The impact of environmental experiences on symptoms of anxiety and depression across the life span

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are relatively stable over time. Can this stability be explained by genetic influences, or is it caused by the long-lasting effects of accumulating environmental experiences? To address this question, we analyzed longitudinally assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression in eight samples of monozygotic twins of widely varying ages. These samples were drawn from American and European population-based registries. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined individual differences and individual changes in the level of symptoms over time. This method enabled us to decompose the variance into the predictable variance shared by both members of each pair of twins, the differences between individuals within pairs, and the residual variance. We then modeled how these components of individual variation changed over time. Within pairs, the twins' predicted levels of symptoms increasingly diverged from childhood until late adulthood, at which point the divergence ceased. By middle adulthood, environmental experiences contributed substantially to stable and predictable interindividual differences in levels of anxiety and depression.

Validation of the Diet Satisfaction Questionnaire: a new measure of satisfaction with diets for weight management

Objective

The Diet Satisfaction Questionnaire was developed to fill the need for a validated measure to evaluate satisfaction with weight‐management diets. This paper further develops the questionnaire, examining the factor structure of the original questionnaire, cross‐validating a revised version in a second sample and relating diet satisfaction to weight loss during a 1‐year trial.

Methods

The 45‐item Diet Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSat‐45) uses seven scales to assess characteristics that influence diet satisfaction: Healthy Lifestyle, Convenience, Cost, Family Dynamics, Preoccupation with Food, Negative Aspects, and Planning and Preparation. It was administered five times during a 1‐year weight‐loss trial (n = 186 women) and once as an online survey in a separate sample (n = 510 adults). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess and refine the DSat‐45 structure, and reliability and validity data were examined in both samples for the revised questionnaire, the DSat‐28. Associations were examined between both DSat questionnaires and weight loss in the trial.

Results

Internal consistency (reliability) was moderate for the DSat‐45. Confirmatory factor analysis showed improved fit for a five‐factor structure, resulting in the DSat‐28 that retained four of the original scales and a shortened fifth scale. This revised questionnaire was reliable in both samples. Weight loss across the year‐long trial was positively related to satisfaction with Healthy Lifestyle, Preoccupation with Food, and Planning and Preparation in both versions of the questionnaire.

Conclusions

Measures of reliability and validity were improved in the more concise DSat‐28 compared to the DSat‐45. This shorter measure should be used in future work to evaluate satisfaction with weight‐management diets.

Advanced Meningioma Imaging

Noninvasive imaging methods are used to accurately diagnose meningiomas and track their growth and location. These techniques, including computed tomography, MRI, and nuclear medicine, are also being used to gather more information about the biology of the tumors and potentially predict their grade and impact on prognosis. In this article, we will discuss the current and developing uses of these imaging techniques including additional analysis using radiomics in the diagnosis and treatment of meningiomas, including treatment planning and prediction of tumor behavior.