PKMζ alters oxycodone-taking in a dose- and sex-dependent manner.

Opioid use disorder involves disruptions to glutamate homeostasis and dendritic spine density in the reward system. PKMζ is an atypical isoform of protein kinase C that is expressed exclusively in neurons and plays a role in postsynaptic glutamate signaling and dendritic spine maturation. As opioid use leads to alterations in glutamate transmission and dendritic spine density, we hypothesized that PKMζ deletion would alter opioid-taking behaviors.

Family food and shape messages: Capturing the experiences of African-American women.

Four studies explored the family food experiences (FFEs) of African-American (AA) in relation to disordered eating and body image concerns. Focus groups of AA women expressed FFEs that shaped their relationships with food (Study 1). We used the resulting framework to create a measure assessing FFEs related to disordered eating (Family Food Experiences-Black Questionnaire; FFBQ).

Family Relations and Psychopathology: Examining Depressive and Bulimic Symptomatology.

Despite early theories suggesting that family dysfunction (FD) may cause disordered eating, FD has been linked with other disorders and is a non-specific risk factor for disordered eating. We examined one potential model of the way FD relates to disordered eating, drawing on research that identified depression as a risk factor for bulimia. We examined whether depression symptoms (DEPs) partially mediated the relationship between family cohesion (as a measure of FD) and bulimic symptoms (BNs) using a sample of 215 never-married college women under age 20.

Pathways of family influence: alcohol use and disordered eating in daughters.

Models of addiction etiology and treatment emphasize the influence of family-of-origin experiences. Using two addiction-related coping behaviors (ARCBs) common among college women (i.e.