<p> Throughout the United States are institutions abundant with violent offenders who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI). The decision to release these insanity acquittees into the community is a vital one, both for the patient and the larger community. While these decisions should be informed by evaluations that combine clinicians&rsquo; opinions with validated tools of assessment, no standard of care regarding such evaluations exists. Forensic specialists are thus often left to base discharge decisions on clinical judgment alone. This dissertation assumed a critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature relevant to conditional release decisions of NGI patients, including the research on structured assessment of risk of future violence. Based on this critical review, the author proposed recommendations for five standards to enhance conditional release decision-making for violent offenders in forensic settings: (a) Adherence to professional and ethical conduct; (b) documentation of patient progress; (c) incorporation of empirically-validated risk assessment tools; (d) creation of a comprehensive release plan; (e) verification of patient&rsquo;s commitment to successful reintegration. This dissertation additionally examined the strengths and limitations of the critical review strategy, as well as delineated areas for research to empirically evaluate the recommended standards and promote improved quality of conditional release evaluation for NGI acquittees.</p>

<p> The current study examined the relationship between the worry symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), free recall memory, false memory, and metamemory. More specifically, the current research investigated the relationship between high levels of worry and individuals&rsquo; ability to accurately recall and recognize true and false memories of negative and neutral material and to determine the role worry played in an individual&rsquo;s prediction that they would remember negative and neutral words. In addition, the present study examined whether the prediction of remembering negative and neutral material coincided with actual memory performance. Participants (<i>n</i> = 62) were recruited from undergraduate Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Senior Capstone courses at a medium-sized Midwestern public university. The participants were sorted into either a high or low worry group, and there were 31 participants in each group. All participants completed a demographics questionnaire, a measure of worry symptoms, a measure of depressive symptoms, judgment of learning (JOL) ratings, free recall tasks, math distractor tasks, and a false memory task. The hypotheses of the present study will be discussed herein. The results of the study did not support the majority of the hypotheses, but the individual results are discussed herein. The possible implications of the study relate to the role that high anxiety levels have both on academic performance and in clinical settings.</p>

<p> Pediatric oncology patients and siblings are a population at-risk for negative psychosocial outcomes due to the various procedures, treatments, late effects, and family-based stressors associated with pediatric cancer. Pediatric oncology camps were designed to creatively address psychosocial gaps experienced by this steadily increasing population. Literature focusing on psychosocial adjustment of pediatric cancer patients and siblings is generally mixed or inconclusive, although there is some evidence suggesting increased psychosocial adjustment following camp participation. Research focusing on levels of perceived social support is limited. Although campers report social support as a main benefit of oncology camp participation, most studies are exploratory and yield inconsistent findings regarding demographic differences. In order to understand the effects of an oncology camp intervention on levels of psychosocial adjustment and perceived social support for pediatric cancer patients and siblings, an archival data set collected at a pediatric oncology camp (<i>N</i> = 64) was analyzed. There were 30 patients and 34 siblings in the sample, 37 females and 27 males, and with a mean age of 11.84 (<i>SD</i> = 2.89). Participants completed the Children&rsquo;s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Social Adjustment Domain (SA) from the Child Behavior Checklist &ndash; Youth Self-Report at three time points. Data was analyzed using repeated measures MANOVAs and results indicated that psychosocial adjustment increased significantly for adolescent females but not for other demographic groups. Additionally, perceived social support was found to increase for adolescent females but decrease for adolescent males, although other demographic groups did not appear to experience significant change over time. Strengths, limitations, and areas for future research are addressed as part of the discussion. </p>

<p> This dissertation endeavors to explore and describe the lived experience of music therapists&rsquo; relationships with their clients as it develops in individual music therapy sessions. Music therapy literature, reviewed with particular attention to its treatment of the psychodynamic conceptualization of clinical relationship, suggests a shaky marriage between music therapy and psychoanalytic thought, and the experience of the music therapist in this landscape has not been studied. As its data, this study relies on semi-structured interviews with 7 music therapist volunteers who provide individual music therapy, focusing on their experience of emotion, interpersonal connection with their patients, and utility of psychodynamic concepts in that work. Idiographic and nomothetic analysis revealed 4 common themes in music therapists&rsquo; experience of clinical relationship, which belie an underlying sense of confusion and anxiety about important aspects of the work. The discussion of findings examines these themes in the context of the powerful impact music can have on the psyche, and makes recommendations regarding the inclusion of psychodynamic concepts in music therapy training. Keywords: music therapy, relationship, psychoanalysis, transference, countertransference, projective identification, boundaries</p>

<p> Female youth are a growing population in the juvenile justice system; however, research on female justice-involved youth is lacking relative to male counterparts. As research suggests this population has experienced higher rates of trauma, the purpose of this study was threefold: first, to describe the extent of complex trauma exposure and sequelae, second, to evaluate the utility of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument&ndash;Version 2 (MAYSI-2) Trauma Experiences (TE) scale related to complex trauma, and third, to analyze the relationship between complex trauma and comorbid diagnoses of incarcerated adolescent females, using a developmental trauma framework. The present study used archival data from the records of 229 adolescent females, ages 13 to 20, who were remanded to a maximum security juvenile justice facility in Illinois. Scores from the MAYSI-2 TE scale were collected as well as Clinical Needs Assessments that provided demographic information and data regarding trauma exposure and sequelae. A developmental trauma rubric was specifically designed for this study based on the DSM-5 proposed developmental trauma disorder (DTD) diagnosis. Trauma-related data was mapped onto the rubric for the purpose of identifying youth with complex trauma reactions and comparing this data with MAYSI-2 TE scale scores. Exploratory analyses laid a foundation for understanding complex trauma exposure and sequalae among incarcerated female adolescents. As expected, over three fourths of participants were exposed to repeated interpersonal traumas with youth experiencing an average of five different types of trauma exposure. Contrary to the first hypothesis, the MAYSI-2 TE scale was significantly correlated with complex trauma exposure. The second hypothesis was supported, which was contrary to the literature on the subject, and indicated that the MAYSI-2 TE scale scores decrease upon re-assessment after re-admission to the facility. Finally, the third hypothesis revealed nearly universal comorbid diagnoses among the sample (97.4%) and a relationship was found between the proposed developmental trauma disorder diagnosis and diagnoses of personality, bipolar and related, neurodevelopmental, and trauma and stressor related disorders. These results suggest that screening for trauma should be a high priority in juvenile justice settings and that while the MAYSI-2 TE scale score is related to complex trauma exposure, added screening is warranted to identify trauma-related symptoms. Additionally, alternative screening strategies may be useful for those returning to the facility as these youth&rsquo;s TE scale scores were found to be lower than those initially incarcerated as well as lower than their previous scores. Finally, the field would benefit from the adoption of a complex trauma diagnosis to prevent inadequate and inaccurate diagnoses being given when the etiology of symptoms is trauma-based.</p>

<p> This study explores the psychological dynamics associated with labor and birth in order to better understand the role these experiences play in women&rsquo;s psychological development. This research study utilized interpretative phenomenological analysis as a research methodology and sought to address the following questions through the theoretical perspective of psychoanalysis and social constructionism: How does the experience of pregnancy and birth impact the subjectivity of women? How do women make sense of these experiences? What role does the body play in women&rsquo;s psychological development? Does the experience of childbirth mark a unique developmental phase in the psychological life of women? In this research study, six women were asked to describe their birth narrative in full and respond to a series of open-ended questions. The results of this study indicate that pregnancy and childbirth is a porous developmental period associated with fears about capacity and feelings of omnipotence as well as multiple losses and a new sense of self. One of the more significant findings of this study is that the experience of labor and birth is felt by many women to involve feelings associated with encountering death. This finding may lead to increased understanding of why pregnancy and childbirth results in fragmentation for some women, while it appears to be a catalyst for increased subjectivity and maternal embodiment for other women.</p>

<p> Although the association between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been demonstrated in the literature, additional examination is needed to investigate cognitive processes that contribute to the development of NSSI. Four early maladaptive schemas (Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control) have been found to be related to NSSI history (Castille et al., 2007) and have also been investigated as cognitive processes associated with the development of NSSI. The aim of the current study was to test if Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control early maladaptive schemas (EMS) statistically predict NSSI in the context of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and also to test whether the each of the four relevant EMS mediated the association between CEA and NSSI in a community adult sample. Participants were 516 U.S. adults recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, aged 18 and 74. Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS and CEA severity differed significantly by NSSI history status. Although Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse EMS did not statically predict NSSI frequency, Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were found to be associated with NSSI history and frequency. As CEA was not associated with NSSI frequency, models investigating Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS as mediators of the association between CEA and NSSI frequency were not testable. However, CEA was found to statistically predict NSSI history, and Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were identified as mediators of this relationship, although Emotional Deprivation and Mistrust/Abuse EMS were not. These findings can guide treatment providers by identifying relevant EMS, and informing how the related cognitive distortions may be organized, and how cognitive restructuring can be used to target the EMS and related cognitions to decrease triggers and maintenance of NSSI behaviors, especially in the context of CEA.</p>

<p> This study examined whether an online adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that consisted of two brief exercises (body scan and breathing) could reduce perceived stress and increase traits of mindfulness in a sample of civilian employees who experience high stress. There were 205 employees who volunteered for the study. Using a stratified random assignment procedure, they were assigned to an intervention group and received an 8-week, online mindfulness training program, or to a control group and received their company's standard stress management program. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale; mindfulness was measured using the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, Short Form. Measures were administered at pre- and post-test. A repeated measures ANOVA with group type as the between subjects factor indicated that the intervention (MBSR) group had significant reductions in stress, and significant increases in traits of mindfulness, compared to the control group. The results suggest that an online adaptation of the MBSR program can produce positive results that are comparable to those found in studies that used the full version of the program. The results demonstrate that a modified mindfulness training program could be used to address the mental health needs for military service members.</p>

<p> Depression is a serious condition experienced by many individuals diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD). Depression after CHD diagnosis has been associated with poor cardiac prognosis, cardiac mortality, and is postulated to influence adherence to physician recommendations, including attendance at cardiac rehabilitation programs. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an empirically supported secondary intervention for cardiac patients and is recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) to reduce disease progression, however many CR participants do not complete. A number of studies have investigated depression and phase II CR programs. The goal of the current systematic literature review and meta-analysis was to explore the association between depression and phase II CR completion. A literature search cross-referenced three electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, <i>Dissertation Abstracts International</i>) up through December 2014. Studies quantifying an association between depression and phase II CR completion were reviewed. After duplicate studies were removed and study inclusion criteria applied, 17 observational studies with 19 independent samples consisting of 30,586 cardiac patients remained for meta-analysis. A random-effects model found a moderate inverse relationship between depression and phase II CR completion (<i>g</i> = -.44, 95% CI -.59 to -.29), indicating that depressed CR patients were significantly less likely to complete their program. A minor amount of publication bias was detected with a funnel plot and trim-and-fill analysis. No significant moderator variables were detected.</p>

<p>Psychological trauma causes distress to the mind and body. The human body is designed to move, and thus, the use of movement can be beneficial in many forms of therapy. This thesis utilizes a hermeneutic and heuristic methodology to investigate how dance movement therapy can be an effective modality for treating the impact of trauma. The literature review presents research on the effect of trauma on the body and the methods of dance movement therapy that may apply in treatment. Current research is discussed in examining the mind?body connection related to trauma. From a depth psychological perspective, the use of movement is explored as a therapeutic way of accessing and releasing repressed or unconscious emotions and memories associated with trauma. The author?s personal experience contributes to the findings of the research, which present clear evidence of the benefits that dance movement provides in the psychotherapeutic treatment of trauma.