Good Wellness Habits Help Kids Prosper in School

Raising children often means worrying about their health and how they are doing in school. In fact, University of Alabama at Birmingham experts say excelling in school depends on making the right choices. Health habits, such as eating and sleep patterns, are linked to academic success, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Your brain can’t work if you’re not consuming enough calories..." "... “But when kids go to school without eating breakfast, their cognitive function can be affected.”...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/29/good-wellness-habits-help-kids-prosper-in-school/57734.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

How the Brain Filters Out Noise to Stay Focused & On Task

Staying on task is not easy given the multiple distractions we often face. Experts acknowledge that without the ability to focus and filter out “noise,” we could not effectively interact with our environment. Although maintaining attention is well-established as a core brain function, until now the cellular mechanisms responsible for the effects of attention have remained a mystery...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/29/how-the-brain-filters-out-noise-to-stay-focused-on-task/57732.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Identifying Teens at Risk for PTSD

Many teens are exposed to emotionally traumatic events, putting them at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A new study found online in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry helps clinicians target those who are most vulnerable...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/30/how-to-identify-teens-at-risk-for-ptsd/57756.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Of Course French Kids Have (ADHD PART II of II)

Repost from..."Psychology Today"

A post from psychology today: "created real interest in the possibility that French children may be less likely to be diagnosed and treated for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  In fact, however, the prevalence of ADHD among French children appears to be about 3.5% to 5.6% - which is consistent with the DSM-IV-TR estimate of prevalence in the US.  And, just as in the US, the diagnosis was frequently co-occurring with behavioral disorders and academic underperformance, and boys were more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis of ADHD.

Likewise, a 2003 literature review found similar prevalence of ADHD in 30 non-US countries.

Among adults, estimates of ADHD appeared to vary from about 2% to 4% in this 2007 study across 10 nations.  Those numbers are consistent with a pooled prevalence estimate of 2.5% in this 2009meta-analysis..."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/intrinsic-motivation-and-magical-unicorns/201305/course-french-kids-have-adhd

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Why French Kids Don't Have ADHD (PART I of II)

Comments by Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.:

This article and a second one to be posted just after this one poses an interesting conversation about ADHD.

Symptoms consistent with ADHD absolutely interfere with children and adults living their lives as they would like. However, one of the questions I feel is most important to consider in treating ADHD is: what is causing the difficulty with sustained attention and concentration? Until that is answered and other possibilities are ruled out I do not feel ADHD is the best place to stop in helping the patient.

If a child is anxious and struggles to pay attention as a result of the anxiety should they also be diagnosed with ADHD if they meet diagnostic criteria? Stimulants may help this child pay attention in the short run but if the cause of anxiety is addressed I have found that the ADHD will remit and the child will feel more reassured about their ability to face and cope with feelings. Many times I find that there is a time pressure to treat the symptoms as fast as possible. This may be where stimulants come in and an ADHD diagnosis is given due to the person meeting diagnostic criteria. They may notice improved concentration but might a bigger part of be picture be getting over looked?

BEGIN ARTICLE: Published on March 8, 2012 by Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D. in Suffer the Children

In the United States, at least 9% of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications. In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5%. How come the epidemic of ADHD—which has become firmly established in the United States—has almost completely passed over children in France?

Is ADHD a biological-neurological disorder? Surprisingly, the answer to this question depends on whether you live in France or in the United States. In the United States, child psychiatrists consider ADHD to be a biological disorder with biological causes. The preferred treatment is also biological--psycho stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall...

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/suffer-the-children/201203/why-french-kids-dont-have-adhd

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

More Frequent, Not Long Vacations Best for Stress Reduction

Getting away from work or a routine at home is a tried and true remedy for stress relief and mental rejuvenation. However, taking the correct amount of time off can make a difference for returning with renewed vigor, or coming back from a vacation loaded with new stress...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/19/more-frequent-not-long-vacations-best-for-stress-reduction/57370.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Overnight Stays Away From Home Affect Babies' Attachments

What happens when babies spend a night or more each week away from their primary caregiver — as increasingly happens in cases where parents share custody — but do not live together?

Researchers from the University of Virginia found that those infants had more insecure attachments...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/21/overnight-stays-away-from-home-affect-babies-attachments/57400.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

The Return of the Invisible Gorilla: Experts Aren't Immune to this Psychological Effect

In a classic study, researchers asked subjects to watch a video of two groups of people passing a basketball and count the number of passes by one of the teams or keep count of bounce passes vs. aerial passes. Engrossed in the task, half the subjects failed to notice a person in a gorilla suit walk through the video scene.

This phenomena is called inattentional blindness (IB) and a new study... discovers that even expert searchers... are vulnerable to IB. “...This study helps illustrate that what we become focused on becomes the center of our world, and it shapes what we can and cannot see..."

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/22/the-return-of-the-invisible-gorilla-experts-arent-immune-to-this-psychological-effect/57478.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Workplace Improvements: How To Make Your Space More Enjoyable

If you're like most people, your workplace isn't exactly a joyful haven of rest and relaxation. Indeed, most would agree that they have stressful jobs and workplaces that don't do enough to promote employee wellness. The American Psychological Association (APA) cites 5 components of a psychologically healthy workplace...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/02/workplace-improvements_n_3529272.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

DOMA Decision "a Roadmap for Marriage Equality in All 50 States"

What a difference a day makes. The Supreme Court on Wednesday morning struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The ruling, as expected, does not establish a universal right to same-sex marriage. But Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for a five-to-four majority, eschewed a narrow opinion that threw out the law simply on federalism grounds. Instead, Kennedy and the four liberal justices declared that DOMA deprives same-sex couples of “equal protection” under the law...

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113641/supreme-court-strikes-down-doma-big-step-marriage-equality#

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Friends In Business Together: 4 Success Stories

As the old saying goes, “Don’t mix business with pleasure.” Based on this conventional wisdom, starting up a company with a friend is probably, well, not the wisest idea. Yet commerce has no shortage of business buddies—from Ben and Jerry (grade-school friends) to Hewlett and Packard (college pals). Heck, even Starbucks was created by a group of college chums... We tracked down four sets of pals who are in business together to find out the secret to their friendly success...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/06/26/friends-in-business-together-4-success-stories/

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Men and women cooperate differently in relationships: study

The two sexes 'experience cooperation differently,' University of Arizona researchers found. Men want to appease their partners quickly, while women want to get to the root of the problem.

A new study sheds light on the significant differences in how men and women try to cooperate and appease one another in a relationship.

As researchers from the University of Arizona point out, one of the keys to a successful relationship is compromise and cooperation.

But after observing 44 straight couples in an experiment that gauged their emotional responses during a mundane conversation about their shared lifestyle with respect to health and diet, study authors concluded that while a man tends to mirror a woman’s emotional response in order to appease her, a woman, on the other hand, will sway in the opposite direction. That is, if her partner is feeling more positive, she will tend to feel less positive and vice versa...

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/men-women-cooperate-differently-relationships-study-article-1.1387093

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Workplace Improvements: How To Make Your Space More Enjoyable

If you're like most people, your workplace isn't exactly a joyful haven of rest and relaxation. Indeed, most would agree that they have stressful jobs and workplaces that don't do enough to promote employee wellness.

However, progressive organizations around the world are beginning to understand the importance of employee wellbeing. They now know that improving workplace wellness isn't just a nice thing to do for employees -- it helps the company bottom line in numerous ways...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/02/workplace-improvements_n_3529272.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Aging Stereotypes Can Actually Hamper Memory in Older Adults

A new study has found that attributing every forgetful moment to getting older — so-called “senior moments” — can actually exacerbate their memory problems.

According to researchers at the University of Southern California School of Gerontology, their new study is an extension of the idea of “stereotype threat,” a widely studied phenomenon in social psychology.

When people are confronted with negative stereotypes about a group with which they identify, they tend to “self-handicap and underperform compared to their potential,”...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/07/aging-stereotypes-can-actually-hamper-memory-in-older-adults/56894.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com

Poor Sleep Increases Relationship Stress

Perhaps it is no surprise that researchers have discovered relationship problems can keep us awake at night. Now, a more important finding suggests that sleepless nights can also worsen the relationship conflict.

University of California – Berkeley psychologists Amie Gordon and Dr. Serena Chen discovered that people are much more likely to lash out at their romantic partners over relationship conflicts after a bad night’s sleep...

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/07/10/poor-sleep-increases-relationship-stress/57032.html

Reposted by:

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC.

drcharlesdavenport.com