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Archive for January 22nd, 2011

Falling in Love Only Takes About a Fifth of a Second, Research Reveals


ScienceDaily (Oct. 25, 2010) — A new meta-analysis study conducted by Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue reveals falling in love can elicit not only the same euphoric feeling as using cocaine, but also affects intellectual areas of the brain. Researchers also found falling in love only takes about a fifth of a second.


Results from Ortigue’s team revealed when a person falls in love, 12 areas of the brain work in tandem to release euphoria-inducing chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline and vasopression. The love feeling also affects sophisticated cognitive functions, such as mental representation, metaphors and body image.


The findings raise the question: “Does the heart fall in love, or the brain?”


“That’s a tricky question always,” says Ortigue. “I would say the brain, but the heart is also related because the complex concept of love is formed by both bottom-up and top-down processes from the brain to the heart and vice versa. For instance, activation in some parts of the brain can generate stimulations to the heart, butterflies in the stomach. Some symptoms we sometimes feel as a manifestation of the heart may sometimes be coming from the brain.”


Ortigue is an assistant professor of psychology and an adjunct assistant professor of neurology, both in The College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University.


Other researchers also found blood levels of nerve growth factor, or NGF, also increased. Those levels were significantly higher in couples who had just fallen in love. This molecule involved plays an important role in the social chemistry of humans, or the phenomenon ‘love at first sight.’ “These results confirm love has a scientific basis,” says Ortigue.


Read in Full:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101022184957.htm


Self-Awareness of Flirting Style Is Key for Relationships


By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 2, 2010


A new study suggests knowledge of oneself in regard to initial communication with a potential partner can go a long way in creating a fulfilling relationship.


Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, recently completed a study into styles of flirting among dating adults.


His investigation included surveying more than 5,100 people regarding their methods of communicating romantic interest.


“Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life,” Hall said.


“Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtship.”


He identified five styles of flirting: physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful.


  • *Physical flirting involves the expression of sexual interest in a potential partner. People who scored high in this form of flirting often develop relationships quickly, have more sexual chemistry and have a greater emotional connection to their partners.
  • *Traditional flirts think men should make the first move and women should not pursue men. Because they adopt a more passive role in dating, women with this style are likely to report trouble getting men’s attention and are less likely to flirt or be flattered by flirting. Traditional men often know a potential partner for a longer time before approaching them. Both genders tend to be introverted and prefer a more intimate dating scene.
  • *The polite style of flirting focuses on proper manners and nonsexual communication. Although they are less likely to approach a potential partner and do not find flirting flattering, they do tend to have meaningful relationships.
  • *Sincere flirting is based on creating emotional connections and communicating sincere interest. Although women tend to score higher in this style, it is advocated by both genders. Relationships involve strong emotional connections and sexual chemistry and are typically meaningful.
  • *People with playful flirting styles often flirt with little interest in a long-term romance. However, they find flirting fun and enhancing to their self-esteem. They are less likely to have important and meaningful relationships.

Hall said that for the most part, there was little difference between genders within each flirting style.


Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/11/02/self-awareness-of-flirting-style-is-key-for-relationships/20441.html


The Most Important Tool For Restoring Emotional Intimacy to Your Marriage


Peggy Ferguson, Ph.D. Updated: Nov 4th 2010


The first thing you must do to restore intimacy to your most important relationship is to increase the amount of time that you spend together. It is not only the first thing that you must do, it is the most important thing you must do if you want to recover that sense of “us-ness”.


Partners often come into counseling complaining that they have grown apart, that they are not feeling loved, or that they do not feel important to the other partner. What most of these couples have in common is that they do not spend much time together. They usually believe that they do not spend any less time together than their friends spend with their spouses. They may be correct. However, when couples are missing the closeness that they once had and not feeling loved, a lack of time together is a major part of the problem.


Of course, many couples are in chronic conflict with each other. Chronic conflict makes it difficult to enjoy the moment with your partner when you are primed and ready to see everything they say or do as negative and motivated by a desire to hurt you in some way. Ongoing conflict and negative feelings about the partner and the relationship play a role in avoiding spending time with each other. Who wants to expose himself or herself to a person or situation that is just going to hurt their feelings? Athough this couple has to work through the conflict to restore a desire to spend time together, they have to spend time together to work through the conflict.


Read in Full:  http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41059&cn=289


Affair Prevention


Dana Vince, M.A., LPC, MHSP Updated: Nov 5th 2010


All marital partners, at some point in their marriage, will feel disconnected from one another. This is a normal occurrence in marriage. However, if it is not recognized as normal, if steps are not taken to prevent it, recognize it, or recover from it, it can make a couple vulnerable to infidelity.


What does it mean to be connected? It means being emotionally in tune with each other. You know when your partner has had a good or bad day, who are their best friends and who are their enemies, what’s going on at work or with extended family. On a larger scale, what their dreams and goals are, what makes them sad and what makes them happy. What their scared of and what they most aspire to be. These are things that two people who are connected know about and care about each other. It requires openness and honesty, genuineness and kindness.


When do couples become disconnected? A couple experiences disconnection for many reasons. There are times in a couples life when they are extra vulnerable to disconnection; the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or any other major life change. Disconnection can also happen from not taking the time to be alone with one another, to talk to each other. Not making your marriage a priority and letting other life happenings get in the way.


How do we prevent becoming disconnected: one major way to avoid disconnection is by making your marriage a top priority and always taking time to spend with one another. When there is conflict, to deal with it by talking openly and in a caring way with one another so conflict can be discussed and resolved. Don’t allow resentments to build, talk to each other and stay in tune with each other’s emotions.


Read in Full:  http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=40916&cn=289


Can you excuse your extramarital affair or marrying without love?


Even a good excuse is still an excuse.


 

 

By Douglas Morino Staff Writer 

 
It was the images of the homeless crouching under freeway overpasses and standing in soup lines across Los Angeles that inspired Daniel Ramos to action.  

 

Ramos, an 18-year-old Manhattan Beach resident, recently attained the distinction of Eagle Scout. No small feat, especially when you consider the senior at Mira Costa High School was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when he was 3 years old.

 

For his leadership service project – a requirement for all Boy Scouts seeking to earn the prestigious distinction of Eagle Scout – Daniel worked to put together 81 “survival” backpacks, filled with essential items including food and clothing, for a homeless ministry in Long Beach.

 

There were nearly 52 million Boy Scouts in 2009 – only 5 percent earning the Eagle Scout title.

 
In working for the rank, Daniel galvanized a community.  

“They embraced him,” said his mother, Carmen, a periodontist in Manhattan Beach. “The project brought the community together.”

 
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, diagnosis rates for Asperger’s syndrome are not well established, but experts believe two out of every 10,000 children have the  autism spectrum disorder marked by difficulty in social interactions and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.  

 

Although they struggle socially, children with the disorder are often high-functioning, displaying average or higher-than-average intelligence.

 
Children with Asperger’s, Daniel’s parents knew, thrived on structure and routine. The rhythm of scouting life was a logical fit.  

 

“The Boy Scouts make you goal-oriented and help develop a mindset of `There’s something I want and this is how I’m going to get it,”‘ Carmen said. “It helped him keep his focus.”

 
Daniel began Cub Scouts when he was 7 and soon began to thrive, taking a quick interest in the scout-sponsored camping trips and outdoor excursions. He joined the Boy Scouts when he was 11. His progress was steady as he earned merit badges, learned the handshakes and how to tie a square knot. He learned how to balance the rigors of school and the duties of scouting life. He learned how to become a leader.  

 

“His mom once said she didn’t know if Daniel would ever ride a bike,” said Colleen Kaczmar, a special education and resource teacher at Mira Costa High School who has worked with Daniel throughout his high school years. “His growth has been amazing.”

 

Once he came up with the goal of helping the homeless to earn his Eagle Scout badge, Daniel quickly went to work to secure donations and volunteers, meeting one-on-one with local public school officials and speaking at local Rotary clubs. He organized a charity car wash to raise money, along with the rest of El Segundo Troop 773.

 
The hard work paid off, and the donations began pouring in.  

“The marketing he did was really good,” said Kaczmar. “So many kids would stop so much shorter of that. He did everything he could possibly think of to make it happen.”

 
Then, last year in October, under Daniel’s direction, the group of volunteers spent a day putting the backpacks, filled with clothing and food, together for members of the Christian Outreach in Action, a nondenominational organization that provides resources for the homeless.  

 

As they passed out sack lunches and the backpacks, Daniel spoke with the people he was helping. Once moved by the images of the homeless he saw from the passenger seat of his parents’ car, he was now inspired by the stories they shared.

 
“People seemed appreciative,” he said. “People were telling me how they got laid off and had to move into an apartment. They were telling me how much they appreciated my work.”  

 

Daniel said he’ll be going on to Marymount College or El Camino College before attending a four-year university, perhaps studying to become an engineer. In addition to the Boy Scouts, Daniel is on the Mira Costa varsity track and field and cross-country teams.

 

Daniel said his time in the Boy Scouts has taught him lessons he may have not picked up otherwise.

 
“It taught me how to be a leader,” he said. “It taught me that hard work pays off. 

 
Read in Full: 


 

1:30pm Wednesday 17th November 2010

AN EXCEPTIONALLY gifted child has been finally diagnosed with autism and can get the help he needs following a four-year battle by his parents.

The Echo stepped in to help little Zachary Lovett, six, when the NHS refused to fund a referral to Great Ormond Street Hospital so experts could assess his case.

Zachary is in the top one per cent for literacy in the country for his age group and among the top two per cent of pupils in maths.

The youngster, who has a reading age of 11, can easily multiply large numbers in his head, yet is unable to socialise with his peers and hits out at those around him when he becomes frustrated.

Yet without a firm diagnosis his school, Edwards Hall Primary, Leigh, has, until now been unable to get funding for the one-to-one tuition he needs.

Now, after the Echo highlighted the case, the NHS South East Essex Trust has relented.

His father Michael Lovett, 52, of Feeches Road, Southend, said the family were overjoyed.

He said: “They diagnosed Zachary within an hour at Great Ormond Street. It is such a big relief because we feel we haven’t been wrong all this time.

“On the way home from the hospital my eyes just filled with tears.

“We know he will never get better, but now he will get the help he needs. The hospital will also teach us how to handle him.”

Mr Lovett said specialists at the hospital had been intrigued with Zachary’s abilities. He added: “They think he has got a fantastic mind.

“He could count backwards at two-and-a-half. Now he will get the help to deal with his intelligence. We can’t thank the Echo enough.”

After approving the funding, Ian Stidston, the trust’s interim director of primary and community care, said: “We are keen to ensure the child receives the right response in relation to their immediate and ongoing support needs as soon possible.”

Source:  http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/8668847.Autistic_Zach_to_get_the_help_he_needs/?ref=rss



 ADHD Gene Complicates Brain Networking

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 17, 2010

Neuroscientists believe new research using brain scans show a gene linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also associated with mind-wandering during mental tasks.

Georgetown University researchers say the gene leads to increased interference between brain regions.

Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, these researchers believe their findings are the first to show, through brain scanning, the differences in brain network relationships between individuals with this particular form of gene and others with a different form.

“Our goal is to narrow down the function of candidate genes associated with ADHD, and in this study, we find this gene is tied to competition between brain networks,” said the study’s lead author, Evan Gordon, a doctoral candidate in neuroscience.

This competition could lead to increased inattention, Gordon said, but it likely has nothing to do with hyperactivity. “This is just one gene, and it does not cause ADHD but likely contributes to it. The disorder is believed to be due to a myriad of genetic factors,” he said.

The gene in question is DAT1; its protein produces the dopamine transporter that helps regulate dopamine transmission between brain cells. The DAT1 gene comes in two alleles, or forms – DAT1 10 and DAT1 9.

People who inherit two 10 alleles (10/10) are said to be at greater risk for developing ADHD than people who inherit 10/9 alleles.

Rarely does someone inherit two 9 alleles, according to Gordon; he said, in fact, that the 10 allele is slightly more common than the 9 allele.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/11/17/gene-tied-to-adhd-jams-brain-networks/20989.html



 

 L1 retrotransposons are particularly active in the cerebellum, which plays an important role in motor control. Green cells represent neurons with new L1 insertions. (Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Carol Marchetto, Salk Institute for Biological Studies)

ScienceDaily (Nov. 17, 2010) — With few exceptions, jumping genes-restless bits of DNA that can move freely about the genome-are forced to stay put. In patients with Rett syndrome, however, a mutation in the MeCP2 gene mobilizes so-called L1 retrotransposons in brain cells, reshuffling their genomes and possibly contributing to the symptoms of the disease when they find their way into active genes, report researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Their findings, published in the November 18, 2010 issue of the journal Nature, could not only explain how a single mutation can cause the baffling variability of symptoms typical of Rett syndrome but also shed new light on the complexity of molecular events that underlie psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

“This is the first time that we can show a connection between genomic stability and a mental disorder,” says lead author Fred Gage, Ph.D., a professor in the Salk’s Laboratory of Genetics and holder of the Vi and John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. “In general genomic mosaicism, generated by L1 retrotransposition, likely requires tight regulation. Epigenetic mechanisms like methlyation are ideally suited for controlling L1 activity.”

“There is certainly a genetic component to Rett syndrome and other psychiatric disorders but it may not be the only thing that’s relevant,” says first author Alysson Muotri, Ph.D., who started the study as a postdoctoral researcher in the Gage lab and now holds an appointment as an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics/Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “Somatic insertions and alterations caused by L1 elements could play a significant but underestimated role because they are hard to detect,” he adds.

Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disease, affects mostly girls and is considered one of the autism spectrum disorders. Most babies seems to grow and develop normally at first, but over time, children with Rett syndrome have increasing problems with movement, coordination and communication.

Typical features include loss of speech, stereotypic movements, mental retardation and social-behavioral problems. Although almost all cases are caused by a mutation in the MeCP2 gene, how severely people are affected by the symptoms of Rett syndrome varies widely.

Read in Full:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117141417.htm



 

ScienceDaily (Nov. 17, 2010) — Social factors can play a key role in whether or not a child is diagnosed as autistic, a new study has found.

Boys were more likely to receive a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) than girls, even when symptoms were equally severe, according to researchers at the universities of Exeter and Bristol.

“We wanted to find out what distinguishes those children without diagnosis but with autistic traits from those who have received a formal ASD diagnosis in the clinic,” explained lead researcher Ginny Russell, from Egenis at the University of Exeter. “We thought that there may be social and demographic factors that explain why some children are diagnosed and others are not. Understanding social factors that act as access barriers may provide useful insights for clinicians in practice.”

The researchers examined data from a long-term study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and have published their findings in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Ginny Russell explained: “Boys were more likely to suffer from severe autistic traits, whether diagnosed with an ASD or not. However, even with the severity of autistic traits held constant, boys were still significantly more likely to receive an ASD diagnosis than girls.

“Boys are more than four times more likely to have ASD and are clearly more likely to suffer from these types of symptoms. More interesting is our finding that even with symptom severity held constant, there is still a gender bias towards diagnosing boys. Our analysis suggests that girls are less likely to be identified with ASD even when their symptoms are equally severe.” The researchers suggested that the popular conception of autism as a ‘male’ disorder may contribute to this bias.

The study also found that the average age of mothers of children with an ASD diagnosis was three years higher than in the population generally.

The association between maternal age and ASD diagnosis was stronger than that between maternal age and ASD traits per se in the sample. The authors suggested one possible interpretation is that older mothers are better at identifying their children’s difficulties and have more confidence in bringing concerns to the clinic. Younger mothers may find it harder to identify problems.

Ethnic origin, maternal class and mother’s marital status did not significantly predict a child either having an ASD diagnosis or displaying severe autistic traits.

Editor’s Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117094029.htm

Journal Reference:

  1. Ginny Russell, Colin Steer, Jean Golding. Social and demographic factors that influence the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2010; DOI: 10.1007/s00127-010-0294-z



 

Men Get Eating Disorders Too

By Therese J. Borchard

Ginger Emas has written an interesting piece about men and eating disorders. It piqued my interest because a friend of mine once asked me if she should be concerned about her son’s eating habits. He counted calories, stayed away from sweets, and was a tad obsessive about a healthy diet. I told her not to sweat it, buying into the cultural myth that boys don’t get eating disorders. Now I know they do. To get to Ginger’s original article on ShareWIK, click here. I have reprinted it with permission below.

Usually when we talk about body image issues, we’re talking about girls. But did you know that more than one million boys and men struggle with eating disorders? More than 80 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat. More than 10 percent of middle school boys have used steroids. These are boys who don’t understand why they should brush their teeth every night; how can they possibly understand the repercussions of starving or using steroids?

Studies today suggest that body image is deeply affected by the media — television shows and movies that show buff, brawny young men and the sexy, slim women who love them. And in fact, my own son — who at 15 is tall and thin — can often be found facing the mirror sideways, and sighing over the fact that his stomach is not completely flat. What he sees is the 10-year-old version of himself, when his one chin became two and he had to wear uniform pants marked “Husky.” (What marketing genius thought that “Husky” would be a good retail term?”) This was the year that his friends at school teased him about needing a “man-bra.” But no one needed to tease him; my son was his own worst critic. Except, perhaps, for me.

I remember being concerned about my son’s weight because his paternal grandfather and uncle were obese. My own mother lost 50 pounds more than 40 years ago, but today, at 5′ 4″ and 100 pounds, she looks in the mirror and sees the girl they used to call, “Fat Ferne.” I’ve heard her stories of torment and Hershey bars all of my life; I’ve heard how her voice changes when she talks about someone who has gained weight or “looks heavy.”

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/10/23/men-get-eating-disorders-too/

Women With Anorexia Nervosa More Likely to Have Unplanned Pregnancies, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2010) — A new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Norwegian researchers has found that women with anorexia nervosa are much more likely to have both unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions than women who don’t have the serious eating disorder.

These results may be driven by a mistaken belief among women with anorexia that they can’t get pregnant because they are either not having menstrual periods at all or are having irregular periods, said Cynthia M. Bulik, PhD, the study’s lead author and director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program.

“Anorexia is not a good contraceptive,” Bulik said. “Just because you’re not menstruating, or because you’re menstruating irregularly, doesn’t mean you’re not at risk for becoming pregnant.”

Physicians and other health care providers need to be aware of this as well, Bulik said. Doctors who treat women and adolescent girls, in particular, “need to make sure that they have the conversation about sexuality and contraception as clearly with patients with anorexia as they do with all other girls and women.” In addition, providers who take care of pregnant women need to know when their patients have an eating disorder in order to provide appropriate care. Screening for eating disorders during prenatal visits would be an excellent first step, Bulik said.

In the study, published in the November 2010 issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bulik and study co-authors analyzed data collected from 62,060 women as part of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. There were 62 women in this sample who reported having anorexia nervosa.

The differences between women with anorexia and women with no eating disorder were striking. The average age of the mothers at delivery was 26.2 years in women with anorexia, compared with 29.9 years in the referent group of women without eating disorders. Fifty percent of women with anorexia reported unplanned pregnancies, compared with 18.9 percent, while 24.2 percent of women with anorexia reported having induced abortions in the past, compared to 14.6 percent.

Read in Full:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101029122213.htm



 

Long Hours + Multiple Nights On-Call = Surgeon Burnout

Article Date: 29 Oct 2010 – 0:00 PDT

Just as with everyone else perhaps, the more hours surgeons work, and the more nights they spend on call each week, the more likely they are to face burn-out, depression, dissatisfaction with their careers and serious work-home conflicts, according to a major new study led by Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic researchers.

Yet a forced reduction in work hours may not be the solution for even the busiest surgeons, who could resent punching a time clock.

The study, published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, showed a strong connection between increasing hours and nights on call and a detrimental psychological impact on surgeons in almost every setting, both professionally and personally.

“Increasing hours and nights on call results in surgeon distress using every variable we have,” says Charles M. Balch, M.D., a professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author. “There’s a strong correlation between workload and distress, which comes out in the personal and professional lives of surgeons.”

Researchers analyzed data from a 2008 survey completed by 7,905 surgeons from across the nation. Of surgeons working more than 80 hours a week, 50 percent met the survey’s criteria for burnout, 39 percent were screen positive for depression and 11 percent reported they had made a significant medical error in the previous three months. One in five surgeons who worked more than 80 hours a week said they would not become a surgeon again if they had the choice today.

Despite the evidence linking a heavy workload with many types of distress, Balch and his colleagues do not advocate restrictions on work hours.

“While there is evidence that burnout can lead to problems, there is no evidence that reducing hours would make all doctors more satisfied or lead to better patient care,” Balch says. “If hours were regulated, the reality is that people would have to punch time clocks, and I don’t think surgeons necessarily want their workload monitored.”

The key, Balch suggests, is more attention to earlier identification of surgeons at higher risk for burnout problems.

In the survey, two-thirds of surgeons said they did not want limits put on their hours, even those who worked more than 80 hours a week or were on call more than three nights a week. Surgeons who were salaried were more likely to favor restrictions than those whose pay was based entirely on billing.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206059.php



 

Article Date: 09 Nov 2010 – 0:00 PST

This study suggests that chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with an increased prevalence of maladaptive personality features and personality disorders. This might be associated with being noncompliant with treatment suggestions, displaying unhealthy behavioral strategies and lacking a stable social environment.

In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a study addresses the relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and personality factors. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) presents unique diagnostic and management challenges. Personality may be a risk factor for CFS and may contribute to the maintenance of the illness.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/207006.php



 

Tolerance of Sleep Deficits Linked to Genetics

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on October 27, 2010

We all know the type of person who can get by on four hours of sleep without a loss of function. However, for many, four hours of sleep is a nightmare with seriously diminished quality of life. Why the difference?

It may be in our genes, according to new research and an accompanying editorial published in the journal Neurology.

The study looked at people who have a gene variant that is closely associated with narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness.

However, having the gene variant, called DQB1 *0602, does not mean that a person will develop narcolepsy; depending on the population, 12 to 38 percent of those with the variant do not have the sleep disorder and are considered healthy sleepers.

Also, people without the gene variant can develop narcolepsy, though this is less common.

Read in Full:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/10/27/tolerance-of-sleep-deficits-linked-to-genetics/20203.html

 

A Study Analyses The Relation Between Sleep Disorders And Risk Perception By Drivers Suffering From This Disorder

Article Date: 29 Oct 2010 – 1:00 PDT

Within the framework of a recent research project, University of Granada researchers will analyse how sleep disorders affect risk perception in driving. To such purpose, three last-generation simulators provided by the Faculty of Psychology will be employed.

The purpose of the first study will be to analyse how a specific sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects risk perception in driving, as well as the efficacy of the therapies in development to treat it. Concretely, University of Granada researchers will study how different treatments for OSA improve risk perception in simulated driving. To such purpose, they employed the motorcycle simulator Honda Riding Trainer (HRT) using a multidimensional methodology (psychological, physical, behavioural and subjective measurements).

At present, the University of Granada counts on the only research centre in Europe devoted to study the mental mechanisms leading individuals to risky behaviours when riding a motorcycle. This study could be useful in the future to modify and avoid such behaviours. The Faculty of Psychology was provided with three last-generation simulators in 2009 usually employed to study this type of disorders, within the framework of an agreement signed with the company Honda Motor Co. (Europe).

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206088.php

 

An Interview with Barry Krakow, M.D., on PTSD and Sleep

David Van Nuys, Ph.D. Updated: Oct 31st 2010

Initially trained as an internist and emergency room physician, Dr. Krakow’s interest in treatment of sleep disturbances developed after he pursued an interest in medication side effects related to sleep problems. He has since become a sleep researcher, and runs a sleep clinic in Albuquerque, NM specialized in the treatment of sleep problems co-occurring with PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. Though PTSD is associated with nightmares, successful treatment of these nightmares does not necessarily improve sleep. Instead, PTSD (particularly long-term PTSD) often co-occurs with independently diagnosable and treatable sleep disorders including insomnia and apnea. His research suggests that many chronic insomnia patients also have undiagnosed apnea like conditions they are not aware of. He frequently prescribes an imagery technique for treatment of nightmares called Imagery Rehearsal Therapy or IRT. In IRT, patients are taught that nightmares are habitual learned behaviors and therefore modifiable. Patients are then instructed to change their nightmares however they wish and to practice this between sessions. The technique is associated with symptom relief. IRT has no exposure therapy component, but Dr. Krakow does think incorporating one might be helpful. Other sleep disorders are treated using appropriate techniques including use of breathing assistance machines such as adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), which PTSD patients more readily tolerate than CPAP. Imagery techniques are taught as distraction devices to help patients cope with the discomfort associated with breathing machines. Addressing co-occurring sleep disorders helps PTSD patients rally and cope better during waking hours.

David Van Nuys: Welcome to Wise Counsel, a podcast interview series sponsored by Mentalhelp.net, covering topics in mental health, wellness, and psychotherapy. My name is Dr. David Van Nuys. I’m a clinical psychologist and your host.


Links Relevant To This Podcast:

Read in Full/Listen to Podcast:  http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=39747&cn=100

 

Bedtime Texting, Internet Use, Disturbs Sleep And Mood In Teens

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Article Date: 03 Nov 2010 – 4:00 PDT

More than half of children and teenagers who text, or surf the internet at bedtime are likely not only to have problems falling asleep, but experience mood, behavior and cognitive problems during the day, said US researchers at a conference in Canada this week, who also found that on average, a teenager sends a total of over 3,400 electronic messages at bedtime every month.

The pilot study, by lead author Dr Peter G. Polos and and colleagues, from the JFK Medical Center, in Edison, New Jersey, was presented at the CHEST 2010, the 76th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), which is taking place this week in Vancouver, from 30 October to 4 November.

Polos told the media that one of the most surprising things they discovered was the number of texts and emails each child sent per night, on average they found this to be 33.5.

“It is significant that these children are engaging in stimulating activity when they should be in an environment to promote sleep,” he added.

Polos and colleagues analyzed questionnaire responses from 40 children and young people aged between 8 and 22 and found that those who used electronic technology to do things like text, send emails, surf the internet and play online games at bedtime not only experienced sleep-related problems such as excessive movements, leg pain and insomnia, but also had a “high rate of daytime problems, which can include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], anxiety, depression, and learning difficulties”, said Polos in a statement.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206546.php

 

Extraverts Are More Vulnerable To Effects Of Sleep Deprivation After Social Interaction

Article Date: 02 Nov 2010 – 5:00 PDT

A study in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found that vulnerability to sleep deprivation is influenced by the interaction between waking social activity and individual personality traits.

Results show that extraverts who were exposed to 12 hours of social interaction were more vulnerable to subsequent sleep deprivation than those who were exposed to an identical period of isolated activity. Speed on the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) for extraverts in the socially enriched group was significantly slower at 4 a.m., 6 a.m. and noon compared with speed for extraverts in the socially impoverished condition. Introverts’ speed on the PVT was relatively unaffected by prior social exposure.

“Extraverts exposed to socially enriched environments showed greater vulnerability to subsequent sleep deprivation than did extraverts exposed to an identical but socially impoverished environment,” said principal investigator and lead author Tracy L. Rupp, PhD, research psychologist in the Behavioral Biology Branch of the Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md. “The ability of introverts to resist sleep loss was relatively unaffected by the social environment. Overall, the present results might also be interpreted more generally to suggest that waking experiences, along with their interaction with individual characteristics, influence vulnerability to subsequent sleep loss.”

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206407.php

 

Wake Up, Mom: Gender Differences in Accepting Sleep Interruptions

ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2010) — Working mothers are two-and-a-half times as likely as working fathers to interrupt their sleep to take care of others. That is the finding of a University of Michigan study providing the first known nationally representative data documenting substantial gender differences in getting up at night, mainly with babies and small children.

And women are not only more likely to get up at night to care for others, their sleep interruptions last longer — an average of 44 minutes for women, compared to about 30 minutes for men.

“Interrupted sleep is a burden borne disproportionately by women,” said sociologist Sarah Burgard, a researcher at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR). “And this burden may not only affect the health and well-being of women, but also contribute to continuing gender inequality in earnings and career advancement.”

For the study, Burgard analyzed time-diary data from approximately 20,000 working parents from 2003 to 2007, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Time Use Survey.

The gender gap in sleep interruptions was greatest during the prime childbearing and child-rearing years of the twenties and thirties, she found.

Among dual-career couples with a child under the age of one, 32 percent of women reported sleep interruptions to take care of the baby, compared with just 11 percent of men. The proportion reporting interrupted sleep declined with the age of the child, with 10 percent of working mothers and 2 percent of working fathers with children ages 1 to 2 reporting sleep interruptions, and just 3 percent of working mothers and 1 percent of working fathers with children ages 3 to 5.

“What is really surprising,” Burgard said, “is that gender differences in night-time caregiving remain even after adjusting for the employment status, income and education levels of each parent. Among parents of infants who are the sole breadwinner in a couple, for example, 28 percent of women who are the sole breadwinner report getting up at night to take care of their children, compared to just 4 percent of men who are the only earner in the couple.”

In related research, Burgard and colleagues found that women get slightly more sleep compared to men. But getting about 15 minutes more total sleep a day may or may not compensate for the greater sleep interruptions women face.

“Women face greater fragmentation and lower quality of sleep at a crucial stage in their careers,” Burgard said. “The prime childbearing years are also the time when earnings trajectories are being established, and career advancement opportunities could well be foregone if women reduce their paid work time or see their workplace performance affected because of exhaustion. As a result, sleep interruption may represent an under-recognized ‘motherhood penalty’ that influences life chances and well-being.”

The findings also have implications for public health interventions to improve sleep. “Generally, these interventions target individual behaviors, such as the use of alcohol, caffeine or tobacco,” said Burgard. “Or they focus on nightly routines that help people to relax and fall asleep or stay asleep more successfully.

“But for parents of young children, the best approach might be discussions and negotiations about whose turn it is to get up with the baby tonight.”

Read in Full:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116182057.htm