Latest news with #DepartmentofPsychiatryandBehavioralHealth
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
If you can't read this headline without getting distracted, try the ‘Take Five' method for better focus
Is your train of thought constantly derailing? It's no wonder that attention spans have dwindled in the age of information overload, with news, videos, notifications and ads constantly competing for our time. For example, the average attention span on a screen dropped from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds in recent years, one researcher found. Advertisement 4 Many people have short attention spans because they are stressed or anxious. David L/ – Stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation are among the top reasons for a short attention span, according to a new survey of 1,000 US adults commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine. These findings don't surprise Dr. Evita Singh, a psychiatrist with Ohio State's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Advertisement When her patients express concern about their ability to focus, 'there's a good chance that it ends up being because they're so stressed out or they're anxious.' To help them easily remember how to improve their attention span and overall focus, Singh developed a tool called 'Take Five.' 4 Dr. Evita Singh, a psychiatrist with Ohio State's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, developed the 'Take Five' method for better focus. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Advertisement T — Take breaks often. A — Actively engage in just one task at hand. K — Keep distractions to a minimum. E — Eliminate multitasking. Five — Spend five minutes refocusing with a small workout, mindfulness or an enjoyable activity. 'Sometimes these small adjustments can go a long way in daily life,' Singh told The Post. She encourages aiming for a five- to 10-minute tech break at least once an hour, especially if you're aimlessly scrolling through social media. Digital devices are a big source of distraction and enable multitasking, which Singh stresses can be detrimental to attention spans. Advertisement 4 Singh recommends taking a five- to 10-minute tech break at least once an hour, especially if you're aimlessly scrolling through social media. simona – Research suggests that the brain isn't well-suited to process several streams of information at once. The result is typically decreased focus, increased distractibility and reduced cognitive performance. 'When people are multitasking, when they have so many things in their mind that they're thinking about, they can get exhausted,' Singh explained. 'And then it's really hard to enjoy things, which can then lead to depression or anxiety.' Surprisingly, 25% of the respondents to the Ohio State survey said they don't have trouble with their attention span. 4 A man is shown participating in 'Take Five,' a re-centering technique that includes journaling and helps him stay focused. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Not that short attention spans are all bad. 'At times when there is just way too much information to sort through, a shorter attention span may help an individual move through this information faster,' Singh said. 'However, the concern is about how much they are actually getting out of the information to then move forward with it.' Advertisement Singh imagines that attention spans will continue to shrink, noting the trend towards shorter videos to fill the need for quick, easily digestible content. She hopes 'Take Five' helps people train their brains to focus better. If the method is not a good fit or a lack of focus is affecting your daily life, Singh recommends seeking help from a mental health professional.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Autism rates climb to 1 in 31 in kids; Experts debate causes and solutions
At a press conference on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited research he says documents up to a 400% increase in autism cases over the last several decades. As more children and families are impacted and the cost of care is rising, he wants more resources devoted to autism studies. While those who care for children on the autism spectrum welcome the additional focus, they want to make sure the lens is pointed in the right direction. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Kennedy says the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence rate in eight-year-olds is now 1 in 31. The threat is even greater in boys. 'Overall, autism is increasing at an alarming rate,' Kennedy said. 'The risk for boys of getting an autism diagnosis in this country is now one in 20.' There is more awareness about autism and diagnosis criteria has changed, but according to Kennedy, better recognition does not account for rising rates. 'It was not expected that autism prevalence would increase. Other childhood disabilities and neurologic disorders do not increase or change over time,' Walter Zahorodny, clinical psychologist and autism researcher, said. Kennedy ordered more research but locally, Dr. John Walkup, the head of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, says based on years of research, the autism picture is more complicated. 'There's been a lot of study looking at this, and there are a lot of autism experts who have maybe opinions that disagree with the secretary,' Dr. Walkup said. 'It's not a simple genetic problem, but I think it's hard for people who are in the business to kind of say that genetics doesn't play a role.' Whatever the root cause, as an expert who cares for children on the spectrum, Dr. Walkup believes the diagnosis is critical to get those in need early interventions that can make a difference in their lives. 'The other aspect is the availability of services. There are more now than ever before, but we are still nowhere near having a system that's in place that actually can provide services for these kids,' Dr. Walkup said. Having autism in the spotlight may help. Secretary Kennedy wants autism studied under the Administration for a Healthy America's new chronic disease division. Are the cases due to toxins, rising maternal and paternal age? He hopes to have results on more definitive autism causes by September. Experts we spoke with say that may be optimistic. Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN's Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
