Cholinergic nucleus 4 grey matter density is associated with apathy in Parkinson's disease.

The generation and maintenance of goal-directed behavior is subserved by multiple brain regions that receive cholinergic inputs from the cholinergic nucleus 4 (Ch4). It is unknown if Ch4 degeneration contributes to apathy in Parkinson's disease (PD). We analyzed data from 106 pre-surgical patients with PD who had brain MRIs and completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scales (FrSBe).

Factor structure of the BDI-II in Parkinson's disease.

Objective: There is substantial heterogeneity in depressive symptomology for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). It is unknown whether the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) is capable of identifying such phenotypic variations of depression.

Method: We investigated the factor structure of the BDI-II and its associations with demographic characteristics and other nonmotor symptoms in PD.

An Online Educational Program to Increase Student Understanding of Threat Assessment.

Background: Threat assessment is a widely recommended practice used by schools to investigate and respond to student threats of violence; however, students are often reluctant to disclose threats.

Methods: We developed an online educational program for students to increase their understanding of threat assessment and the need to report serious threats. We investigated 2 research questions: (1) How are student characteristics of sex, grade level, and ethnicity/race associated with student knowledge of threat assessment and willingness to report threats? (2) Does the program increase knowledge of threat assessment and willingness to report threats? The sample consisted of 2338 students from 6 middle schools and 3 high schools.

Authoritative school climate and sexual harassment: A cross-sectional multilevel analysis of student self-reports.

School sexual harassment (SH) is defined as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that interferes with a student's ability to learn. There is an important need for schools to assess the prevalence of SH and its relation to school climate to guide intervention efforts. This study investigated 3 research questions: (a) Is there psychometric support for a 4-item multilevel measure of SH? (b) What is the prevalence of SH in a statewide high school sample, and how does SH vary across gender, grade level, race-ethnicity, and socioeconomic status? (c) Is an authoritative school climate-characterized by strict but fair discipline and supportive teacher-student relationships-associated with lower levels of SH for students? A statewide sample of high school students ( = 62,679) completed a school climate survey that included a new 4-item measure of SH.