Menopause is the time in a womans life when regular menstrual periods cease, due to a natural change in sex hormones, which may be accompanied by unwelcome symptoms. PURPOSE: To determine whether physical activity is associated with a reduction in menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, numbness, fatigue, headaches, psychological symptoms, urogenital symptoms and physical symptoms). Providing that symptom differences among activity levels exist, a secondary purpose was to suggest an adequate level of physical activity for relief of menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Women (n=401) who were not taking hormone replacement therapy completed two questionnaires based on a 7-day recall of an average week: the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shephard, 1985) and the Menopausal Index (St. Germain, Peterson, Robinson, & Alekel, 2001). Women were divided into quintiles according to their physical activity scores (1=least active, 5=most active) and compared for menopausal symptoms using first a MANCOVA with covariate percent fat, as this was the only covariate that had significant group mean differences. Secondly a MANOVA with the appropriate post-hoc analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 58.2 (6.3), the mean years postmenopausal was 6.7 (6.0), the mean percent body fat was 37.4 (5.6) %, and 16.5% had a previous hysterectomy. Univariate tests did not identify significant group differences for hysterectomy (p=0.774) or time since menopause (p=0.440); however, there were significant group differences for percent body fat (p=0). The MANCOVA was not significant between physical activity groups with percent fat as a covariate (Wilks Lamda p = 0.126). The MANOVA indicated a significant group main effect of physical activity on menopausal symptoms (Wilks Lamda p = 0.034). Of the 8 symptoms under review there were significant group differences for fatigue (p=0.05), and physical symptoms (p=0.004). The post-hoc analyses identified that two least active groups reported above average fatigue occurrence whereas the three most active groups reported below average fatigue occurrence. Group 2 had significantly more physical symptom complaints than groups 4 & 5. Of the three symptoms comprising physical symptoms, there were significant differences for weight gain (p=0.004) but not for breast tenderness (p=0.742) or aches and pains (p=0.175). Groups 1 & 2 reported significantly higher frequency of weight gain than groups 4 & 5. CONCLUSION: Any indirect effect of physical activity on menopausal symptoms is most likely through the alteration of body composition. Women with lower percent body fat report less weight gain and fatigue. There was no significant relationship between physical activity levels and reporting of hot flashes/night sweats, insomnia, limb numbness, headache, psychological symptoms or urogenital symptoms. A randomized controlled clinical trial would likely determine the relationship between higher activity levels and symptom reduction. For future research it is recommended that groups be matched based on percent body fat prior to randomization and that a greater amount of physical activity be prescribed.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to better understand the role of depressive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. As such, two specific research questions guide this analysis: (1) What factors are associated with depressive and negative symptoms at Time 1 across four major psychiatric diagnoses (patients with schizophrenia, mood disorder, both schizophrenia and mood disorders, and patients whose primary diagnosis is neither schizophrenia nor mood disorder)? (2) To what extent do depressive and negative symptoms improve over time among individuals with schizophrenia? More specifically, what variables predict an improvement in these symptoms? Methods: The study involved analysis of secondary data from 3269 in-patients from 15 psychiatric facilities in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Patients were assessed using the Resident Assessment Instrument – Mental Health (RAI-MH). Bivariate analyses were performed examining demographic, clinical, social, and other factors as independent variables and depressive and negative symptom scores among each of the four diagnostic groups: schizophrenia, mood disorder, both schizophrenia and mood disorder, and neither schizophrenia nor mood disorder. Logistic regression of depressive and negative symptoms, as dependent variables, were performed on demographic, psychiatric, clinical, social, and other variables, as the independent variables. Results: Variables associated with depressive and negative symptoms did not necessarily predict an improvement of depressive and negative symptoms over time. Findings from logistic regression models showed that statistically significant predictors of improvement in depressive and negative symptoms included the following variables: (1) not having a diagnosis of schizophrenia; (2) insight into one’s condition; (3) fewer number of recent psychiatric admissions (over the last two year period); and (5) being administered both atypical and typical antipsychotic medications. Conclusions: Depressive and negative symptoms are prevalent in schizophrenia and are associated with demographic, psychiatric, and social variables. Depressive and negative symptoms do not share the same pattern across diagnoses, suggesting that these symptoms represent a unique profile within each diagnostic group. Moreover, both atypical and typical antipsychotic medications, in combination, were shown to be more effective at treating depressive and negative symptoms than either typical or atypical medications alone.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to better understand the role of depressive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. As such, two specific research questions guide this analysis: (1) What factors are associated with depressive and negative symptoms at Time 1 across four major psychiatric diagnoses (patients with schizophrenia, mood disorder, both schizophrenia and mood disorders, and patients whose primary diagnosis is neither schizophrenia nor mood disorder)? (2) To what extent do depressive and negative symptoms improve over time among individuals with schizophrenia? More specifically, what variables predict an improvement in these symptoms? Methods: The study involved analysis of secondary data from 3269 in-patients from 15 psychiatric facilities in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Patients were assessed using the Resident Assessment Instrument – Mental Health (RAI-MH). Bivariate analyses were performed examining demographic, clinical, social, and other factors as independent variables and depressive and negative symptom scores among each of the four diagnostic groups: schizophrenia, mood disorder, both schizophrenia and mood disorder, and neither schizophrenia nor mood disorder. Logistic regression of depressive and negative symptoms, as dependent variables, were performed on demographic, psychiatric, clinical, social, and other variables, as the independent variables. Results: Variables associated with depressive and negative symptoms did not necessarily predict an improvement of depressive and negative symptoms over time. Findings from logistic regression models showed that statistically significant predictors of improvement in depressive and negative symptoms included the following variables: (1) not having a diagnosis of schizophrenia; (2) insight into one’s condition; (3) fewer number of recent psychiatric admissions (over the last two year period); and (5) being administered both atypical and typical antipsychotic medications. Conclusions: Depressive and negative symptoms are prevalent in schizophrenia and are associated with demographic, psychiatric, and social variables. Depressive and negative symptoms do not share the same pattern across diagnoses, suggesting that these symptoms represent a unique profile within each diagnostic group. Moreover, both atypical and typical antipsychotic medications, in combination, were shown to be more effective at treating depressive and negative symptoms than either typical or atypical medications alone.

Menopause is the time in a womans life when regular menstrual periods cease, due to a natural change in sex hormones, which may be accompanied by unwelcome symptoms. PURPOSE: To determine whether physical activity is associated with a reduction in menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, numbness, fatigue, headaches, psychological symptoms, urogenital symptoms and physical symptoms). Providing that symptom differences among activity levels exist, a secondary purpose was to suggest an adequate level of physical activity for relief of menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Women (n=401) who were not taking hormone replacement therapy completed two questionnaires based on a 7-day recall of an average week: the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin & Shephard, 1985) and the Menopausal Index (St. Germain, Peterson, Robinson, & Alekel, 2001). Women were divided into quintiles according to their physical activity scores (1=least active, 5=most active) and compared for menopausal symptoms using first a MANCOVA with covariate percent fat, as this was the only covariate that had significant group mean differences. Secondly a MANOVA with the appropriate post-hoc analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the participants was 58.2 (6.3), the mean years postmenopausal was 6.7 (6.0), the mean percent body fat was 37.4 (5.6) %, and 16.5% had a previous hysterectomy. Univariate tests did not identify significant group differences for hysterectomy (p=0.774) or time since menopause (p=0.440); however, there were significant group differences for percent body fat (p=0). The MANCOVA was not significant between physical activity groups with percent fat as a covariate (Wilks Lamda p = 0.126). The MANOVA indicated a significant group main effect of physical activity on menopausal symptoms (Wilks Lamda p = 0.034). Of the 8 symptoms under review there were significant group differences for fatigue (p=0.05), and physical symptoms (p=0.004). The post-hoc analyses identified that two least active groups reported above average fatigue occurrence whereas the three most active groups reported below average fatigue occurrence. Group 2 had significantly more physical symptom complaints than groups 4 & 5. Of the three symptoms comprising physical symptoms, there were significant differences for weight gain (p=0.004) but not for breast tenderness (p=0.742) or aches and pains (p=0.175). Groups 1 & 2 reported significantly higher frequency of weight gain than groups 4 & 5. CONCLUSION: Any indirect effect of physical activity on menopausal symptoms is most likely through the alteration of body composition. Women with lower percent body fat report less weight gain and fatigue. There was no significant relationship between physical activity levels and reporting of hot flashes/night sweats, insomnia, limb numbness, headache, psychological symptoms or urogenital symptoms. A randomized controlled clinical trial would likely determine the relationship between higher activity levels and symptom reduction. For future research it is recommended that groups be matched based on percent body fat prior to randomization and that a greater amount of physical activity be prescribed.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-146). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Of the approximately 1 million Army Soldiers who deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan at least one time between 2001 and 2007, 18.5% screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms post-deployment (Tanielian et al., 2008). Deployed Soldiers are at a high risk for unsuccessful reintegration as evidenced by the presence of mental health symptoms. Because of the lack of evidence demonstrating the relationships between resilience and other factors that may contribute to mental health outcomes in active duty Soldiers, the purpose of this study was to determine if relationships existed among these variables in Soldiers with a recent deployment history. An adaptation of Richardson’s Metatheory of resilience guided this study. A convenience sample of 350 active duty army junior enlisted and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) who were within 6 - 12 months from returning from deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and stationed at Fort Campbell were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study. Seven self-report instruments were used to collect data: (1) Demographic Survey, (2) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, (3) Deployment Risk and Resiliency Inventory (DRRI), (4) Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, (5) Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, (6) Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and (7) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version. Data were entered into SPSS 18 and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and hierarchical linear regression. Results revealed many statistically significant correlations. Ten predictors resulted from this analysis and were placed into separate regression analyses with the three mental health outcomes. Each of the mental health outcome variables (anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms) accounted for a significant amount of variance in the other. In addition to PTSD and depression, post-deployment life events, deployment environment, and resilience accounted for the most significant amount of variance in anxiety symptoms. In addition to anxiety and PTSD symptoms, post-deployment life events accounted for the most significant amount of variance in depression symptoms. Deployment environment, post-deployment life events, and post-deployment support accounted for the most significant amount of variance in PTSD symptoms, in addition to anxiety and depression. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future nursing practice, education, and research opportunities are abundant. / text

Previous research indicates an increase in the prevalence of depression around adolescence, especially for females. Research suggests depressogenic cognitions play an essential role in the development of depression and may mediate the relation between risk factors and depression. Research has also shown the family environment, negative life events, and maternal depression are all related to the development of depressogenic cognitions. Additionally, few studies have tested models of depression while measuring both anxiety and depressive symptoms despite the high rates of comorbidity between the two disorders. The current study used path analytic techniques to integrate correlates of depression while accounting for comorbid anxiety symptoms in comprehensive model of depression for early adolescent girls. Participants included 203 girls, aged 9-14, along with their mothers. Participants completed self-report measures of the family environment, cognitive triad, and negative life events. Mothers of participants completed a self-report measure of psychopathology. Participants also completed a semi-structured diagnostic interview, which served as the measure for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results supported previous literature finding a more depressogenic cognitive triad was significantly associated with higher depressive severity. Family environments, characterized by more cohesive and less conflictual family relationships, more communication, and higher engagement in social/recreational activities, were significantly associated with a more positive cognitive triad. Additionally, more negative life events were significantly associated with a more depressogenic cognitive triad. Both family social/recreational activities and negative life events had significant indirect effects on depression. Results indicated a strong relation between anxiety and depression, with anxiety having a significant positive direct effect on depression. The pathways from maternal depression and anxiety to the cognitive triad, anxiety symptoms to the cognitive triad, as well as family environment variables, maternal depression and anxiety and negative life events to anxiety symptoms were not found to be significant. Results from an exploratory analysis suggest anxiety may moderate the relation between the cognitive triad and depression. Implications of these results, limitations, and recommendations for future research are provided. / text

A variety of risk factors for bulimia nervosa have been proposed including both environmental factors (e.g., family environment) and personal characteristics (e.g., body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and perfectionism). The main goal of this study was to further examine the relationship between body satisfaction, self-esteem, and perfectionism in the development of bulimic symptoms. A confirmatory factor analysis on the construct of perfectionism was conducted to determine if it was best explained as a unidimensional or a multidimensional construct. Perfectionism was best explained as a construct consisting of three factors--normal perfectionism, neurotic perfectionism, and orderliness. The relationship between body satisfaction, self-esteem, and perfectionism in the development of bulimic behaviors was also examined using structural equation modeling. We did not find support for a hypothesized three-way interaction among body satisfaction, self-esteem, and neurotic perfectionism in the development of bulimic behavior. We did find support for a pair of two-way interactions predicting bulimic behaviors. Interactions between body satisfaction and self-esteem and body satisfaction and neurotic perfectionism were predicitve of bulimic symptom development.