ABSTRACT Objective: Given the importance of developmental transitions on young adults' lives and the high rates of mental health issues among U.S. college students, first-year college students can be particularly vulnerable to stress and adversity. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of mindfulness training aiming to promote first-year college students' health and...
Growing evidence indicates that serotonergic neurons play a crucial role in brain function and dysfunction, such as in major depressive disorder. However, the complexity of serotonergic projections severely hampers the elucidation of their precise mechanisms. Here we summarize our recent studies on the effects of ketamine and olanzapine, which have been reported to be effective in...
Attachment theory provides evidence that infants and children who perceive insufficient care and attunement tend to develop emotional, social, and behavioral deficits (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1988; Ainsworth, 1989). The hidden root that sustains attachment-based symptoms and syndromes is shame. Shame is defined as an injury to the self as a result of contemptuous or humiliating treatment from a...
Yoga is a popular alternative mental health intervention and an integral component of leading mindfulness-based interventions. Yoga helps with concerns like anxiety and depression (e.g., Field, 2011), but we do not yet understand how it helps. With the aim of developing more potent theoretical models of therapeutic yoga, there have been calls in the literature to explore yoga’s underlying...
The effect of yoga in the reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, anger as well as in the increased ability of behavioral control has been shown. These effects of yoga are highly relevant for prison inmates who often have poor mental health and low impulse control. While it has been shown that yoga and meditation can be effective in improving subjective well-being, mental health, and...
The Default Mode Network is a network of connected brain regions that are active when the brain is not focused on external tasks. Minor brain injuries, such as concussions, can affect this network and manifest symptoms. We measured the correlation between the symptoms people experienced after a concussion and their age at the time the concussion occurred. We hypothesized that some symptoms,...
This thesis tests the efficacy of mindfulness mobile apps to improve wellbeing of young people. It reviews and evaluates existing mindfulness mobile apps to identify high-quality ones and demonstrates their potential to improve wellbeing of young people. Mindfulness has gained empirical support as an effective treatment for variety of mental health conditions including stress, anxiety and...
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a time-limited (eight-week) group therapy program designed to help participants manage depression, anxiety, and other forms of emotional distress. Research has shown it to be especially effective in reducing symptoms of depression and preventing relapse. In addition to attending the eight weekly group meetings, participants are expected to complete...
Breast cancer survivors (BCS) face adverse physical and psychological symptoms, often co-occurring. Biologic and psychological factors may link symptoms within clusters, distinguishable by prevalence and/or severity. Few studies have examined the effects of behavioral interventions or treatment of symptom clusters. The aim of this study was to identify symptom clusters among post-treatment BCS...
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often suffer from psychological distress and cognitive dysfunctioning. These factors negatively impact the health-related quality of life. Only recently behavioral therapeutic approaches are being used to treat psychological distress in MS. The aim of the present pilot study was not only to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction...