FDA clears first videogame to be prescribed to kids with ADHD: EndeavorRx by Akili Interactive Labs
Screenshot of EndeavorRx
In a landmark decision, FDA greenlights a video game for kids with ADHD (STAT):
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday for the first time gave a green light to a game-based therapeutic: a video game meant to be prescribed to kids with ADHD.
The game, known as EndeavorRx and developed by Boston-based Akili Interactive Labs, can now be marketed as a way to improve attention function in kids with ADHD as measured by computerized testing. Physicians can prescribe it to children between the ages of 8 and 12 who have an ADHD diagnosis and have demonstrated an issue with attention.
The FDA’s move is...
Source: SharpBrains - June 18, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Professional Development Technology 510(k) Adam Gazzaley adhd Akili Interactive Labs computerized testing De Novo digital therapeutics EndeavorRx FDA game-based therapeutic TOVA videog Source Type: blogs
Launching Late: How to Help Your Child with Failure to Launch
“Failure to launch” has been used recently to describe grown children who, for one reason or another, aren’t willing or able to leave their family home to pursue their own goals, lead independent lives and become self-sufficient. This phenomenon is on the rise, and it’s important to understand what can cause it and what you can do to help a child get through it.
Early Signs of Failure to Launch
Most parents who have an adult child who has “failed to launch” identify some of these factors being present in their child:
Unwillingness or inability to take on responsibilities
Low self-esteem
Cautiousness ...
Source: World of Psychology - June 16, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sean Paul, MD Tags: Parenting Success & Achievement Autonomy college Failure to Launch Personal Independence Source Type: blogs
Are You Experiencing Quarantine Brain?
Another term is being added to the lexicon in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: quarantine brain. It takes many forms, from confusion and fogginess to limited executive functioning. Those who fall prey to it may find themselves unable to complete tasks, manage their time and routine, and make sound decisions. This occurs even if the person has no prior history with attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Some report a lack of motivation to get out of bed, let alone engage in their daily activities. What helps them is knowing that their boss, teachers, and family are counting on them to launch...
Source: World of Psychology - May 16, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW Tags: Dreams Memory and Perception Personal Coping Skills coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic Resilience social distancing Source Type: blogs
Struggling with attention and organization as you age? It could be ADHD, not dementia
As we get older, occasional forgetfulness may become more worrisome. Is this the start of dementia, or are we just stressed? Has the loss of structure due to retirement led to this change? Or could we be suffering from another illness, maybe the same illness as our son or granddaughter, who also struggle with attention and organization?
What are the symptoms of ADHD in older adults?
Although the diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is often associated with school-age children, this condition may persist throughout adulthood and into old age. Older adults with ADHD struggle with attention, memory, an...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 21, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH Tags: Healthy Aging Memory Mental Health Source Type: blogs
Bipolar & Substance Abuse Disorders: A Complex Diagnosis that Demands Integrated Medical & Psychological Care
The word “bipolar” has become colloquially associated with anything that changes rapidly or is unpredictable: the weather, technology, sports teams, politics, or even a teenager’s attitude. But for roughly 46 million people worldwide, being “bipolar” is far more serious than typical unpredictability, mood swings, or temperamental behavior. And, when bipolar disorder is complicated by substance use disorder (SUD), the situation can become incredibly dangerous for the individual and those around them.
Recognizing the symptoms of bipolar and the complicating factors of substance use disorder is crucial for physician...
Source: World of Psychology - March 30, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Marlon Rollins Tags: Addiction Alcoholism Bipolar Recovery Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery Bipolar Disorder Detox Dual Diagnosis World Bipolar Day Source Type: blogs
Large study finds positive yet mixed results from Akili ’s digital therapeutic for kids with ADHD
This study aimed to assess whether AKL-T01 improved attentional performance in paediatric patients with ADHD.
Findings: Between July 15, 2016, and Nov 30, 2017, 857 patients were evaluated and 348 were randomly assigned to receive AKL-T01 or control. Among patients who received AKL-T01 (n=180 [52%]; mean [SD] age, 9·7 [1·3] years) or control (n=168 [48%]; mean [SD] age, 9·6 [1·3] years), the non-parametric estimate of the population median change from baseline TOVA API was 0·88 (95% CI 0·24–1·49; p=0·0060). The mean (SD) change from baseline on the TOVA API was 0·93 (3·15) in the AKL-T01 group and 0·03 (3·16)...
Source: SharpBrains - February 25, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Attention and ADD/ADHD Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Technology ADHD-medication Akili Akili Interactive Akili Interactive Labs AKL-T01 behavioral digital health digital therapeutics pediatric ADHD Project EVO TOVA AP Source Type: blogs
Handheld Eye Scanner to Detect Autism Spectrum Disorder
Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a handheld eye scanner that could help to identify children with autism spectrum disorder. The device allows clinicians to obtain light-adapted electroretinograms, which involves detecting electrical signals in the retina. The device could help in diagnosing children with autism much earlier, meaning that they can get appropriate support as soon as possible. Parents who have had one autistic child have a higher chance of having a second, and early diagnosis would be very valuable for such families.
One of the researchers behind the device, Dr. Paul Constabl...
Source: Medgadget - February 24, 2020 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Ophthalmology Pediatrics Psychiatry Source Type: blogs
What ’s normal? When it comes to the brain, it’s hard to say, and that’s why we need to study global neurodiversity
In a small village in India—a place so remote it has no electricity, no telecommunication system, and no cars or buses—a research worker prepares to place an EEG headset on a female villager’s head. The woman, who earns $3.75 a day laboring in a nearby rice paddy and who has never ventured outside her village, eyes the futuristic device with trepidation.
“Is it going to hurt my head?” she asks.
Sathish, the research worker, has heard this question before. In fact, he’s heard several similar queries from anxious villagers who have gotten scared when they saw the brainwear.
“Will it give me a headache?”
...
Source: SharpBrains - February 12, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tan Le Tags: Author Speaks Series Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness Technology alpha oscillation axons Berger’s Wave bias big data brain-enhancement brain-related diseases Brainnovations brains brainwa Source Type: blogs
Understanding, educating, and supporting children with specific learning disabilities: 50 years of science and practice. - PsycNET
https://psycnet-apa-org.ezp2.lib.umn.edu/record/2019-25332-001Grigorenko, E. L., Compton, D. L., Fuchs, L. S., Wagner, R. K., Willcutt, E. G.,& Fletcher, J. M. (2020). Understanding, educating, and supporting children with specific learning disabilities: 50 years of science and practice. American Psychologist, 75(1), 37 –51. https://doi-org.ezp2.lib.umn.edu/10.1037/amp0000452AbstractSpecific learning disabilities (SLDs) are highly relevant to the science and practice of psychology, both historically and currently, exemplifying the integration of interdisciplinary approaches to human conditions. They can be ...
Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) - January 29, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: blogs
Using AI and MRI to Detect ADHD
Researchers from theCincinnati Children ' s Hospital Medical Center are utilizingmultichannel deep neural network model (mcDNN) in conjunction with MRI to predict attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to a studyrecently published inRadiology: Artificial Intelligence. In the United States, a total of 6.1 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Many children with ADHD also struggle with at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral condition, and 30 percent of youth suffer from anxiety. To lessen the symptoms, many children undergo a combination of behavioral therapy and medic...
Source: radRounds - January 18, 2020 Category: Radiology Authors: Julie Morse Source Type: blogs
Top 25 Psychiatric Medications for 2018
Psychiatric medications are an important part of treatment for many people with mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, anxiety, and others. They play an important role in helping to alleviate the most serious symptoms, allowing people to better focus on their lives and on other treatment types, such as psychotherapy. Psychiatric medications are an important part of many people’s treatment plans for obtaining the most effective treatment for a mental health concern or mental illness.
It’s good to know what drugs are being prescribed most often for mental disorders in the U.S...
Source: World of Psychology - December 15, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: General Medications Psychiatry psychiatric meds psychiatric prescriptions Source Type: blogs
Neural Feedback Technique to Improve Attention
Many people suffer from an inability to focus on tasks that require a great deal of attention. Drugs such as Ritalin are available to help mitigate symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, but these medications come with a number of side effects, including long term dependence.
Now, researchers at MIT have developed a neural feedback technique that may be effective in helping people to generate the types of brainwaves that are beneficial for maximizing attention. The technology used in the study is non-invasive and doesn’t in itself affect the brain in any way. Rather, in...
Source: Medgadget - December 9, 2019 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: Neurology Psychiatry Source Type: blogs
Psychology Around the Net: December 7, 2019
This week’s Psychology Around the Net takes a look at what to do if you think your child is at risk for mental illness, why self-regulation is so important for people with ADHD, the symptoms of problematic smartphone use, and the mental and physical fatigue that often accompanies chronic illness, and more.
Does Mental Illness Run in Families?: What should you do if you suspect your child is at risk of developing a mental disorder — especially when mental illness runs in your family? According to psychologist Scott Bea PsyD, an important first step is helping your child build resilience, a personality...
Source: World of Psychology - December 7, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Traci Pedersen Tags: ADHD and ADD Anxiety and Panic Autism Children and Teens Depression Disorders Family General Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Parenting Psychiatry Psychology Psychology Around the Net Research Asd Bipolar Disorder Source Type: blogs
This Supplement Treats ADHD Better Than Drugs (M)
The common supplement reduces symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
→ Support PsyBlog for just $4 per month. Enables access to articles marked (M) and removes ads.
→ Explore PsyBlog's ebooks, all written by Dr Jeremy Dean:
Accept Yourself: How to feel a profound sense of warmth and self-compassion
The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything
Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do (Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog)
Source: PsyBlog | Psychology Blog - November 21, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jeremy Dean Tags: ADHD subscribers-only Source Type: blogs
Concerning Findings About Cannabis Use
While recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states as of November 2019, more states gravitating toward legalizing the recreational use of the substance, and 33 states allowing medical marijuana, there’s apparently no stopping this trend. Cannabis, in the form of marijuana, hemp, and cannabidiol (CBD) is being used for pain relief, to alleviate stress, cope with anxiety, and a number of other mental health disorders and addictions.
Yet, there’s a dearth of clinical studies that have been conducted on the overall effects on a user’s health. Clearly, as Crain’s Detroit Business points out, more research on marijuan...
Source: World of Psychology - November 16, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Suzanne Kane Tags: Medications Substance Abuse Cannabis Marijuana Source Type: blogs
