MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cognitive skills'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:31:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069843&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Fmanaging-migraines-without-medication%2F Ahhh, migraine – psychedelia without the high… nausea without the alcohol… The diagnostic criteria: A) At least 5 attacks fulfilling B-D; B) lasting untreated 4-74 hours; C) two of the following: unilateral, pulsating, moderate or severe pain intensity, worsening with physical activity; D) one of the following: nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia or phonophobia; E) not attributed to another disorder. (International Classification of headache disorders, 2004) (go here for one of the most comprehensive sites on migraine) The main treatment for migraine is to use medication – best evidence to date suggests:  “Only two pharmacological treatments have been shown to be effective in placebo-controlled randomized trials: topiramate and local injection of botulinum to... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069843 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:42:59 +0100 5069843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029273&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fself-efficacy-and-fear-of-movement-mediate-pain-intensity-and-disability-in-acute-pain%2F Most clinicians working in chronic pain management are well aware that the time it takes for people to finally be referred for management of their pain is far too long and some of the readers of this blog who work with people who have acute pain may wonder whether anything I write about applies to them and the people they treat.  To both groups of readers – today’s post should apply! Arguably the most common reason for people seeing a doctor is because of a musculoskeletal pain.  Treatment is usually quite simple: diagnosis, pain relief, anti-inflammatories and gradual return to function.  It’s this last part of treatment that seems to cause the most trouble for people - what if the pain doesn’t settle, what if I’m damaging my body, how long should I &#8220... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029273 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:29:01 +0100 5029273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911844&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fa-brief-review-of-cognitive-behavioural-approaches-for-pain-management%2F Cognitive behavioural approaches for pain management are not exactly the same as cognitive behavioural therapy for mental health problems.  While there are some underlying concepts that are the same, cognitive behavioural approaches for pain management include a wider range of strategies, and are far less readily defined than the very structured approach used in mental health.  In fact it has only been in the last few years that research into the process of change in pain management have been conducted. What defines a cognitive behavioural approach? The assumption that people can learn to accept their chronic pain That people can broaden their self-concept beyond being “a patient” into being “a person with pain” That people can learn or re-explore skills to deal ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911844 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:39:00 +0100 4911844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883925&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F31%2Fcatastrophising-and-pain-i%2F One reason I love blogging is the discussion between me and readers. I wrote about the language of pain recently, and out of that discussion I’ve spent a few days digging around the literature to look at what is known about the relationship between language, pain and catastrophising. I’d argued in my post that metaphoric language can reflect distress both in the communicator and the listener, and that this is supported by fMRI studies in which various parts of the brain are activated when emotion-laden communication about pain is being carried out, while one of my readers thought I might be taking this interpretation too far. Pain behaviour My reason for being interested in how we communicate about pain is that talking about pain (including describing it) is a pain behaviour. P... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883925 Mon, 30 May 2011 19:15:07 +0100 4883925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803558&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F10%2Fcatastrophising-and-maybe-what-to-do-about-it-for-subacutechronic-pain%2F This study is also an excellent one for looking at process, or how people change over time using a daily diary method. The finding in this paper suggests that one way for helping people be more resilient and modify their tendency towards catastrophising might be to help them identify and then pursue positive experiences during each day.  Scheduling pleasant or enjoyable events as part of a daily routine is certainly something any clinician can do, and often those pleasant events can be physical, such as going for a walk, playing with the kids, or even doing some stretches. Finally (but not the final word!), a study by McKnight and colleagues looked at the mediating effect of self efficacy on the relationship between catastrophising and disability.  In this study, participants with early ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803558 Tue, 10 May 2011 02:18:40 +0100 4803558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664499&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F31%2Fmoodjuice%2F I had a nice email from James Hardie from Moodjuice website, an NHS Scotland site developed for both health professionals and individuals to access self help resources. For patients, the site starts by saying “Emotional problems are often the mind and body’s way of saying that something needs to be changed in our life” - I like that!  I like the way the patient area is based on practical problems like housing, childcare, hobbies and interests, meeting people, relationships and so on. For professionals, the feature that really appeals to me is the “build your own resource” area.  This enables you to put together the most relevant handouts for the person you’re seeing – a lovely feature! Then you can print the whole lot off, and it’s a pulled-tog... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664499 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:12:26 +0100 4664499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615450&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F21%2Fmaking-self-help-more-helpful%2F In this study, Varley, Webb and Sheeran contacted (via email) the students and staff at a university in the UK.  People who were already being treated for anxiety were excluded, and the remaining participants (251 of them) were randomised into three groups.  All of them completed baseline Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, developed by Zigmond and Snaith, 1983) and the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, and Jacobs, 1983). One group received no input, while the other two groups were asked to go to a web page where they downloaded a self-help booklet.  Both of the booklets were the same eight-page booklet containing psychoeducation, diary sheets for self-monitoring triggers and feelings, and two relaxation techniques &#... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615450 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:20:16 +0100 4615450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429241&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F03%2Fcbt-approach-in-the-real-world%2F While there are many papers published about the outcomes from using a cognitive behavioural approach, there are very few describing the process ‘in the real world’. This leaves a gap for many clinicians who may read about it, maybe have training in delivering this type of intervention, or work in a team where it’s an integral part of practice – but who may not know how it ‘works’ except as it’s delivered in a pen-and-paper, sitting-in-a-clinic-room kind of way. Today I’m describing one way I go about integrating a CBT approach into my work.    This case study is a compilation of several people I’ve worked with, in order to protect patient privacy. Simone has neuropathic pain in her dominant hand. She’s a tough cookie who worked... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429241 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:33:39 +0100 4429241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419197&cid=t_153450_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F31%2Fare-we-rational-animals%2F Aristotle held the belief that man is a rational animal. A growing body of research suggests otherwise. Rational: of or based on reasoning (from Webster’s New World Dictionary).  This ambiguous definition is similar to what is given by many people when asked to define rational.  This type of definition is virtually worthless as it becomes open to a plethora of interpretations.  In order to teach and express the importance of rational thinking it is imperative to precisely define the concept. What is rationality? Rationality is concerned with two key things: what is true and what to do (Manktelow, 2004).  In order for our beliefs to be rational they must be in agreement with evidence.  In order for our actions to be rational they must be conducive to obtaining our goals. Cognitive s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419197 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:52:16 +0100 4419197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175986&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F18%2Fmedication-and-self-managing-chronic-pain-iii%2F When discussing medication and pain reduction for chronic pain, it’s not surprising there are some very strong opinions and emotions.  After all, having pain is universally known to be unpleasant, very few people really want to have pain (except those who like the rush of acute pain – vis a vis body suspension!), and the first person many people go to discuss their pain is a medical practitioner. The way the centre in which I work views medication is that it forms part of a toolkit for managing pain, alongside all the self management strategies that we also endorse.  So, by and large, most of the people we see are on a stable regime of medication targeting the underlying mechanisms thought to be influencing the nervous system’s sensitivity to stimuli. A reader suggested... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175986 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:03:55 +0100 4175986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143033&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F08%2Fhappy-happy-joy-joy-increasing-positive-experiences-to-improve-mood%2F I am sure there will be people who read today’s post who will feel like giving me a bit of a slapping. “How”, they will say, “Are you supposed to get happy when you’re feeling bad?” And I would have been one of these people a few years ago too, given my history of low mood and love of whining. Seriously, it’s completely counter-intuitive to think that when you’re feeling flat and low, all you need to do is get out and enjoy yourself! It goes a bit like this, I think. When someone is feeling a bit flat, maybe having done too much and started to feel fatigued, it’s normal to stop doing quite so much and rest up. But if resting fails to increase energy – maybe because of a chronic condition like fibromyalgia, or really any of the chr... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143033 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:37:39 +0100 4143033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994369&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F23%2Fworking-with-thoughts-habits-take-time-to-change%2F If only there was a magic wand. I could make millions out of a ‘quick fix’ to changing habits! Unfortunately my magic wand is red and glittery – and plastic. I call it my ‘self management’ wand because it reminds me that self management is no quick fix, and a good deal of the work we need to do is about helping people recognize unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that might work in the short term, but not so in the long term. Changing patterns for sleeping well despite chronic pain is no different – what might have been going on for years isn’t likely to change overnight. Some of the thoughts that people have when embarking on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can be quite unhelpful. One woman I worked with became despondent and eventually gav... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994369 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:35:51 +0100 3994369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845298&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F09%2Ftop-down-bottom-up-or-both-attention-to-pain%2F I guess we all pretty much know that our brains don’t seem to capture everything that goes on around us – thankfully we can filter out a lot of unnecessary information (no, I don’t want to know what that funny noise outside is right now!) so that we can focus on what is important. When it comes to pain, the limited capacity of our brains to process information has been used to explain why there are times that, despite a large amount of nociceptive input, we can remain pretty much oblivious to it. Clearly it would be wonderful if we could harness this and use it as a form of analgesia. The place to start, I guess, is with recognition that one function of our brain is to keep us focused on important goal-directed activity. Because of this function, some information that is ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845298 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:41:48 +0100 3845298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3747009&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F13%2Fold-beliefs-die-hard-case-conceptualising-coping-with-a-flare-up%2F We know about neuroplasticity – how the brain so wonderfully remodels connections continuously.  We also know how hard changing habits can be.  The underlying premise of the cognitive behavioural approach to coping with chronic pain is that people can learn new ways of viewing their situation and develop new responses, and in doing so, start to live well again.  The process is not easy! Before I go further, I want to reassure readers that the case presentation I’m going to discuss is a fiction – based on several real patients, but with details altered to protect identity. One of the most difficult aspects of coping with chronic pain is that the pain doesn’t remain at a constant level.  It fluctuates in intensity, it can remain high for varying periods, it can dr... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3747009 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:35:48 +0100 3747009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733048&cid=t_153450_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Frudeness-in-the-workplace-give-us-the-gossip%2F photo: Thinkstock Uncivilized behavior in the workplace doesn’t just put everyone on edge, a new study shows that workplace altercations actually affect the way workers perform. And you don’t have to be directly involved in a squabble to feel the effects of it – even employees who witnessed a co-worker being insulted or berated performed poorly on cognitive exams. Do you have any good office gossip about co-workers or bosses being rude? (Of course you do.) Dish in the comments section, below. The more cringe-worthy the stories, the better. (You can use an alias!) via iVillage Post from: BlissTree Rudeness In the Workplace: Give Us the Gossip (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733048 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:31:47 +0100 3733048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331351&cid=t_153450_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F03%2Fdoes-baby-einstein-help-toddlers-learn%2F This study is in keeping with the past research that has looked into the effectiveness of these DVDs and educational videos and found them wanting. Past research has also shown that, for the most part, these DVDs simply do not work to help give a toddler a “leg up” in their educational development. In fact, in past studies, infants who watch educational DVDs actually learned fewer words and scored lower on certain cognitive tests than babies who did not watch the DVDs. Baby Einstein claims they don’t market their DVDs to help make babies more smart (although at one time in their history, they did market the increased developmental skills brought about by their videos). Yet I suspect many parents purchase these products — in part, because of the name — thinking... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331351 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:30:44 +0100 3331351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3157583&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FqtPLqziw02M%2F In this study, typically developing students were tested for their IQ and working memory at 5 years old and again when they were 11 years old. They were also tested on their academic attainments in reading, spelling and maths. Findings and Educational Implications The findings revealed that a child’s success in all aspects of learning is down to how good their working memory is regardless of IQ score. Critically, working memory at the start of formal education is a more powerful predictor of subsequent academic success than IQ in the early years. This unique finding is important as it addresses concerns that general intelligence, still viewed as a key predictor of academic success, is unreliable. An individual can have an average IQ score but perform poorly in learning. Some psychologist... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3157583 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:38:48 +0100 3157583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967419&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FIyJ1ZqXFUE8%2F This study aims to improve these and other related cognitive skills by using a driving game in which players practice paying attention to relevant information, such as traffic signs, and ignoring irrelevant information, such as billboards. The study monitors brain activity with electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and observes eye position and game performance in younger adults (ages 18 to 30) and older adults (ages 60 to 80) before and after six weeks of game play. The study assesses changes in cognitive ability, brain activity and transfer of game-related skills to similar cognitive operations and activities that take place in daily life. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) Reward Circuitry, Autism and Games that Teach Social Perceptual Skills – tests effe... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967419 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:35:40 +0100 2967419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865944&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F07%2Fwhat-is-an-acceptable-outcome%2F This study didn’t appear to directly look at the relationship between distress and treatment expectation – it would be an interesting area to study. What I’ll take from this study is this: part of my role is to help people move toward accepting that even if pain is present, and it’s more intense than hoped-for, life is still good and there are things we can do to make life better. Thorne, F., & Morley, S. (2009). Prospective judgments of acceptable outcomes for pain, interference and activity: Patient-determined outcome criteria Pain, 144 (3), 262-269 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.04.004 Scheier MF, Carver CS. Optimism, coping, and health: assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychol 1985;5:219–47. (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865944 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:37:59 +0100 2865944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685388&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F10%2Fthinking-about-thinking%2F For a long time I thought everyone thought about what they think about, how they think about it, and what their thinking concluded – now I know that some people never do this and live on simply following the rules (and probably having a fun and relaxed time of it!).  I, on the other hand, have always spent time at the end of the day thinking about my thoughts and what they mean and how I come up with them.  The technical term for this is ‘metacognition’, or ‘thinking about thinking’, and it’s a strategy that can be really useful in cognitive therapy as well as pain management – and even more useful in your professional work as a therapist. I started writing this post after reading this from the Skeptical Methodologist… in it The Skeptical M... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685388 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:05:45 +0100 2685388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453264&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fsupported-self-management-new-but-old%2F I attended a workshop today on supported self management for chronic health conditions.  It’s something the New Zealand Ministry of Health are keen to support, it’s popular in the US and UK – hopefully will save money, because it’s all about what the person with the health condition does, it’s a bit of a buzz-word. Some of the other buzz words for the day: biopsychosocial model; health literacy; cognitive behavioural therapy; and patient-centred. I was pleased to see so many people from a diverse range of practice settings all keen to hear about new ways of delivering health.  It was exciting to see people given hard evidence that self management in a condition such as refractory angina actually works.  It does cost less to help someone do some daily exerci... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453264 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:11:31 +0100 2453264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442921&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F27%2Ftravel-to-interesting-places-online%2F Today’s post is about some of the interesting links you can find online.  Mostly links to do with brains, psychology and pain – but not all! Genes to Cognition Online – featuring the 3-D brain, lovely interactive graphical interface to burrow down into really interesting topics like cognitive processes, disorders, research approaches and neuroimaging research, you can lose yourself for hours. Deric Bownds’ MindBlog is full of brain and music information.  It’s in-depth material that can challenge and intrigue – some great podcasts available, and loads of links. If you’re ever in need of some stimulating discourse on neuroplasticity and things to do with the nervous system, head to Neurotonics: a PT team blog.  The above two links are courtesy of... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442921 Tue, 26 May 2009 19:24:02 +0100 2442921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405707&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FhzIdjodeiHw%2F Welcome to the 70th edition of Encephalon, the blog carnival that offers some of the best neuroscience and psychology blog posts every other week. --- Mysteries of Brain and Mind Cognitive  Daily, by Dave Munger Guys on dates want to know: Is it really impossible to ignore an attractive face? Recent research seems to demonstrate that, indeed, attractive faces can distract us from a variety of tasks.  Dating Tip of the Week: what about impressing your date with a homecooked dinner next time and avoid potential misunderstandings? Neuroanthropology, by Greg Downey BIG NEWS: First Neuroanthropology Conference! The first Neuroanthropology Conference will be held 8 October 2009 at the University of Notre Dame. Great theme, great speakers. Will it offer a cross-cultural analysis of the... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405707 Mon, 11 May 2009 15:52:47 +0100 2405707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2387250&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F04%2Fattention-to-pain-a-neurocognitive-model%2F Something that really frustrates me is the way psychology can be seen as ‘woolly’ or ’soft’ simply because the constructs being studied can’t be touched or visualised.  So although I don’t think that neuroimaging represents ‘psychological’ constructs in any sort of a one-to-one sense, it is nice to be able to point to research that provides an underlying biological explanation for some of the abstract concepts that are commonly used to explain psychological aspects of the experience of pain. While physics, mathematics and allied sciences have developed a technology to measure and quantify physical substances, it’s psychology we have to thank for the generation of measurement strategies for abstract concepts.  Incidentally, for a nice ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387250 Mon, 04 May 2009 08:30:16 +0100 2387250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2042735&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F16%2Fcoping-strategies-survey-the-results-2%2F Yesterday I started reviewing the coping strategies survey I’ve been running. 33 participants, a mix of health professionals - and some interesting results. Today I’m looking at when to use pain management strategies, and why. Question 1 - Reducing pain behaviour has been recommended as a part of effective pain management. When do you think it should be encouraged? 24.1% When the person’s pain is at a ‘usual’ daily level 69.0% At all times, even during a flare-up of pain 6.9% When the person is around other people Further comments: As often as the person can sustain the focus without stressing out Interesting responses to this question - I’m curious because I don’t read much specific information about how therapists typically address reducing pain beh... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2042735 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:39:02 +0100 2042735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2041254&cid=t_153450_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F483719477%2F This study found that adults in their 60s and 70s can improve a number of cognitive functions by playing a strategic video games. “When you train somebody on a task they tend to improve in that task, whatever it is, but it usually doesn’t transfer much beyond that skill or beyond the particular situation in which they learned it,” he said. “And there are virtually no studies that examine whether there’s any transfer outside the lab to things people care about.” After testing several video games, the researchers selected “Rise of Nations,” which gives gamers points for building cities and “wonders,” feeding and employing their people, maintaining an adequate military and expanding their territory. The study included 40 older adult... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2041254 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:20:41 +0100 2041254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2008135&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F02%2Fmeeting-needs-and-making-meaning-the-pursuit-of-goals%2F Goals: setting them, working towards them, achieving them - they’re part of being human or so Brian Griffith and Catherine Graham say. In this article, they explore the Adlerian interpretation of goals as embodying the meaning of human life saying ‘goals reflect core values, reinforce an image of the ideal self, compensate for inferiority feelings, guard against pain, provide meaning in the present, and promote hope for the future.’(Griffith & Graham, 2004). I was searching for some of the theoretical background to goal setting and came across this paper, which although is really a philosophical exploration of some of the models that occupational therapists drew on early in the development of the profession, also contains some references to more empirical and modern w... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2008135 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:27:43 +0100 2008135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1997510&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F28%2Fthe-way-you-think-about-pain-is-related-to-the-way-you-cope%2F This study demonstrates that indeed, ‘cognitive appraisals of pain can indirectly predict the level of functioning, impairment, and pain intensity of pain’. If daily activity and impairment are considered as indicators of chronic pain patients’ health, adjustment, quality of life, and well-being, as suggested by many authors, then this study confirms that cognitive appraisals of pain, due to the mediating role of passive coping, influence the level of functioning and impairment. This of course, suggests that if we can help people reconceptualise their situation as a challenge rather than a threat or harmful, they may move from using passive coping strategies to active coping strategies. I’m not so sure - these were people who had no exposure to pain management strategi... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1997510 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:17:43 +0100 1997510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947960&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F447995271%2F My apologies for not writing in a few days...the Global Agenda Summit in Dubai has required all my attention - I will summarize the great experience when I land back in San Francisco tomorrow night. The concepts of night and day do become challenging when working for a few days in a place with a 12-hour time difference with one's home base. Sleep is indeed very important to maintain top cognitive shape...which leads me to a fascinating news announcement: Health insurance firms offering online cognitive therapy for insomnia (Los Angeles Times) - "helping consumers get a good night's sleep has become a priority for most of the top-tier U.S. health insurance companies, including WellPoint, Aetna, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and several Blue Cross plans. Their new programs don't involve slee... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947960 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:52:44 +0100 1947960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933522&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F442595738%2F Very interesting new market development: עסקה חדשה בקנדה לסטארט-אפ הישראלי אייס; עשוי לרשום הכנסות של עשרות ... The Marker, Israel - Oct 28, 2008 מנתונים שפירסמה באחרונה חברת המחקר SharpBrains, עולה כי שוק התוכנות לאימון המוח הכפיל עצמו בתוך פחות משנתיים. ההצלחה הבולטת בתחום היא של חברת נינטנדו ... In other words, Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) and USA Hockey have partnered to bring to market a cognitive simulation game to improve the performance of ice hockey players - similar to what  ACE has been offering to professional and amateur basketball players. ACE has raised $2.5M, and ACE and USA Hockey have received a jo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933522 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:18:42 +0100 1933522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1912476&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F28%2Fexplaining-pain-to-people-with-chronic-pain%2F One of the most challenging jobs we do in chronic pain management is help people get their heads around what chronic pain is…without giving them the idea that we think they’re imagining it, they’re mentally unwell, they’re ‘pretending’, ‘malingering’ or otherwise ‘not coping’. While I can’t say I’ve got the answer, after explaining what pain is for a few years (not telling how many!), there are some things I find work better than others… The first thing is to have a bunch of examples of everyday pain (mainly acute pain) to act as examples - mine include getting a flu jab, sunburn, a stubbed toe, sports bruises, and shark bites!  This helps people understand that pain is a normal, everyday experience that is unde... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1912476 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:48:14 +0100 1912476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1877200&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F15%2Fcue-cards-for-coping%2F One problem people have when learning coping skills is remembering what to do and when to do it.   In the heat of the moment it can be really difficult to recall exactly what the new strategy is!  We also know that pain interferes with recall because of the disruptive effect on attention, and this effect is heightened when people are anxious about their pain.  One good measure for whether attention and thinking processes are disrupted is the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (McCracken & Dhingra, 2002). There are a few techniques for helping people to remember what to do - including some of my favourites like a sticker on a doorframe, post-it notes on the computer or dashboard of the car, or reminders on a cellphone or computer.  But one way that has been helpful for several reasons is ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1877200 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:16:08 +0100 1877200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1827169&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F24%2Frevelation-im-experimenting-on-patients%2F Actually, the heading should read ‘I’m experimenting on with patients! Does that not help?  Sorry, perhaps I should unpack what I mean! Chronic pain, or actually, chronic disability associated with pain, is multifactorial.  What that means is there are many different factors that influence how and why a person has chronic pain and disability.  It also means that each person is likely to have a different set of factors that is contributing to why they are having this set of problems in this specific situation. And the implications of this are that it’s highly unlikely that any one single treatment will ‘work’ to ‘fix’ the problem! In fact, the only time we can be certain about our treatments is when the following conditions are met: a reliable a... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1827169 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:08:01 +0100 1827169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1791970&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F15%2Fthe-importance-of-doing-nothing%2F While recovering from my postconcussion syndrome, I learned a lot about saying no and letting go. I’m not usually prone to doing this, so it was a surprise to me to find out that not only could I do it, but I have carried on doing it and enjoying it! I don’t have any literature to support today’s post, but my own personal experience (an N of 1 study!). I wonder how often in rehabilitation or pain management, we even think about scheduling time for the people we work with to just do nothing. I think sometimes we might under-estimate the amount of energy that goes into following a programme of therapy. Here’s just a little from my experience. Every day I was going to work for half a day, returning home to sleep for an hour and a half. Then I would do my speech languag... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791970 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:19:05 +0100 1791970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1776710&cid=t_153450_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F03%2Fcoping-skills-and-goals-living-a-valued-life%2F After musing about the previous two posts on coping and motivation (this is the second one), today I want to complete the set and think about how we as treatment providers might view the range of coping skills a person uses. Van Damme, Crombez & Eccleston (2008) point out that ‘behaviour will emerge to be adaptive or maladaptive depending upon the match between a person’s appraisal of their abilities and their real abilities, the accuracy of their appraisal of the threat, and their ability to switch to a different coping approach if their chosen strategy fails.’ They use the Brandtstadter and Rothermund model of goal-directed coping - assimilative in which people try to work out how to achieve the goal despite barriers, and accommodative in which people adjust their expec... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1776710 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:32:50 +0100 1776710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730854&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F373515207%2F There were a few interesting research papers presented at the last  American Psychological Association conventions around the theme: Playing Video Games Offers Learning Across Life Span, Say Studies Skills Transfer to Classroom, Surgical Procedures, Scientific Thinking (press release). Probably the most interesting study was that of 303 laparoscopic surgeons, which "showed that surgeons who played video games requiring spatial skills and hand dexterity and then performed a drill testing these skills were significantly faster at their first attempt and across all 10 trials than the surgeons who did not the play video games first." The note goes further to explain the implications from this research: "The big picture is that there are several dimensions on which games have ef... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730854 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:05:45 +0100 1730854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711950&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F367729370%2F The article Clumsy kids more likely to become obese adults: study (CBC)... - "The study was based on tests of about 11,000 people in Britain who were tested for hand control, co-ordination and clumsiness at age seven and 11, and were then followed until age 33." - "Prof. Scott Montgomery of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and his colleagues at Imperial College London in England said they purposely chose measurements of fine hand control such as picking up matches, rather than those likely to be influenced by participating in sports, such as catching balls." - "While it is often assumed that the cognitive impairments seen in adult obesity are a consequence of excess weight, that could be putting the chicken before the egg, the researchers say" ...remin... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711950 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:17:08 +0100 1711950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696706&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F362094663%2F In the post Top 10 Brain Training Future Trends I asked for suggestions to refine our predictions for the 2007-2015 period. A good number of people contributed, and the winner is... Scott Spears, retired public schools superintendent. His prediction:  "Prediction 11: The notion of schooling will be structurally dramatically altered through the use of diagnostics related to the acquisition and improvement of basic cognitive skills (such as brain processing speed, attention, memory, and sequencing), along with prescriptions employing emerging brain fitness software exercises, beginning in the earliest grades and progressing through high school. Schools will be structured around the acquisition of foundational cognitive skills, related physical fitness to support brain fitness, student... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696706 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:00:56 +0100 1696706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696707&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F361529665%2F Welcome to the 30th edition of Medicine 2.0, the blog carnival devoted to articles that analyze the current and potential impact of web 2.0 technologies on medicine and healthcare. "Medicine 2.0" 101 The first question is, of course, "What exactly is Medicine 2.0?". The second, "Who cares?". The third, "Why?"  Anthropologists are here to help. Who better to help understand emerging artifacts of the health and medical tribe, as evidenced by the fantastic lecture An Anthropological Introduction To Youtube given to the Library of Congress by Professor Michael Wesch. As Open Thinking suggests, the video which is 55 minutes long provides an "excellent backgrounder on social media, user-generated content, and online communities through the lens of... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696707 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:15:30 +0100 1696707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1498076&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F305061756%2F A few quick updates:  1)  Yesterday we had a fun webinar with John Medina, author of Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. You may enjoy checking out the slides we discussed. 2) Please remember that there is another webinar coming, next Tuesday. I hope you can join us! Webinar: In “The Science and Practice of Brain Fitness,” I will provide an overview of the Brain 101, latest research findings and implications for how to improve brain health and performance based on my class at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute and speaking engagements. - Target audience: Anyone who wants to learn more about brain health and performance. This is designed to be not a technical session, but a fun, stimulating hour. - Date and time: Tuesday June 10th, ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1498076 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:17:21 +0100 1498076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1298180&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F250211755%2F Eric Jensen is a former middle school teacher and former adjunct professor for several universities including the University of California, San Diego. He co-founded the Learning Brain Expo, a conference for educators, and has written 21 books on the brain and learning. Jensen is currently completing his PhD coursework. His most recent book, Enriching the Brain: How to Maximize Every Learner's Potential (Jossey-Bass, 2006), is highly recommended for educators and parents alike. He wrote this recent article in Phi Delta Kappan in February 2008, sparking a healthy debate on the value of neuroscience applied to education.    Eric, thank you for your time. Can you explain the role that you and your organization play? We act as translators between the neuroscience and education fields, hel... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1298180 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:24:12 +0100 1298180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1250600&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F239188305%2F Physical fitness. Cognitive/ brain fitness. Both require novelty, variety and challenge. Professor Schlomo Breznitz, a scientific and business leader in the cognitive fitness field, explains why, eloquently, below. Perhaps "we want change" really means "we need change". Enjoy! ------------------------ Why are everyday life challenges not sufficient to keep our brains fit? -- By Prof. Shlomo Breznitz Often, when describing the benefits of MindFit to brain health, I am asked by people in the audience whether this software is really needed. After all, so they argue, life provides continues cognitive challenges, which should suffice for ensuring brain fitness. From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep our brains have to attend to complex stimuli, plan many activities,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1250600 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:26:43 +0100 1250600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1249090&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F239188305%2F Physical fitness. Cognitive/ brain fitness. Both require novelty, variety and challenge. Professor Schlomo Breznitz, a scientific and business leader in the cognitive fitness field, explains why, eloquently, below. Perhaps "we want change" really means "we need change". Enjoy! ------------------------ Why are everyday life challenges not sufficient to keep our brains fit? -- By Prof. Shlomo Breznitz Often, when describing the benefits of MindFit to brain health, I am asked by people in the audience whether this software is really needed. After all, so they argue, life provides continues cognitive challenges, which should suffice for ensuring brain fitness. From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep our brains have to attend to complex stimuli, plan many activities,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1249090 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:23:57 +0100 1249090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1240363&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F237148716%2F Dear Mr or Mrs Next US President, We are glad to welcome you to our blog carnival. After a short hiatus, Encephalon is back and gathering steam. We have prepared this "revival" edition just for you, so you can be well informed and impress us all during the upcoming Sciencedebate 2008. Without further ado, let's proceed to the questions posed by 24 bloggers on neuroscience and psychology issues. We hope they provide, at the very least, good mental stimulation for you and your advisors. Big Questions Do I deserve to vote even if I don't have Free Will? (Marc at Neuroscientifically Challenged). If culture sculpts our brains, what can our brains do to refine our culture first? (Stephanie at Brains On Purpose). Is God more than a flying brain? (Jessica at bioephemera). Is Your brain r... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1240363 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:47:33 +0100 1240363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1239450&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F237148716%2F Dear Mr or Mrs Next US President, We are glad to welcome you to our blog carnival. After a short hiatus, Encephalon is back gathering steam. We have prepared this "revival" edition just for you, so you can be well informed and impress us all during the upcoming Sciencedebate 2008. Without further ado, let's proceed to the questions posed by 23 bloggers on neuroscience and psychology issues. We hope they provide, at the very least, good mental stimulation for you and your advisors. Big Questions Do I deserve to vote even if I don't have Free Will? (Marc at Neuroscientifically Challenged). If culture sculpts our brains, what can our brains do to refine our culture first? (Stephanie at Brains On Purpose). Is God more than a flying brain? (Jessica at bioephemera). Is Your brain reall... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1239450 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:17:59 +0100 1239450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1087898&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F198708954%2F Reader Theresa Cerulli just forwarded this Letter to the Editor that she had sent to the New York Times and went unpublished. The letter addresses the OpEd mentioned here (pitching physical vs. mental exercise), and refers to the Cogmed working memory training program, whose results have been studied in multiple papers published in top medical and scientific journals. ------------------------------- Dear Editor: I applaud Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang for throwing some cold water on the current brain fitness craze in their recent New York Times Magazine Opinion Editorial “Exercise on the Brain.” They are correct in labeling the host of “mental fitness” products that target aging baby boomers as “inspired by science — not to be confused with actually proven by science.” For the ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1087898 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:09:05 +0100 1087898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1072585&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F195556995%2F This study shows that chimps can memorize at a glance the numerals presented on the screen, and that they can do so just as well - and even better - than humans can. Note that the superior performance came from a young chimp, and that the performance of older chimps on the same task was more similar to that of humans." - Watch video Impressive, isn't yet? Yet, a clear indication that memory is not all that matters. Please compare the "intelligence" (in any way you want to define it), the quality of thinking, displayed by those apes, with the one displayed in this recent interview with Bill Drayton at Good Magazine, founder of Ashoka and one of the parents of the social entrepreneurship movement. Quotes: - "Ashoka (and all of us in the GOOD community) are serving the mos... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1072585 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:53:38 +0100 1072585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970475&cid=t_153450_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F173422392%2F A reader (thanks Mike!) sends us this fun article, titled A matter of training, on how to train our memory. Some quotes: “It’s a skill, not a talent. It’s something anyone could have picked up ... I’m not born with this. It’s about training and technique,” he says, explaining his unusual ability. Anant holds the Limca Record – the Indian equivalent of the Guinness Record – for memorising 75 telephone numbers, along with the names of their owners, in less than an hour. He is recognised as “the man with the most phenomenal memory in India.”   “Unfortunately, most people think that memorising is very difficult. The moment they see someone demonstrate something like this, they think it’s out of this world.” If you want to remember something, you have to link it to ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970475 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:31:12 +0100 970475