured athletes participated. The AIQ was designed for this study to measure involvement with exercise and the nature of the injury. Negative mood was measured by POMS, and self discrepancies were measured by the Selves Questionnaire. Therapists' ratings were included to measure injury rehabilitation behavior. Confirmatory factor analyses and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test hypotheses. The utility of the self-discrepancy model for this sample, was unsupported. Seriousness and persistence with exercise, the recurrence of the injury, and depression due to the injury, were significant predictors of exercising while injured. A power analysis was used to test the probability of significant findings.