Musculoskeletal symptomatology in skeletally immature students carrying heavy backpacks: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Young students with skeletal immaturity report an increasing number of musculoskeletal symptoms associated with daily use of heavy backpacks. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between heavy backpack use and reports of pain.

Methods: Data were collected from 300 students aged 11 to 18 at the University of Toronto Schools.

Neurocognitive performance and cognitive biases in young adults with schizotypal traits.

Recent research suggests that neurocognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia may increase the risk of developing cognitive biases. As such, we set out to determine this predictive relationship as it pertains to the development of a first-episode psychosis. We hypothesized that poorer performance in processing speed would be associated with jumping to conclusions and an externalizing bias.

Long-term neurocognitive and psychological outcomes in meningioma survivors: Individual changes over time and radiation dosimetry.

Background: This study investigates long-term changes in neurocognitive performance and psychological symptoms in meningioma survivors and associations with radiation dose to circumscribed brain regions.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of meningioma survivors who underwent longitudinal clinical neurocognitive assessments. Change in neurocognitive performance or psychological symptoms was assessed using reliable change indices.

A review of the reliability of remote neuropsychological assessment.

The provision of clinical neuropsychological services has predominately been undertaken by way of standardized administration in a face-to-face setting. Interpretation of psychometric findings in this context is dependent on the use of normative comparison. When the standardization in which such psychometric measures are employed deviates from how they were employed in the context of the development of its associated norms, one is left to question the reliability and hence, validity of any such findings and in turn, diagnostic decision making.

Modeling Effort-Based Decision Making: Individual Differences in Schizophrenia and Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: A critical facet of motivation is effort-based decision making, which refers to the mental processes involved in deciding whether a potential reward is worth the effort. To advance understanding of how individuals with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder utilize cost-benefit information to guide choice behavior, this study aimed to characterize individual differences in the computations associated with effort-based decision making.

Methods: One hundred forty-five participants (51 with schizophrenia, 43 with depression, and 51 healthy control participants) completed the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task, with mixed effects modeling conducted to estimate the predictors of decision making.