Department of Psychiatry and Health Behaviorhttp://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/8512024-03-28T00:30:19Z2024-03-28T00:30:19ZPredicting Violence Risk and Recidivism in Female Parolees: A State-Wide SampleBritt, Jessica Y.Patton, Christina L.Remaker, Dominique N.Vitacco, Michael J.Prell, Lettiehttp://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/6243532022-08-06T02:59:04Z2020-07-20T00:00:00ZPredicting Violence Risk and Recidivism in Female Parolees: A State-Wide Sample
Britt, Jessica Y.; Patton, Christina L.; Remaker, Dominique N.; Vitacco, Michael J.; Prell, Lettie
This presentation was presented at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Edmonton. Forensic Grand Rounds, September 2020
2020-07-20T00:00:00ZCultural humility in internship training: Beyond checking the boxBritt-Thomas, Jessica Y.http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/6243522022-08-06T02:59:16Z2022-07-20T00:00:00ZCultural humility in internship training: Beyond checking the box
Britt-Thomas, Jessica Y.
Preparing psychology interns for practice in forensic psychology requires deep
consideration of cultural factors. This cannot be accomplished by embedding a "cultural
discussion" into a didactic to check a box for required trainings; internships must cultivate
an environment that encourages trainees and supervisors alike to examine and question
how our own identities factor into our daily decisions and interactions. Cultural humility
requires self-reflection of one’s cultural identities as it relates to others, including
privileged and oppressed identities. Having such discussions early and often during the
internship year can establish expectations and build a culture of reflection, openness, and
ongoing growth.
This presentation was presented at the American Psychological Law Society on 3/18/2022 in Denver, Colorado.
2022-07-20T00:00:00ZComorbid Substance Abuse and Mental Illness on ImpulsivityPatel, Kajol K.McEvoy, Joseph P.Miller, Brian J.Britt, Jessica Y.http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/6243512022-08-06T02:58:51Z2022-07-20T00:00:00ZComorbid Substance Abuse and Mental Illness on Impulsivity
Patel, Kajol K.; McEvoy, Joseph P.; Miller, Brian J.; Britt, Jessica Y.
Introduction: Impulsivity, or a lack of self-control, has been identified as a significant risk factor in individuals with substance abuse. Several studies have shown that the impact of impulsivity affects the onset of substance abuse, relapsing substance abuse, and outcomes during substance abuse treatment. Impulsivity has also been defined as a trait characteristic in multiple psychiatric disorders (i.e. schizophrenia, depression). Furthermore, studies have identified impulsivity as a mediating factor between psychiatric disorders and mental illness.
Methods: Eligible participants were identified by practitioners at the Augusta University Psychiatry and Health Behaviors outpatient clinic and Serenity Behavioral Health Systems (n=47). Participants were administered the UPPS-short and BIS-11 scales via phone interviews. Follow-up phone interviews were conducted 30 days after the initial interview to establish test-retest validity. Of those that completed the initial assessment, 31 participants completed the follow-up assessment.
Results: When comparing the UPPS and BIS scores in substance abusers and non-substance abusers, scores were higher in the substance abuse group compared to the non-substance abuse group, although this difference did not achieve significance (p = 0.19 and p = 0.43, respectively). UPPS and BIS scores correlated significantly with each other at initial assessment (r=0.79, p<0.001) and follow-up (r=0.82, p<0.001). The initial assessments of the UPPS and BIS also correlated significant with the follow-up assessments (r=0.74, p<0.001 and r=0.83, p<0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: Results of the study indicate that impulsivity was higher in the substance abusing sample compared to the non-substance abusing sample, although significance was not reached. A decreased p-value in the entire sample as compared to previous analyses performed on a partial sample suggests that the current sample lacks power. Increased sample size may allow for the analyses to reach significance.
This research project was apart of the 2020-2021 Medical Scholar Program. I served as the project investigator and research mentor for the first author. This project was presented at the 2020-2021 Augusta University Annual Medical Scholars Research Day.
2022-07-20T00:00:00ZFamilies and Addictions: Forgiveness as a Powerful Clinical ToolCamino-Gaztambide, Richard F.Malavé de León, Eunicehttp://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/6231602020-03-21T01:58:50ZFamilies and Addictions: Forgiveness as a Powerful Clinical Tool
Camino-Gaztambide, Richard F.; Malavé de León, Eunice
Short Description: Addictions are complex behaviors that have a profound impact on the
individual, family, and society. Forgiveness can transform negative emotions for oneself or
others to achieve or sustain recovery. The purpose of the workshop is to offer the clinical
underpinnings that can facilitate the implementation of forgiveness in practice.
Abstract: Addictions are complex behaviors that have a profound impact on the individual,
family, and at a societal level. Although many see addictions as fundamentally a disease of the
brain and clearly brain structures and functions are significantly involved, nevertheless, brain
function alone does not address the consequences and profound effects that addictions have on
the patient's ecosystem. Family, friends, co-workers, and neighborhood, all are altered with
frequent feelings of anger, shame, guilt, and rejection present in all parties. Usually, these
feelings are in response to real or perceived transgressions by one or more persons, and it is
not uncommon that trauma is present, producing persistent stress which can interfere with
recovery. The concept of forgiveness can be a powerful tool to help patients address the injury
and trauma that they have done or received by others. Shame, defined as a “flawed self, often
accompanied by feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness” is associated with negative
feelings and poorer recovery. In contrast, guilt, that focuses more on the behavior not
necessarily reflected as the total self, is more amenable to forgiveness. Forgiveness as a
disposition to where the use of negative emotions for oneself or others can be transformed to
achieve or sustain recovery. The Twelve-step facilitation model can be integrated, especially
focusing on steps four through nine, as other models like Narrative, ACT, and CBT are also able
to use the concept of forgiveness in effective ways. The purpose of the workshop is to provide
basic theoretical and clinical underpinnings, use case presentations, interactive discussions, to
provide skills that can facilitate the implementation of forgiveness in clinical practice. “Addiction
is more than a disease and involves more than the brain: it is a systemic behavioral disorder.”