Blog, Brain Injury, mental health, Neuropsychological, NPsychPick, NPsychTeamResearch, Research

#NPsychPick of the Month – Developing an understanding of the Frontal Lobe Paradox through clinical group discussions. Copstick, Sue Turnbull, Lorraine Bobbie Tibbles, Jennifer Ashworth, Sarah Swanepoel, Henk J. Kinch, Julianne Moffitt, Jenna. The Neuropsychologist November 2023 via NPsych

Carlos Gonzalez
November 14, 2023
brain, brain injury, health apps, neurorehabilitation, NPsychPick, NPsychResearch, rehabilitation, research

The Neuropsychologist 16

Developing an understanding of the Frontal Lobe Paradox through clinical group discussions.

Copstick, Sue Turnbull, Lorraine Bobbie Tibbles, Jennifer Ashworth, Sarah Swanepoel, Henk J. Kinch, Julianne Moffitt, Jenna.

#NPsychPick of the Month

Abstract

This discussion paper presents reflections from a group of clinical, forensic and neuropsychologists on their clinical caseloads in brain injury rehabilitation services at Cygnet Healthcare. These services specialise in working with people with coexisting mental health or behavioural difficulties where the work involves frequent staff discussions on interpreting an individual’s behaviour, considering its functions and whether it is part of an involuntary neuro-psychological disorder related to their brain injury, specifically the Frontal Lobe Paradox. Through consideration of six patients, the cognitive mechanisms that may relate to, or underlie apparent Frontal Lobe Paradox were highlighted. Several additional reasons were found to explain why people might show this paradox, including testing conditions, slowed processing, reduced attention, disinhibition, self-monitoring problems, and premorbid difficulties. The authors also discuss interventions, which could be used to support these individuals, with the aim of broadening clinical understanding and discussion surrounding the causes of, and treatment approaches for individuals presenting with potential Frontal Lobe Paradox.

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HCPC registered psychologists with expertise and experience in neurorehabilitation. We offer services such as neuropsychological assessment NPsych

Blog, Diagnosis, Health, Memory, NPsychPick, Rehabilitation, Research, Trauma

#NPsychPick of the Month: Applying EMDR therapy with clients who have impaired cognitive abilities, EMDR Therapy Quarterly, Summer 2023

Carlos Gonzalez
September 13, 2023
blog, brain, brain injury, health apps, memory, neuroscience, npsych, NPsychPick, publication, research, trauma

Neuro EMDR: Applying EMDR therapy with clients who have impaired cognitive abilities

Author: Dr Jonathan Hutchins Simon Proudlock

EMDR therapy has been shown to be highly effective and time efficient in addressing trauma memories in both adults and children. However, there are questions about how EMDR can be effective with adults who have experienced a brain injury or are experiencing other cognitive difficulties. This article summarises some of the recent research within the area and proposes adaptations to the standard protocol that can be made to make best use of EMDR therapy in this population.

Introduction

Within the UK in 2019-2020 there were 356,669 UK admissions to hospital with acquired brain injury (ABI), or any brain injury that has occurred after birth including traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke or brain tumours, which is a 12% increase since 2005-2006 (Headway, 2023). In 2019, there were approximately 977 TBI admissions per day to UK hospitals, one every 90 seconds. The diagnostic criteria for TBI on the DSM V states that there must be an “impact to the head or other mechanisms of rapid movement or displacement of the brain within the skull with one or more of the following: loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, disorientation and confusion, neurological signs such as neuroimaging demonstrating injury or a worsening of a pre-existing seizure disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

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App, Attention, Brain training, Research

Improvements in Attention Following Cognitive Training With the Novel “Decoder” Game on an iPad. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 2019.

Admin
January 23, 2019
attention, brain training, cognitive training, decoder, health apps

Improvements in Attention Following Cognitive Training With the Novel “Decoder” Game on an iPad.

George Savulich, Emily Thorp, Thomas Piercy, Katie A. Peterson, John D. Pickard, and Barbara J. Sahakian. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 21 January 2019.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00002

Abstract:

Work and study increasingly rely on the use of technologies requiring individuals to switch attention rapidly between emails, texts and tasks. This has led to healthy people having problems of attention and concentration and difficulties getting into the “flow,” which impedes goal attainment and task completion. Possibly related to this, there is an increasing diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and prescriptions of drugs such as methylphenidate. In addition to ADHD, attention is impaired in other neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Based on neuropsychological and neuroimaging evidence, we developed “Decoder,” a novel game for targeted cognitive training of visual sustained attention on an iPad. We aimed to investigate the effects of cognitive training in 75 healthy young adults randomly assigned to a Cognitive Training (8 h of playing Decoder over 4 weeks; n = 25), Active Control (8 h of playing Bingo over 4 weeks; n = 25) or Passive Control (continuation of activities of daily living; n = 25) group.

Results indicated that cognitive training with Decoder was superior to both control groups in terms of increased target sensitivity (A’) on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Rapid Visual Information processing (CANTAB RVP) test, indicating significantly improved sustained visual attention. Individuals playing Decoder also showed significantly better performance on the Trail Making Test (TMT) compared with those playing Bingo. Significant differences in visual analogue scales were also found between the two gaming groups, such that Decoder received higher ratings of enjoyment, task-related motivation and alertness across all hours of game play.

These data suggest that cognitive training with Decoder is an effective non-pharmacological method for enhancing attention in healthy young adults, which could be extended to clinical populations in which attentional problems persist.

Apps E-Tech, Health, Research, Review

Efficacy of Interventions that Use Apps to Improve Diet, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: A Systematic Review. IJBNPA, 2016

Admin
December 18, 2018
behavior, health apps, research, review

Efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review.

Stephanie SchoeppeEmail author, Stephanie Alley, Wendy Van Lippevelde, Nicola A. Bray, Susan L. Williams, Mitch J. Duncan and Corneel Vandelanotte

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Published: 7 December 2016

Background

Health and fitness applications (apps) have gained popularity in interventions to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours but their efficacy is unclear. This systematic review examined the efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adults.

Methods

Systematic literature searches were conducted in five databases to identify papers published between 2006 and 2016. Studies were included if they used a smartphone app in an intervention to improve diet, physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour for prevention. Interventions could be stand-alone interventions using an app only, or multi-component interventions including an app as one of several intervention components. Outcomes measured were changes in the health behaviours and related health outcomes (i.e., fitness, body weight, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, quality of life). Study inclusion and methodological quality were independently assessed by two reviewers.

Results

Twenty-seven studies were included, most were randomised controlled trials (n = 19; 70%). Twenty-three studies targeted adults (17 showed significant health improvements) and four studies targeted children (two demonstrated significant health improvements). Twenty-one studies targeted physical activity (14 showed significant health improvements), 13 studies targeted diet (seven showed significant health improvements) and five studies targeted sedentary behaviour (two showed significant health improvements). More studies (n = 12; 63%) of those reporting significant effects detected between-group improvements in the health behaviour or related health outcomes, whilst fewer studies (n = 8; 42%) reported significant within-group improvements. A larger proportion of multi-component interventions (8 out of 13; 62%) showed significant between-group improvements compared to stand-alone app interventions (5 out of 14; 36%). Eleven studies reported app usage statistics, and three of them demonstrated that higher app usage was associated with improved health outcomes.

Conclusions

This review provided modest evidence that app-based interventions to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours can be effective. Multi-component interventions appear to be more effective than stand-alone app interventions, however, this remains to be confirmed in controlled trials. Future research is needed on the optimal number and combination of app features, behaviour change techniques, and level of participant contact needed to maximise user engagement and intervention efficacy.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-016-0454-y

Research

Mental Health Mobile Phone App Usage, Concerns, and Benefits Among Psychiatric Outpatients: Comparative Survey Study

Admin
November 19, 2018
app, brain, health apps, technology

Torous J, Wisniewski H, Liu G, Keshavan M. (2018). Mental Health Mobile Phone App Usage, Concerns, and Benefits Among Psychiatric Outpatients: Comparative Survey Study. JMIR Ment Health 2018;5(4):e11715.

A total of 113 patients at the private insurance clinic and 73 at the state DMH clinic completed the survey. Those in the private insurance clinic were more likely to download a mental health app compared to the state DMH clinic, but actual rates of reported current app usage were comparable at each clinic, approximately 10%.

Conclusions: High interest in mental health apps does not automatically translate into high use. Patients may require continuous support in using relevant health apps.

https://mental.jmir.org/2018/4/e11715/

Tag : health apps