Exercise and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinopathy affecting both the metabolism and reproductive system of women of reproductive age. Prevalence ranges from 6.1-19.9% depending on the criteria used to give a diagnosis. PCOS accounts for approximately 80% of women with anovulatory infer-tility, and causes disruption at various stages of the reproductive axis. Evidence suggests lifestyle modification should be the first line of therapy for women with PCOS. Several studies have examined the impact of exercise interventions on reproductive function, with results indicating improvements in menstrual and/or ovulation frequency following exercise. Enhanced insulin sensitivity underpins the mechanisms of how exercise restores reproductive function. Women with PCOS typically have a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that are risk factors for CVD. There is irrefutable evidence that exercise mitigates CVD risk factors in women with PCOS. The mechanism by which exercise improves many CVD risk factors is again associated with improved insulin sensitivity and decreased hyperinsulinemia. In addition to cardiometabolic and reproductive complications, PCOS has been associated with an increased prevalence of mental health disorders. Exercise improves psychological well-being in women with PCOS, dependent on certain physiological factors. An optimal dose-response relationship to exercise in PCOS may not be feasible because of the highly individualised characteristics of the disorder. Guidelines for PCOS suggest at least 150 min of physical activity per week. Evidence confirms that this should form the basis of any clinician or healthcare professional prescription

Psychometric properties of a valuations scale for the Marijuana Effect Expectancies Questionnaire

Given that marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit substance, identification of the role of potentially malleable cognitive factors in marijuana-related behaviors remains an important goal. The Marijuana Effect Expectancies Questionnaire (MEEQ; Schafer & Brown, 1991) assesses marijuana effect expectancies that are differentially related to marijuana use and use-related problems. Evaluation of the desirability of marijuana effect expectancies may provide additional information regarding cognitions related to marijuana use behaviors. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Marijuana Effect Expectancy Questionnaire-Valuations Scale (MEEQ-V) which was developed for this study to assess the desirability of marijuana effect expectancies. The sample was comprised of 925 (73.0% female) undergraduate participants, 41.9% of whom endorsed lifetime marijuana use and 24.7% of whom reported current (past three-month) use. The MEEQ-V scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency. Most (but not all) MEEQ-V scales were correlated with their corresponding MEEQ scale. There was some support for convergent validity. MEEQ-V scales were differentially related to frequency of marijuana use and use-related problems. Most MEEQ-V scales were related to frequency of marijuana use above and beyond variance attributable to corresponding MEEQ scales. Results suggest that assessment of desirability of marijuana’s effects could provide unique and important information about cognitions related to marijuana use behaviors