A Non-Invasive Therapy for ADHD and Other Disorders: Neurofeedbacking

By: Sierra Shumate

               Many people have been exposed to, or may have even experienced ADHD as a child. It is something that thousands of parents struggle with day to day, as many children are on medication to help them pay attention and organize their thoughts both in school and at home. Some families, however, are opposed to medication or seek alternative therapies that are less invasive, like neurofeedback therapy.

               The process of neurofeedback therapy essentially focuses on retraining the brain, producing electrical patterns in place of old ones, to ensure calm and focus. During a session, which is usually around 30 minutes, a child is placed in front of a computer and attached to electrodes on the head. A movie is started on the screen, and the child is told to concentrate on continuing the film. If the child's attention wavers, the movie will turn off, and the process begins again by having the child refocus his/her attention on restarting the movie.
               Dr. David Mitnick, who works with the New York Presbyterian's Weill Cornell Medical Center, is experienced with this type of therapy and recommend it where medication is not an option or is ineffective.

               Before treatment, a measure of electrical activity in the brain is first measured. This is used to develop more specific treatment for certain patients. Mitnick states that "The technique is not concerned with what you have, it is concerned with the regulation of your brain." He is optimistic about other disorders and the benefits of neurofeedback as well in the future. Although it is still dificult to obtain funds from medical insurance as treatment is still not greatly scientifically evident, many psychologists have seen grand improvements in their patients, particularly in school. Dr. Luchow, a psychologist in Tenafly, says that she has seen her patients go "from failing to top of their class." 

               As different parts of the human brain are made more organized and engaged, the mind grows sharper, similar to sharpening a knife. As treatment popularity continues to grow, neural mapping evidence may become clear enough to allow reimbursement from medical insurance, which would be a breakthrough in learning disorder alernative therapy. 

Source: Perlmutter, Leslie, (201) Family

Is Technology Driving You Crazy?

by Kristi Caporoso

They say that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Evidently, this is true in the case of modern technology. While we may not be able to realize it, most of us spend more time of the day attached to a screen or a keyboard than doing anything else: including sleeping.
But technology is good, right? It improves our daily lives, makes our world smaller, and gives us seemingly all the information we need right at our fingertips. While all of this may be true, some severe negative effects of our overuse of technology are becoming apparent. An excellent example of this is the case of Jason Russell, launcher of the now famous "Kony 2012" documentary. After the release of the documentary and Russell's skyrocket to online fame, he found himself bombarded by tweets, texts, and other online rants and raves. However, several days after the release and the nonstop media attention, Russell suffered a psychotic break and was hospitalized for four months. The episode was not triggered by drugs or alcohol, but by the huge, sudden onslaught of his technology use.
Studies are now confirming that our daily use and abuse of technology in all its forms can play a factor in increasing our likelihood of developing anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and in some cases psychosis. While constantly being connected may be the norm, it isn't necessarily healthy for us. It's not  the content or the actual technology that is harmful, but the manner in which we use it-or abuse it.
Many people out there are skeptical that technology can actually be harming us, but some places are taking steps to address the crisis. In some countries in Asia, where a young couple was so addicted to caring for their cyber baby that their actual baby died from neglect, the government is addressing the nation-wide issue. The latest addition of the DSM also includes Internet Addiction Disorder under the appendix marked "further study."
It is without a doubt that abuse of technology is affecting us. Studies have shown that those who use technology frequently compared to those who don't have a significantly different prefrontal cortex-technology is actually rewiring our brains. How does this happen? Most people don't even realize how addicted they are until they try to go without. But it is in fact true that most people check their smartphones before and after sleep, don't want to be far from their laptops and tablets, and experience significant anxiety when they are unable to connect. Try it yourself: Go one day without using any technology whatsoever, and see how you feel. If you find yourself depressed or anxious by the end of the day and dying to get your hands on a keypad, it might be time to dial back the technology use. Most of us are using it so often that we are substituting it for normal face-to-face interaction, and not even realizing what we are missing. Not to mention the lack of sleep caused by staying online into the wee hours of the night.
While technology is clearly turning out to have some bleak side effects for our world, there is still hope.  Taking a step back and making sure our lives don't revolve around the cyber world is the first step. It is then important that we turn off and tune out more often, and keep ourselves connected to the real world and real people, for our mind and our health's sake.

source: Tony Dokoupil, Newsweek

Is Group Therapy Effective?

Written by: Irada Yunusova

                Research is currently unfolding the reasons behind the success of group therapy. Group therapy exceeds the Society of Clinical Psychology’s standards for efficacy for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, substance use disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and general personality disorder.  Group therapy members interact and influence one another’s progress.

                For some conditions, group therapy and individual therapy have been found equally effective. In over 50 clinical trials, patients were randomly assigned to individual or group treatments and equivalent improvements were found for both conditions. In addition to gaining support from a therapist, patients are able to gain support from other individuals who shared similar experiences.

                It has been found that having a common identity and a sense of shared purpose contributes to the effectiveness of group therapy. A meta-analysis of 40 studies by Burlingame and others, published in International Journal of Group Psychotherapy in 2009, supports the belief that a sense of unity is important for progress in group therapy.  Interacting with peers in group therapy is important because, “groups provide social support, they improve social networks and they can reduce stigma, isolation and feelings of alienation among members,” according to Nina W. Brown, EdD, a professor at Old Dominion University. Hearing from peers may be more helpful than receiving guidance from a therapist because peers identify with one another.

                New research also demonstrates that two leaders in group therapy is more successful than one. Co-leaders are able to follow multiple interactions “with a second set of eyes and ears” (Paturel). With two leaders, more important cues, especially non-verbal cues, can be noted. Furthermore, with group therapy psychologists are able to observe relational patterns, instead of solely relying on patients’ self-reports.

                Group therapy provides greater information for a psychologist to understand the patient and it provides a supportive environment in which individuals are able to help each other. As a participant improves, the group as a whole benefits because all individuals realize that they also can progress. Both for patients and for psychologists, group therapy may feel like a smaller, safer world.

Source: Monitor on Psychology, Amy Paturel

“Relationshopping” - The Psychology Behind Online Dating

 

 ONLINE DATING -- IS IT HERE TO STAY?



Slowly but surely, online dating has become the second most popular way that adults are now meeting potential life partners (Aalai, 2013). With the availability of numerous dating sites, free and of charge such as eHarmony, PlentyofFish and Match, just to name a few, it has become fairly easy for individuals to “relationshop” (PsyBlog, 2010).

Online dating, like many other things in life, has both positives and negatives associated with it. A major reason many adults look to online dating in order to meet potential partners is simply lack of free-time to search for these individuals in person. With many individuals, both male and female, having full-time jobs it leaves little time to explore their environments and meet other people with similar interests in person. With online dating, you can sit down, log in, sift through numerous profiles and choose who you think would be worth your time to start a conversation. All of their information is readily available on their profiles including but not limited to height, weight, race and religious views. It is in a sense a “screening process” for individuals not too waste their time getting to know details about individuals that they will probably in the long run never speak to again. Despite “relationshopping” being a positive, it also can lead to many unsatisfying interactions. Many individuals’ spend much more time screening other profiles and sending messages than they do interacting face-to-face with these individuals. A study done by Rosen et.al, found that 51% of individuals made face-to-face dates within one week and one month of receiving messages from those who they contacted. In many ways this is the last step in an individuals’ “screening process” (PsyBlog, 2010).

With the topic of online dating come many misconceptions. Many individuals believe that online daters are “losers,” but what studies have shown is that in fact online daters are more likely to be sociable, have high self-esteem and low dating anxiety (PsyBlog, 2010). Online daters also do not lie as much as media scare stories may make us believe they do. In most cases individuals will lie about small details such as weight, adding or shedding a few pounds, and height.

While many people are still skeptical about online dating and how “safe” and “real” it may be, it is proving to be fairly successful. With limited data available, a study by Rosen et al. found that 29% of their sample found serious relationships through online dating. Other studies show that in the US, 42% of couples between 26 and 35 first met online. With more studies being conducted on the topic of online dating, and its successes, it seems as though this phenomenon will soon turn into a fairly regular topic for many individuals looking to date. As people become more comfortable discussing online dating, many more will also take a shot at it.

Written by: Klaudia Zdybel

Sources:

http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/online-dating-10-psychological-insights.php

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-first-impression/201304/is-online-dating-the-new-bar-scene

 



Childhood Obesity: Its Causes, Psychological Effects, and What to Do About the Problem

By: Sierra Shumate

              

             Although childhood obesity has become such a common problem recently, people have become less and less sensitive to its statistics, as there is currently no clear solution. Children and adolescents are now exposed to cues that can cause obesity in every aspect of life. At school, home, and even in the neighborhood, kids are being encouraged to eat too much, and are not being encouraged to exercise.

              Since 1980, childhood obesity has nearly tripled in prevalence across the United States. Statistics like this prove difficult to ignore, as the National Health and Nutrition Estimation Survey (NHANES) shows that 31.7 percent of US children or adolescents were obese in 2008. Rates are even higher among lower-SES families. Obesity has been shown to correlate with many health problems, including high blood pressure, asthma, and breathing problems—to name a few. These problems typically affected adults in the past, and are now affecting almost a third of our nation’s kids—an overwhelming  truth.

               Not only does obesity affect the physical health of these children, but also extends to the brain, and changes in brain structure—which can lead to learning impairments and difficulties with sustained/selective attention. These affects can also cause social and psychological problems, such as depression, problems with self-esteem, and higher risk for bullying.

               So how do we help the problem? Psychologists first want to focus at the place nearest to home-- the family. Interventions that combine dieting, physical activity and behavior have proven most successful. Rather than the typical dieting intervention of focusing on what kids should cut out, Leonard Epstein, at the University of Buffalo, has discovered that kids lose more weight when interventions focus more on what kids should eat. Behavioral treatments focus on increasing intake of fruits and vegetables rather than avoiding the typical “junk” foods.

               According to Wilfley, it is more effective to include parents in the behavior treatment, rather than solely focusing on the child. By encouraging more healthy home environments—removing TV’s from bedrooms, limiting computer and video game time, making physical activity a family fun routine, and teaching parents how to cook healthy and cost efficient-meals, prevention and improvement is possible!

              Families must be ready to make healthy lifestyle a top priority, and must make conscious decisions on what is best for the child. It is not enough to teach the healthy lifestyle—behavioral intervention is required for at least a year before long term  benefits are possible.

Source: Monitor on Psychology, Kirsten Weir 

Depression in Overweight Patients and Vice Versa: Harder to Overcome

by Kristi Caporoso

Depression and obesity are both two very difficult things to cope with on their own. However, dealing with the two of them coexisting makes each one more difficult to overcome. There are many ways that the two exacerbate each other. For example, it's necessary for someone who is overweight to exercise to improve their health. However, patients with depression usually have no energy to exercise or have little hope that it will help. The best way to prevent this is starting off on an exercise regimen at the beginning of therapy. Exercise not only will help with your physical health, but also is believed to have antidepressant effects. One way to succeed in getting into an exercise regimen is making the exercise something you enjoy. Being active as opposed to inactive will increase chances of improvement.
Another common occurrence in those sufferring from depression is sleeplessness or sleep disturbances, which is also shown to increase weight gain. Many of the symptoms of depression such as this one make it harder for those with it to overcome obesity or being overweight. Lack of hope, as mentioned above, can interfere with exercise plans or other plans of dealing with obesity. Also, several antidepressants can lead to weight gain, such as clozapine and olanzapine.
There are some ways to avoid this struggle if you are overweight and suffer from depression. Cognitive behavioral therapies have been shown to be very effective in treating depression and obesity together. Also, choosing an antidepressant that is not associated with weight gain will help. Things you can do at home include keeping a journal of medications, exercise, diet, getting adequate sleep, and of course an exercise and diet program.

Athletic Injuries Can Increase Psychiatric Risk

by Kristi Caporoso

Athletics are an integral part of American life. We watch sports on TV, we play sports in school, and we hear about athletes on the news. Doctors encourage us to lead an active and healthy life, and our parents encourage us to get involved in extracurricular activities such as sports teams. However, is there a downside to being an athlete? Research is showing that while being an athlete, either professional or student, can be a good experience, there are dangers that come along with it.
Sports injuries, which unfortunately aren't too uncommon, can severely increase the risk of psychiatric problems among athletes. A college baseball player with a broken wrist is much more likely to develop a form of depression or anxiety than a non-athlete with a broken wrist. There are numerous reasons for this increased risk. To start, it is difficult for an athlete to even admit to having a physical or psychiatric problem, because they are afraid that it will affect their placement on the team. This underreporting leads to an athlete being more likely to hold in his problems until they are at a dangerous level. Athletes are under immense pressure to play through pain and carry on, even though this may not be what's truly best for them.
Being an athlete is also a pervasive characteristic, one that usually consumes a person's identity. For this reason, when athletes get injured and are unable to perform, they are more likely to experience a loss of identity and severe distress. Most people develop skills and social networks across many contexts, but a highly talented athlete in most cases focuses his life on his sport. Therefore, when this is lost, they themselves feel lost. The more dedicated and more successful the athlete, the more likely their risk is for psychiatric problems. Experiencing an injury or narrowly avoiding one can lead to severe distress in an athelete because it has such severe consequences for them. Because of this, many athletes have experienced PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after an injury or close call.
For many athletes, their sport is their means of relieving stress. Take their sport away, and you are eliminating their one mean of coping with their issues. This in turn makes it more likely that they will have no way to cope, and stress and depression will be harder to overcome and deal with. Many of the issues that they had but were able to avoid by playing sports are brought to light.
When dealing with athletes, especially those who are injured, it is important to evaluate how important a factor athletics are in their life, and if they have any other networks that they are connected to for both socialization and stress relieval.

source: Samantha O'Connell & Theo Manschreck, Current Psychiatry