First offering insight into the disease of sexual addiction overall and what, in fact, does delineate it from sexual promiscuity, this paper will go on to seek ways to mitigate such behavior by exploring not only symptoms, but the existing underlying issues as well through a yogic whole-body perspective. Furthermore, diving deeper into such an application, specifically under the context of the yamas and niyamas and investigating how both might, not only serve as therapeutic tools for sex addicts, but perhaps allow for a healthier approach overall to sex in the modern world. First offering insight into the disease of sexual addiction overall and what, in fact, does delineate it from sexual promiscuity, this paper will go on to seek ways to mitigate such behavior by exploring not only symptoms, but the existing underlying issues as well through a yogic whole-body perspective. Furthermore, diving deeper into such an application, specifically under the context of the yamas and niyamas and investigating how both might, not only serve as therapeutic tools for sex addicts, but perhaps allow for a healthier approach overall to sex in the modern world.

This paper presents an unconventional approach to the existential crisis according to the transpersonal psychology of the eleventh century text, Yogavāsiṣṭha. An existential crisis is a general term used to signify a subjective experience of emotional distress as it relates to certain objective realities of human existence. This paper builds off key concepts (“givens”) from the field of existential psychotherapy, including death, isolation, freedom, and meaninglessness, provided by psychoanalyst Irvin D. Yalom, illuminating how the crisis is addressed in contemporary psychotherapeutic settings. Brief attention is given to the Western academic roots of existential psychotherapy, including areas of continental philosophy and humanistic psychology; this reveals a stark implication regarding general Western approaches: alleviation of the existential crisis requires a humanistic intervention, the individualist pursuit toward self-identity. Although this addresses the significance of human will and agency, it fails to take into consideration existence as a complex whole, suggesting a dualistic understanding of what it means to be in the world—the self in contrast to other living beings, the universe, the cosmos. This thesis proposes to expand the humanistic approach, responding to the existential crisis through the transpersonal Yoga of the Yogavāsiṣṭha, whose captivating mythological-like stories illustrate overcoming crises of human existence through a nondual, mind-only philosophy, emphasizing the importance of cultivating nonattachment, effort, and creativity to live a life of selfless action. Four narratives are explicated as well as the transpersonal techniques used to overcome the internal conflict perpetuated by Yalom’s “givens” of existence. By working with dreams, inquiring into reincarnation, contemplating on the five great elements, and expressing narrative, realization of Self-identity (with a capital ‘S’) removes the veil of ignorance overshadowing perception of an existential crisis, thus elucidating a visionary metamorphosis.

Introduction The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic including stay at home restrictions, school closures, economic decline, and societal distress has affected pediatric mental health in ways studies have yet to discover. There are more children presenting with mental health issues compared to pre-pandemic times. Multiple factors have shown to contribute to the lack of quality care for children experiencing mental health crises in this ongoing pandemic. Purpose Statement The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the frequency of mental health related presentations to the pediatric emergency department, subsequently resulting in increased delay in transition to inpatient psychiatric treatment Literature Review The data base used was Sherrod Library. Key words were pediatric, mental health, pediatric emergency, behavioral health, COVID-19, and pandemic. The studies found hold strong in their sample sizes and methods, although certain age groups were excluded from the research. Findings Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, there was an evident rise in pediatric emergency department visits for mental health related issues. As a result of increased patient presentations, limited resources, and staffing shortages - patients in need of psychiatric care have been less likely to receive it, and more likely to experience boarding. Conclusions Pediatric mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a need for new interventions and resources to achieve better patient outcomes. The issues discussed in this paper are prevalent in pediatric hospitals across the country. The repercussions of COVID-19 on pediatric patients are not fully understood or researched at this time.

Introduction and Background: Solitary confinement has been a controversial topic in recent years among jail and prison systems. Solitary Confinement is the act of isolating a person in a prison or jail for up to 23 hours a day. These long periods of isolation can cause serious mental and physical damages to a human. Purpose Statement: The purpose of this research is to understand the effects, both mental and physical, that solitary confinement has on a person. How does solitary confinement effect a person’s body and mind, and what interventions can be used to help prevent these changes? Literature Review: Key terms used in research involved “nursing” and “solitary confinement effects.” 15 studies were used in the research. Data bases searched involved Findings: Our findings tell us that both physical and mental damages are done to people in confinement, and the damages get worse the longer they are confined. Anger towards the legal systems and loss of empathy are some damages that occurred even for years after solitary time was finished. Conclusions: The take home message is that solitary confinement does more harm than good for almost anyone that spends time in confinement. There needs to be better interventions in helping these people such as promoting exercise and behavior cognitive therapy. There are better ways to handle people in prisons than to isolate them and cause massive damage to their health.

Depressive disorders are recognized as being of long standing clinical and theoretical concern. Early psychoanalytic conceptualizations of depression were later reformulated into theories emphasizing interpersonal manifestations of depression, notably passive-dependent oral trends (Chodoff, 1972). Recent research efforts (e.g. Youngren and Lewinsohn, 1980; Weissman and Paykel, 1974; Libet and Lewinsohn,. 1973) have explored specific interpersonal behaviors and their relationship to depression. Although some studies have been done utilizing self-report data of interpersonal behavior (e.g. Brown and Goodstein, 1962; Black, 1960), little has been done utilizing self-descriptions of interpersonal traits drawn from a sample of clinically depressed psychiatric outpatients.

The present study was a modified replication of Miller and Seligman’s (1973) study. Expectancy ratings under skill and chance tasks were examined in 51 college students in four groups: depressed high-external, depressed low-external, nondepressed high-external, and nondepressed low-extrenal. The major hypothesis predicted that there would be greater association (1) between both magnitude and direction of expectancy change and outcome of the previous trial (success/non-success) with nondepression than with depression, under the skill task, (2) between both magnitude and direction of expectancy change and outcome of the previous trial (success/non-success) with low-externality than with high-externality, under the skill task, and (3) between both magnitude and direction of expectancy change and outcome of the previous trial (success/non-success) for low-externality than for high-externality under the skill task and that this would be more evident with nondepression than with depression. None of these hypotheses was confirmed; no significant differences in expectancy ratings among the groups were found. Possible reasons for the failure of the present study to support Miller and Seligman’s findings regarding the influence of depression were discussed and suggestions for future research were made.

This study examines the effectiveness of a particular stress management intervention with adult outpatients diagnosed as chronic schizophrenics. The setting for the study was the Portland, Oregon, Veteran's Administration, Outpatient Clinic, Day Treatment Center. The intervention was composed of two factors; 1) stress management training and 2) Behavior-Graph Instruction. Both of these were presented using a psychoeducational model of classroom instruction, role play, and discussion.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rulebook, student-athletes are limited to 20 hours/week of official athletic activity. While this in and of itself is not a huge time commitment, when it is combined with the academic expectations that come with being a college student and athletic activities that are not included in the 20 hours/week, there isn't much time left in the week for student-athletes to get everything done. In addition to imposing daily stress, such time demands may negatively affect sleep. This study examined the sleep quality and quantity of student-athletes, as well as how much time they spend on athletic and academic activities. It was predicted that the student-athletes overall would not have a "good" sleep rating, and that they would not be getting the recommended 10 hours of sleep per night. It was also predicted that in-season student-athletes would be spending more than the allotted 20 hours per week on their athletic activities. All data for this study were collected through online surveys, which included several demographic and background questions, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), an instrument that provides a measurement of an individual's sleep quality. A score < 5 is considered "good" sleep quality, while a score > 5 is considered "bad" sleep quality. The 42 participants in this study (29 female; 13 male) were student-athletes at Portland State University (PSU) and represented all but one of the sports offered at PSU. All student-athletes listed on the official team roster received two e-mails requesting their participation in the study. There was at least one respondent in each class level, with 13 reporting as in-season student-athletes and 29 reporting as out-of-season student-athletes. Of the 42 respondents, only 3 received a "good" sleep quality rating. The median sleep quality rating for the entire sample was 9, and the median amount of sleep obtained was 7 hours/night, with a median bedtime of 2330. The median amount of self-reported time spent on athletics was 15.5 hours/week and the median time spent on academics was 15 hours/week. It was concluded that PSU student-athletes do not get enough sleep, and their sleep quality is very low. In-season student-athletes also self-reported spending more time in their athletic activities than the maximum NCAA limit. Although the sample size was small, these data support the need for increased education about the benefits of sleep. Also, an examination of the policies regarding what qualifies as an athletic activity, and how much time athletes should spend on such activities is recommended.

In the past few years there has been a large growth in the number of facilities and services provided to the mentally retarded in the community, as contrasted to the institutional setting. This thesis reviews some of the factors involved in the transition to community care for the mentally retarded as a background for an examination of the characteristics and perceptions of the persons who provide community care.

Mental health outcomes, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in police have become more of a concern for law enforcement administrators, peers, family and friends. Using culture as a theoretical framework, the current cross-sectional, convergent mixed methods study explored the relationship between personal cumulative exposure to different types of critical incidents and likelihood of reporting PTSD symptoms in a sample of officers (n=71) from one municipal police department. This study also examined how personal cumulative exposure to different types of critical incidents and likelihood of reporting symptoms of PTSD may be moderated by the degree of perception of social support from friends and family. Finally, the study included a qualitative analysis of how police culture influences barriers to officers receiving mental health services. Regression models supported a significant positive relationship between cumulative exposure to various types of critical incidents experienced personally by the officer and the likelihood of reporting symptoms of PTSD. Results also showed a direct significant inverse relationship between perception of social support from family and friends and self-reported symptoms of PTSD. Social support did not moderate the relationship between personal cumulative exposure to various types of critical incidents and the likelihood of reporting symptoms of PTSD. A separate thematic analysis of officers (n=54) revealed that the culture of machismo (occupational and self) influenced officers' perception of receiving mental health services. This study highlights the need for close attention to the effects of cumulative exposure to trauma in officers and the need to advocate for strong interpersonal relationships outside of policing. Other policy implications are discussed.