Biography:

Jeeha Park received his Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Connecticut in 2014. He started medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine in 2016. Currently he is a third year medical student doing his clerkship at Emory at Decatur Hospital.

 

Abstract:

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) can modulate CNS microglial cells and is being used as an experimental treatment to reduce inflammatory autoimmune processes in a number of diseases, including fibromyalgia. Additionally, LDN has been shown to demonstrate antidepressant effects by enhancing dopaminergic signaling. These mechanism suggests LDN as a possible concurrent treatment of both fibromyalgia and associated major depressive disorder. Fibromyalgia is considered a chronic disorder of central nervous system pain regulation. It is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that presents as widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness. Fibromyalgia does not have a clear pathogenesis and consequently does not have a targeted treatment. Chronic pain and major depressive disorder are often diagnosed simultaneously; 40-60% of chronic pain patients also have depression and require concurrent treatment. There is no direct cause-and-effect relationship between chronic pain and depression; however, two illness share many biochemical, physical and cognitive symptoms. J.B. is a 32 year old Caucasian female with a past psychiatric history of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks and medical history of fibromyalgia diagnosed in 2010. Patient has recurring depressive episodes with multiple etiologies including problems with her family and work and post-partum. However, many of the depressive episodes concurred with painful symptoms of her fibromyalgia and “dictated by the pain level.” Patient’s fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder did not respond to duloxetine. There was significant symptomatic relief of both chronic pain and depression with the initiation of 6mg naltrexone. Patient reported improvements in mood, energy, and concentration from suboptimal level. We discuss the indications of this case and future possibility of using LDN as a treatment option for patients with concurrent fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder.

 

Biography:

Ms. Ishwari Adhikari has been working as a Teaching Assistant at Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, Pokhara Nursing Campus. She has completed her Master of Nursing (Advanced Adult Health) from same university. Her research focus is on Mental health of Adults. Recently she is being involved in different research projects. The ongoing project is as a Co- investigator on Research entitled “ Prevalence and determinants of Dementia and Depression among Elderly and as a principle investigator on research entitled “ Psychological distress and perceived social support among parents of differently able children.”

 

 

Abstract:

Post traumatic stress disorder is the most frequently reported psychiatric morbidity among the survivors of natural disasters that hinders the effort to rehabilitate their life. However its prevalence after the earthquake particularly in Nepal is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder and use of coping strategies among the adult survivors of earthquake. Methods and theoretical orientation: A cross- sectional descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 291 adult survivors of Nepal Earthquake on April 25, 2015. Study setting was Nuwakot district with multistage sampling (cluster sampling and systematic random sampling) method. PTSD checklist-5 was used to measure PTSD, and adapted and modified cope scale was used to assess coping strategies. Roys Adaptation Modes was utilized to identify the interrelationship between the variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test and one-way ANOVA) were used at 5% level of significance. Findings: Study findings revealed that PTSD was prevalent among 24.10% of adult survivors with highest intrusion symptoms (3.24±0.71). It was significantly associated with age (p=.017), sex (p=.013), education (p<.0001) and injury to self (p=.003). Elderly, females, illiterates and those who were injured during earthquake are at more risk for PTSD. Highest used coping strategy was active coping (2.92±0.51). Survivors not having PTSD scored more on active coping (p<.0001) and self distraction coping (p=.006) while those with PTSD mostly used passive coping (p<.0001), religious coping (<.0001) and substance use coping (<.0001).Conclusion and Significance: After ten months of devastating earthquake, prevalence of PTSD among the survivors is high. Maladaptive coping strategies further increase possibility of PTSD. Effective screening and awareness program regarding promotion of positive coping strategies among the vulnerable groups should be reinforced for prevention of psychiatric morbidity among the survivors of earthquake.

 

Biography:

For over twenty-five years, I have been a psychotherapist, professor, and trainer. I have private practice working with women, children, and families dealing with addictions and recovery from child abuse and trauma. I am full professor at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York, where I teach courses in Psychology. My courses emphasize biological, psychological, and sociological factors that shape human growth and development.

 

I have worked as a trainer and consultant in human service settings and have developed and facilitated dozens of workshops and ctrainings on pertinent clinical issues. My child welfare workshops are designed to provide helping professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to help assess and respond to families in crisis, including techniques for engaging families in a working relationship and skills for intervening effectively with clients. I have facilitated large group workshops on communication, parenting skills, and family relations.

 

Abstract:

Presentation Description:

The workshop will name and examine the risk and protective factors that mothers who have experienced child sexual abuse had to overcome in order and protect their children from the abuse they experienced. The workshop will examine the social and emotional challenges faced by this particular group of mothers. However, the workshop will also focus on the protective factors in their lives of these mothers that help them to “defy the odds” and give their children something positive and significantly different from what they experienced as children. The workshop will examine the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE’S). Therapeutic interventions and strategies will be addressed.

 

Biography:

Veronica Bucci is a Senior at Pawling High School in Pawling, New York and has researched Psychology for the past 3 years as part of the SUNY Albany Science Research course. Veronica completed her first project involving teenagers and how they respond to stressful and anxious situations based on a variety of episodic memory tasks. She has successfully competed in numerous competitions with her research and has traveled to locations such as San Francisco, California and Paris, France in order to present her various projects. After the success of her first project, Veronica is continuing her work in the field of Psychology involving reliability in a child’s environment influencing lie-telling and decision making. She hopes her research has the power to give children and teenagers a better grasp on the way to live a truly meaningful life.

Abstract:

Stress and anxiety are key mental factors that are a part of the brain’s extensive network. Caused by the hormone cortisol, stress and anxiety can bring detrimental effects to other aspects of the mind. Previous literature has identified a correlation between adult stress and anxiety, low self-esteem, a loss in ability to retain memories, and impulsive decision-making. Adolescents, ages thirteen to seventeen years old, have not been investigated due to the shortened duration of human adolescence. However, this adolescent time frame plays a crucial role in the developmental stages of the mind. Self-efficacy inductions of positive, negative, and neutral emotions were used as an indicator to the functionality of memory and impulsivity. Survey-based analysis was used through the combination of episodic memory tasks and compared to the induced emotional states. This research investigated past and present memories that involved stressful situations that prompted a teenager to change their behavior and ability to properly complete described tasks. Results suggest that during adolescence, memory retention is higher when positive self-efficacy was utilized, in comparison to the low self-efficacy induction. Impulsivity was relatively the same throughout each self-efficacy group. The high selfefficacy group scored higher (m = 18.1429) in comparison to the low (m = 8.4286) and neutral (m = 13.3571) inductions. Significant results for positive self-efficacy caused a higher ability to retain memories and be descriptive (p = .01912). Further research should explore the integration of positive self-efficacy in episodic memory exercises to improve brain functionality, memory retention and impulsivity.