Thèse (D.Ps.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2008. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 1 février 2007). In ProQuest dissertations and theses. Publié aussi en version papier.

Thesis (PH.D.)--Syracuse University, 2003. / "Publication number AAT 3081641."

<p> Autism spectrum disorder is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by abnormal interactions, communicative deficits, and perseverative thoughts and behaviors. In addition to these core symptoms, autism is associated with a cognitive endophenotype of spared and impaired executive abilities. People with other neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia also show executive dysfunction. Intact executive function requires prefrontal cortex and its connections to other cortical areas. Measures of executive control in adults with neuropsychiatric disorders are predictive of adaptive functioning, so research should seek methods for minimizing these impairments. A helpful tool in this search is the laboratory mouse. Mice possess homologous prefrontal cortex and assays exist for quantifying rodent cognition. The core domains of autistic behavior can be evaluated in mice as well. Mouse models can therefore be used to investigate neuropsychiatric symptoms. BTBR, <i>LgDel</i>, and <i>Cntnap2</i> mice are valid models of neuropsychiatric disorder. Using visual discrimination tasks presented in an automated operant touchscreen apparatus, three separate studies on these models were performed to determine the cognitive profiles of these mice. BTBR mice and C57 mice were assessed on a series of tasks. BTBR did not differ from C57 on the acquisition or reversal of the visual discrimination. They did, however, show deficits on a novel task that required contextual inhibition of a prepotent response. <i> LgDel</i> mice and wildtype littermates were tested on the visual discrimination acquisition and reversal. <i>LgDel</i> mice were impaired on one measure of the acquisition and several measures of reversal, including learning errors which is thought to depend on medial prefrontal cortical circuitry. Additionally, frequency of layer 2/3 projection neurons in this region significantly correlated with cognitive performance. Lastly, <i>Cntnap2</i> null mice were compared on touchscreen tasks to wildtype and heterozygous littermates. Like <i>LgDel</i>, <i>Cntnap2</i> null mice were impaired on a measure of acquisition and some reversal measures including learning errors. Separately, these studies contribute validation to the behavioral phenotypes of the three mouse models of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorder. Together, they also provide evidence of the utility of computer-automated touchscreen systems for revealing subtle cognitive deficits that correlate with prefrontal cortical structures.</p><p>

<p> Mass shootings that end in suicide at public venues such as schools have become shockingly frequent. In many cases the attackers have left communications indicating envy and bullying as the source of their rage. With healthcare becoming more universally available and the U.S. Surgeon General&rsquo;s focus on bullying as a national healthcare issue, the mental health community would be remiss in failing to adequately address bullying behavior and its effects at this time. Relational aggression is a particular type of bullying that relies on surreptitious gossip and the willingness of participants to accept roles of victim or bully. Using hermeneutic phenomenology, this thesis creates a depth psychological model for exploring the intrapersonal and interpersonal bully&ndash;victim dynamics in relational aggression through the use of the stories of Cinderella and Arachne. The findings demonstrated how archetypal defenses maintain the bully&ndash;victim dynamic and the difficulties in and importance of perspective taking in its resolution.</p>

<p> Millions of people are adversely affected by crises and disasters each year. Response to disasters relies heavily on volunteer organizations to assist in the aftermath of these traumatic events. HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) is one organization that provides needed support to those impacted by way of specially trained crisis dogs. Unfortunately, there is a lack of these certified teams able to effectively respond. The research question for this study was how can HOPE AACR expand (recruit and train qualified new teams) into currently unoccupied areas. This question was answered through collaborative action research (AR) with this organization's members, those who possess the specialized knowledge and training for AACR work. Due to the fact that the nature of this AR did not contain sensitive information that posed risk to participants and that written permission was obtained to use the site name, an exemption was granted to name the site in this study. In particular, this study worked with regional directors in charge of various areas of the U.S., elected board of directors responsible for oversight and approval of organizational changes, and a group of current certified volunteer team members. Participants engaged in various interviews and focus groups in order to share perspectives and experiences to solve the identified problem. Through this AR process, this research team determined a plan of action (target area for expansion and strategies to recruit and train new members). The goal of this study was to document a process which can be refined and re-used for future expansion efforts. Implementation of this action plan will also result in expanded territory, increased ability to meet requests for services, and ultimately enhanced recovery for those exposed to crises and disasters. </p><p> <i>Keyword:</i> Animal-Assisted Crisis Response</p>

<p> The abstract is not available from PDF copy and paste.</p>

<p> Depression and abnormal salivary cortisol levels have been related to poor health outcomes for both mothers and their children. However, few studies have examined whether protective factors, such as optimism, resilience, or coping styles are associated with depression and cortisol during pregnancy. The current study examined whether these protective factors were associated with depressive symptomology (current and lifetime depression) and salivary cortisol patterns among 100 low-income pregnant women. Hierarchical regression analyses found that: (a) greater levels of optimism and resilience were associated with lower levels of depression (<i>R²</i> = .17 to .46, <i>p</i> &lt; .05); (b) women low in resilience reported more depressive symptoms when using more positive reinterpretation coping (<i>R²</i> = .36, <i>p</i> &lt; .05); and (c) women high in resilience reported more depressive symptoms when using more avoidance coping (<i>R²</i> = .20, <i> p</i> &lt; .05). Results suggest that coping processes may be important in understanding the mental and physical experience of depression.</p>

<p> This thesis examines how the current psychological collective conceptualizes, addresses, and makes clinical use of the wounded healer archetype as it occurs in and influences the vocation of psychotherapy. The universal, historic significance of the wounded healer archetype is explored as well as its manifestation in the psychotherapist, the degree to which the therapist&rsquo;s wounds define countertransference, and the effect on client therapy outcome. Research on the psychological community&rsquo;s recognition and encouragement of exploration of the psychotherapist&rsquo;s woundedness is included. A heuristic approach applied to unraveling the mythological wounded healer archetype finds that it may dwell in the psyche of any human. The author concludes that wounded healers who&mdash;for myriad unpredictable reasons&mdash;follow the vocation of psychotherapy may benefit the psychological community by understanding the clinical and neuroscientific evidence suggesting that their own wounds underwrite countertransference and can be accessed and used as a potent tool in their practice.</p>

<p> Large-scale crises continue to surprise, overwhelm, and shatter college and university campuses. While the devastation to physical plants and persons is often evident and is addressed with crisis management plans, the number of emotional casualties left in the wake of these large-scale crises may not be apparent and are often not addressed with mental health preparedness plans. As a result, there is a growing sentiment that campuses should investigate and document detailed mental health preparedness plans that would address the readiness of their institutions to meet the mental health needs of their faculty, students, and staff should a large-scale crisis impact their campus. In addition, it has been recognized that an instrument is needed to help colleges and universities assess the mental health preparedness of their campuses. Utilizing a Delphi methodology, this four round Delphi study (with 34 experts from 17 states with combined expertise in mental health and higher education) adapted the <i>Mental Health All-Hazards Disaster Planning Guidance</i> (2003), written for state and local mental health agencies, to create a mental health preparedness plan for college and university campuses should a large-scale crisis occur. Utilizing the aforementioned mental health preparedness plan, this study also created an instrument, identified as a numeric scorecard, to help colleges and universities assess the mental health preparedness of their campuses should a large-scale crisis occur on their campus.</p>

<p> Unrequited love is a form of love in which a person&rsquo;s feelings of romantic love toward another are not reciprocated. This thesis is an exploration of unrequited love from a depth psychological perspective, taking into account the powerful yet mysterious influence of the archetypes of the collective unconscious on this common human experience. Utilizing a hermeneutic methodology to amplify theories from both psychology and mythology, the author seeks to provide a road map for understanding how and why unrequited love can be used as a means of initiating the process of individuation. Readings of the literature serve to provide a solid foundation for understanding depth psychological concepts and to articulate the difference between the two sides of unrequited love. The author uses the protagonist from the film <i> Angus</i> to exemplify the way in which the projection of unconscious archetypes can eventually lead one toward a balance of psyche and self-knowledge. </p>