The computer will determine academic performance and depression based on posts on social networks

Posted on October 4, 2020  in Uncategorized

Russian scientists created a computer model that predicted student performance with 94% accuracy from their texts on social networks, and then transferred it to the determination of depressive conditions and the assessment of the psychological health of adolescents and students on a scale of an educational institution. The results were published in the journal EPJ Data Science .  

“In our new work, we tried to predict the performance of students in schools and universities by their posts on VKontakte and Twitter. Learning ability is a very complex human characteristic. It is influenced not only by character traits, but also by psychological well-being, for example, the presence of various disorders. Alas, the latter is not measured on the scale of the institution, unlike academic success, which is also in the public domain. We are developing a system that would be able to identify psychological difficulties, in particular depression, by a person’s activity in a social network. One cannot be sure how this model will perform unless first validated.it is based on characteristics, information about which is widely available, for example, on academic performance, ”says project manager Ivan Smirnov, PhD , head of the laboratory of computational social sciences at the Institute of Education at the Higher School of Economics.

At the first stage, scientists used posts from open VKontakte pages from 2,468 subjects who passed the PISA test in 2012, which allows to assess literacy and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice. Experts taught the model to compare words from posts to vectors “: each word has its place in the space of meanings. The model was then trained to distinguish between student posts with good and bad PISA scores. After that, the system was applied to the posts of students from hundreds of the country’s largest universities and compared the results with official data, which showed the average USE scores of applicants and graduates of the educational institution, as well as general information on academic performance.

The model revealed that the texts of “excellent students” are often voluminous, written in richer language and contain long and foreign words. Such students often discuss physics, literature and tend to use expressions describing the thought process. Errors, emoticons, exclamations and words written in capital letters are typical for “poor” students. They often talk about horoscopes, military service and road accidents. The accuracy of the model was 94%. The new approach can be helpful in identifying depression that affects academic achievement. The results of the work showed once again how vulnerable the user’s privacy on the social network is.

How to determine your level of depression

Each person may have a bad mood or well-being. If it does not change for several days or continues to deteriorate, then you can safely diagnose depression. But depression is not always associated with ordinary fatigue or anxiety. This may be a symptom of a serious adrenal dysfunction. Scientists have been developing a method for a long time that can distinguish attacks of hypochondria from dangerous failures in the body and indicate deep neuroses. Currently, such a study has appeared, created in the Moscow clinic of medicine and cybernetics.

The developed method is a unique test, which, by the level of various hormones, their quantity and quality indicators, can reveal neurotic diseases in the early stages. In every living organism, there are three hormones responsible for stress resistance: dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine.

The essence of the study is that the patient must pass a series of tests for all of the above hormones. Then the subject undergoes a special procedure: immersion for one minute in a cryosauna . The temperature at which the experiment takes place is minus one hundred degrees. This is a serious test for any living organism. After the experience, the patient re-donates blood for the level of hormones in the blood. This study allows you to establish the degree of stress resistance.

The first participants in the experiments with staying in extreme cold conditions were absolutely healthy people and the doctors themselves working at the institute. For the objectivity of the study, tests for hormones were twice passed by those patients who had not been in a cryosauna . After staying in the cold, all healthy people have levels of adrenaline and other similar hormones that rise hundreds of units above the permissible level. However, in extreme situations, this is not only permissible, but absolutely normal. In people with small deviations of a neurotic nature, the level of hormones does not change, which indicates small deviations. In some patients who have serious disorders, in the proposed circumstances, the level of adrenaline is sharply underestimated. This phenomenon indicates that the adrenal glands are unable to produce hormones due to their depletion or lack of energy.

This study is designed to help scientists distinguish between fatigue and depression, control the disease and prescribe effective treatment. Statistical data showed that already now, after applying a specific study, the patients underwent early diagnosis. A significant number of patients experienced an improvement in their well-being.

Currently, experiments on the study of hormones and their effect on the body continue. The Institute of Medicine and Cybernetics has developed a special program “Life without neuroses”, which interested many scientists from other scientific institutions and is widely popular among the population.

A visit to a psychotherapist is an act that can change your life

Not much time has passed since the visit to the psychotherapist was not advertised. Even when there was an urgent need for this visit, most often even the relatives did not know about it. To tell about such a visit is tantamount to admitting your mental disability.

Numerous foreign films that appeared on our screens, in which the main characters, for any problems in their lives, publicly declared the need to seek help from a psychotherapist, talked about the results of these consultations. These films became an opportunity to look into the lifestyle of another according to their own mentality of society. They have gradually changed the attitude of our compatriots towards psychological assistance.

Today our compatriots have begun to understand that in our time, full of stress and difficult life situations, the help of a psychotherapist is vital. And you can get such help in the clinic “Doctor SUN” http://doctorsan.ru/ , which since 2004 has been helping people with various problems, ranging from alcoholism and drug addiction and ending with psychological problems.  

The help of psychologists and psychotherapists is becoming very popular not only among women, but also among men. The interest of men is due to the fact that most of them are more susceptible to stress, and they endure it much more heavily than women. But many are stopped by the fact that they have no idea whether their situation is really such, for the solution of which the help of a psychotherapist is required.

No one can give unequivocal advice in solving this problem. To come and make an appointment with a psychotherapist is quite a brave act. But, unfortunately, it is in our habit to bring ourselves to extremely painful conditions, from which it takes longer and more difficult to get out. All the more responsible today is the educational work of communities of psychotherapists. All their resources – magazines, websites – urge you to contact earlier, before the problem becomes too acute.

For one, the transition to a new place of work can become a serious problem, but there are people who, literally on the first working day, feel like a full member of the team at their new job. However, if such a misfortune as the loss of a loved one comes into their life, this can cause them deep depression for a long time.

If a problem interferes with a normal life, the usual way of life becomes impossible, a person constantly feels crushed by this problem, unhappy – this situation requires compulsory seeking help from a psychotherapist.

It can be very difficult to cope with various conflict situations, especially if they occur at work. And if conflicts occur in the family, then often a person experiences this even more strongly. It is difficult to live through these situations on your own, because not only the person himself participates in them, but also the people who surround him. A family psychologist successfully copes with such troubles.

All over the world, people in life are accompanied by stress, each person more than once feels dissatisfied with life, insecure, depressed, believing that there is no way out of the situation. Depression is the result of these human experiences. Only psychotherapy can help people cope with depression. Especially when it is caused by really serious life problems.

Depression in many people can interfere with work, create difficulties in communicating with family, and sometimes contribute to the development of alcoholism, which creates even more problems. Moreover, various circumstances do not give a person the opportunity to change his lifestyle even minimally. In this case, the support of a psychotherapist can help break this vicious circle, where one trouble entails the next, sometimes more difficult.

Another problem, which mainly affects young girls, often cannot be solved without the help of a psychotherapist. These are stubborn weight loss diets, sometimes endless and unjustified, ultimately leading to dire consequences. For such people, not only the help of a psychotherapist is needed, but also treatment with medicines.

Children are as susceptible to stress as adults, but often the consequences arise much later. Technologies are used for children other than those used for adults. Therefore, when a child visits a psychotherapist, conversations with him are conducted in a different form. The reasons that led to the occurrence of post-stress phenomena are identified , and the treatment is carried out in a playful way.

Dyspepsia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Many people go to the doctor every day with complaints such as nausea, heartburn, belching, heaviness in the epigastric region, bloating or flatulence. Especially there are many such complaints in spring and autumn, when there is an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. All these complaints are united by one medical term – dyspepsia. 80% of people have persistent symptoms of dyspepsia for a short time (1-2 days), but many of them go away without treatment. But, some of them can be a manifestation of a serious illness.

Dyspepsia concept

Dyspepsia is a collection of symptoms that are caused by indigestion. These symptoms sometimes appear separately, but they can also appear together. Dyspepsia combines 6 symptoms:

• Nausea. Nausea is a heavy feeling in the epigastric region and pharynx that precedes vomiting;

• Heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the epigastric region and behind the breastbone that spreads upward;

• Belching. It is often observed in anxious people, the cause of belching is aerophagia. Aerophagia occurs in people who eat food quickly;

• Unpleasant feeling in the stomach;

• Heaviness and feeling of fullness in the epigastrium ;

• Flatulence. Flatulence is an unpleasant feeling of bloating in the abdomen, which appears as a result of increased gas production.

Diagnostics, reasons

There are various diseases that are accompanied by symptoms of dyspepsia. The main task of the doctor is to diagnose and treat the underlying disease that causes dyspepsia in time. The main cause of dyspepsia is diseases of the esophagus, stomach and intestines.

1. Nonulcer dyspepsia. It is similar to the existing complaints of peptic ulcer disease, but the ulcer is absent on X-ray and endoscopy.

2. Reflux esophagitis. With this disease, the esophagus suffers, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus and this causes heartburn in a person.

3. Violation of esophageal motility.

4. Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.

5. Neoplasms of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.

6. Diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Diseases such as hepatitis, gallstone disease can cause dyspepsia.

7. Pancreatitis.

8. Inflammatory diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Dyspepsia can occur with gastritis, giardiasis, and Crohn’s disease.

9. Irritable bowel syndrome.

10. Ischemic heart disease. In very many cases, patients, when describing pain behind the sternum, describe it as heartburn. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to exclude myocardial infarction and angina pectoris.

11. Drinking alcohol.

12. Excitement, anxiety.

13. Depression.

14. Side effects of medicines. The following drugs most often cause dyspepsia: aspirin, corticosteroids, narcotic analgesics, NSAIDs, theophylline, tetracycline, M- anticholinergics , antidepressants, cardiac glycosides, nicotine.

Survey

In order to accurately determine the diagnosis, you need to ask the patient well, collect anamnesis, find out when and where, the nature, what helps, what strengthens, what weakens others. In addition, special examinations are carried out: complete blood count, ESR, occult blood feces, ECG, ultrasound of the gallbladder and pancreas, CT of the abdominal cavity, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and contrast X-ray of the esophagus and stomach.

Treatment

If dyspepsia is a symptom of any gastrointestinal disease, you must first treat the underlying disease, then the symptoms disappear. In some people, dyspepsia is cured by the usual adherence to a sparing diet, simply by eliminating fatty, fried, and spicy foods from the diet.

Mistakes in dealing with depression

Depression is a rather serious psychological disease, the danger of which is often underestimated for unclear reasons. It is difficult to say for what reasons, but from the point of view of psychology, depression is today considered the plague of the twenty-first century. As with any other disease, the effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the timely access to a specialist.

Depression is an individual disease, in other words, each person needs an individual approach. Depending on the lifestyle, character, personal characteristics of the patient, an effective method of treatment is selected.

The problem is that most people turn to a specialist at a stage when depression progresses and serves as a kind of impetus for the onset of more serious mental illness. In this case, traditional therapy is ineffective. The most important thing is to avoid common mistakes when symptoms of depression appear.

What are the most common mistakes?

The biggest mistake is denying that you have a problem. Due to the nature of our mentality, we do not perceive problems such as depression as really serious. Moreover, many people suffering from depression try to hide its symptoms from relatives and friends, and they, in turn, are not always able to understand that unwillingness to engage in dialogue and talk about the problem is one of the symptoms of the disease. Such a reaction is attributed to the characteristics of the patient’s character, who is exposed in the eyes of those around him as a rude, narcissistic egoist. Such an attitude makes a person with a depressive disorder close off from others, even more withdrawn into himself, which contributes to the progression of the disease.

Attempts to self-medicate will also not bring results, but rather create even more problems. In modern society, the manifestation of weakness is considered something shameful, and in order not to be seen as a “weakling” in the eyes of others, a person tries to revive himself using radical methods – extreme sports, alcohol, drugs. In some cases, especially the desperate turn to magicians and psychics, succumbing to the suggestion that the cause of depression is some evil entity that feeds on human energy. Taking various psychotropic drugs also does not contribute to recovery, but only mutes the symptoms for a while.

How and where to deal with depression?

As we have already found out, self-medication attempts will not bring results. Therefore, it is worth contacting specialists. Only an experienced specialist can provide qualified help, who will understand the causes of depression and find a way out of it. For example, in the clinic “Doctor SUN”, specialists with extensive experience and who have already helped a lot of people suffering from certain mental health disorders are receiving appointments.

The clinic’s specialists in their practice use only time-tested and experience-tested psychotherapeutic techniques, various medications, as well as hypnosis and TES therapy.

Various treatment options are possible:

  • Outpatient.
  • Stationary.
  • And home treatment.

By contacting this clinic, you will receive an individual approach and competent effective treatment.

Why people don’t like going to therapists

A huge number of people turn to psychotherapists and everyone has their own problems. Someone suffers from problems with their character, someone finds it difficult to cope with their thoughts. Someone is harassed by their emotions, such diseases include depression or excessive anger. Also, at a psychotherapist, you can often find people with an obsessive condition, social problems, as well as those who are going through a difficult period of their lives. But there are those who would never go to a psychotherapist. It is worth considering what people think when they decide they won’t go to the doctor.

The first thing a person thinks about is that his condition is not so sad as to seek help from a specialist.

People are already accustomed to the fact that they need to go to doctors only when things are really bad and the person himself is no longer able to cope with what happened. If a person feels that he has the strength, he tries to solve the problem on his own, no matter what problem overtakes him, even if he suffers from a mental disorder.

Trying to solve everything without the help of others, a person demands too much of himself and hopes for a lot. But, as a rule, it doesn’t always help. There are situations in which a person cannot control anything and he begins to feel his helplessness. But he was not used to asking for help. It was then that relatives and friends who see that it is very difficult for a person to cope with a problem, advises him to contact a psychotherapist.

However, it is always best to see a specialist early so that he can help in the best possible way. When a person is just starting to feel unwell, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Many people do not want to seek help from a psychotherapist, because they believe that in this case they will automatically admit their illness.

All this happens because people live in a world of labels, they are not understood by society. Because of their fear, people cannot get qualified help. However, it is worth remembering that everything that is said in the specialist’s office will remain there, because the conversation is completely confidential . If the doctor needs to share the information he has received with colleagues, he always asks the patient about it and requires written consent. A huge number of people with mental illness see a doctor.

People agree to see any doctor other than a psychotherapist.

This is also due to their fear. People experience a myriad of psychological problems and deal with them through their experiences. However, a specialist will be able to do it much faster and better, without spending a huge amount of time and money.

And finally, people are not willing to pay as much as the session costs.

However, as evidenced by a huge amount of research, going to a psychiatrist will cost a patient much less than providing medication.

Depression in children: symptoms, reasons, how to help

Minors rarely have the typical depressive symptoms we see in adults. The type of disease symptoms depends on the stage of development of the child. What are the symptoms of depression in children?

Symptoms of depression in a preschooler

Depression manifests itself through the appearance, the kid hunched body posture, sloppy clothes and a sad expression on his face, gives the impression of “transparency” of the child, who takes care of herself, not allowing anyone in the mood prevails apathy, drowsiness, lack of energy and irritability in the moment when the child is invited to contact, he usually spends time alone, leaves his peers, has low self-esteem, reveals fear of challenges and failures (even the smallest, for example, get dirty, incorrectly follow the order of a woman in kindergarten), weaker concentration of attention becomes, sometimes psychosomatic symptoms appear (abdominal pain, headache, constipation, diarrhea), the child may have problems falling asleep, peaceful sleep, bedwetting, appetite disorders – children lose weight or gain weight.

Symptoms of depression in a student

somatic symptoms are characteristic (abdominal pain, headache, shortness of breath), often refuses to go to school, grades deteriorate, the child seeks to be with parents, self-esteem decreases, mood swings, tearfulness and lack of expression of joy appear, children are isolated from Peers have no loved one person, apathy prevails in the mood, but some children tend to intensify aggressive behavior and opposition-rebellious tendencies.

Symptoms of depression in a teenager

In adolescents, depressive mood is to some extent associated with puberty, which is characterized by biological (mainly hormonal) and mental changes (mature processes of thinking and understanding the external world, perception of problems and limitations of oneself and one’s loved ones). This leads to the fact that the mood of the teenager is dominated by sadness, a sense of meaninglessness and pessimism.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between a teen’s natural mood and incipient depression. We can think of depressive disorders, when a bad mood is accompanied by low self-esteem, decreased appetite, anxiety, and manifestations of self-aggression . This often leads to problems at school, drugs, even running away from home and attempted suicide.

What are the causes of depression in the smallest

One specific cause cannot be identified that is responsible for the child’s depression. Among the factors causing the appearance of the disease:

genetic conditions and disorders of the nervous and endocrine systems, temperament and personality traits of this child, the likelihood of getting sick is more in people with traits such as sensitivity, perfectionism, pessimism, poor stress resistance, the child’s life situation and a significant impact on depression can occur: loss of a loved one due to death or separation (for example, parental divorce), family conflicts and violence, chronic illness of a parent, alcohol or substance abuse by family members, loneliness and lack of time for the child, emotional hostility and abandonment of guardians.

How to help a child with depression

Early recognition of the symptoms of depression in a child is critical. It is best to consult a psychotherapist, school psychologist or pediatrician when we notice the first symptoms of a depressed mood (apathy lasting more than two weeks, decreased activity, self-sufficiency). 

When a specialist diagnoses depression, psychotherapy is needed, often for the child and the entire family. Sometimes it becomes necessary to include pharmacotherapy (especially in adolescents with risky behavior and suicide attempts). The chances of a cure for a child’s depression are increased when family, friends, and the school environment are involved.

Depression disease of the 21st century

It can be worse in every person’s life, this is completely natural. However, we often mistakenly refer to temporary feelings of sadness and hopelessness as depression, which is a very serious illness. What is depression and how to deal with it?

Is Depression a 21st Century Disease?

What is depression?

Depression is considered one of the most popular diseases, it already ranks 4th – right after diseases of the spine, lungs and anemia. The number of cases is constantly growing. According to the WHO experience, in 2020 it will be in second place, and by 2030 – in first. Statistics show that it is diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40, and twice as much in women as in men. Depression is believed to be a chronic illness that tends to relapse. Its typical symptoms:

– lack of energy,
– low mood,
– sleep disturbances,
– loss of concentration,
– withdrawal from daily activities,
– appetite disorders and weight loss,
– joylessness,
– negative self-esteem,
– suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Experts believe that a diagnosis of depression is possible when the loss of mood lasts at least 2 weeks.

Causes of depression

It remains difficult to clearly define where mental disorders come from. Depression has been studied for years, and it can be concluded from research that there are many causes of the disease, including biological conditions:

– disturbances in the functioning of the limbic system (responsible, among other things, for our behavior, emerging aggression, sexual desires) and the retina (responsible for regulating sleep);
– hypothalamic anomaly (responsible for regulating body temperature, feeling full and hungry);
– chronic diseases (most often diabetes, arthritis, cancer, etc.).

Depressive disorders can also be caused by environmental influences, the most common of which are:

– unemployment,
– relationship problems (separation, divorce),
– financial problems,
– the death of a loved one,
– loneliness.

It is worth remembering that depression can affect anyone, and it is sometimes difficult to tell at first glance if someone is sick. This is because many people disguise themselves well for the disease and pretend to feel good.

Nowadays, very often people live in constant stress. Thriving social networks that promote idealized reality also have a negative impact on the well-being of vulnerable people.

How can depression be treated?

Depression is a treatable disease, but it is important to remember that the patient needs specialized help. For treatment uses:

– Pharmacology,
– psychotherapy,
– herbal medicine,
– diet,
– physical activity.

How to start fighting depression?

If you suspect that you or a loved one is depressed, you should see a psychologist or psychiatrist. There are also phone numbers where you can get help from a trusted professional.

Can’t sleep? Cause may be depression

You spend about a third of your entire life asleep. Most often we sleep about eight hours a day, although there are those among us who need four hours to get enough sleep. Sleep is important for the proper functioning of many body functions, including mental ones. There are several possible reasons for its violation. Depression is one of them.

Lack of sleep makes depression worse and vice versa

The relationship between depression and poor sleep can be two-way. Sleep disturbance is one of the possible manifestations of already developed depression; on the other hand, prolonged lack of sleep can aggravate depression as such or even contribute to its development. For some people, mood drops and other depressive symptoms appear long before sleep problems, while for others, insomnia is the onset of mental problems.

Sleep long and get up early

According to experts, people with insomnia are ten times more likely to develop depression than those with good sleep. For people with depression, sleep problems are very common, with four out of five patients. However, they can take many forms. Depression can lead to:

  • Difficulty falling asleep (it may take a person several hours to fall asleep)
  • violation of the so-called general picture of sleep (sleep of a shallower and lower quality);
  • sleep disturbance (repeated awakenings occur during the night);
  • Premature waking in the morning and inability to fall asleep again (usually waking up at about four in the morning);
  • increased need for sleep.

Sleep hygiene rules

Sleep disorders associated with depression require treatment. It is true that the earlier you go to bed, the better for your overall mental health. Sleep can be positively affected in several ways, and you can also use a combination of different methods. First of all, you must follow the rules of the so-called sleep hygiene:

• If you need naps, limit it to a maximum of half an hour.

• Avoid stimulants like nicotine or caffeine before bed.

• Do not use alcohol to induce sleep, as it degrades sleep quality in the second half of the night and exacerbates anxiety and depression.

• Spend at least 10 minutes a day doing aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking or cycling).

• Do not eat before bed.

• Encourage healthy alternation of the sleep-wake cycle by exposing yourself to adequate daytime sunlight and reducing the amount of light during the night.

• Count on regular sleep patterns (go to bed around the same time, take a relaxing bath, and do other calming treatments).

• Try to avoid activities that may unnecessarily activate you before bed (working on the computer, watching an exciting movie, annoying conversation, etc.).

• Provide a pleasant environment in the bedroom suitable for sleeping (the room should be quiet, dark and ventilated, the temperature is fairly cool, the mattress is of sufficient quality).

Psychotherapy and antidepressants

If a depressive disorder is causing your sleep disorder, treatment is appropriate. The standard treatment is a visit to a psychotherapist or the use of so-called psychotropic drugs. When it comes to antidepressants, it is best to consult your doctor in more detail. His choice is determined by the specific manifestations of depression in you. In the case of insomnia, antidepressants can be successfully used, which have a positive effect on both well-being and sleep. In some cases, you can try a variety of soothing teas or natural products to complement your treatment. However, it is important to discuss their suitability and safety with your doctor or pharmacist beforehand.

Depression? overweight? blame the lack of light!

Posted on August 29, 2020  in Uncategorized

Bad mood and excess weight from lack of light?

Many people notice that working capacity decreases in the autumn-winter period, they want to eat more and lie under the covers. Scientists say that all this is from a lack of light.

The psyche of people is very dependent on lighting. Scientists’ research shows that we are light-loving creatures. Let’s talk about how a short daylight affects us.

Dependence on light

Daylight has an impact on more than just our performance and mood. Our health depends on daylight. With a sufficient amount of light, the body’s immunity increases, it is easier for it to resist viruses and bacteria.

Our weight also depends on this factor. The fact is that through daylight the body receives a certain amount of energy. When this source of energy disappears, the body tries to make up for the lack of energy through food. We become hungry more. And, unfortunately, we want just fatty and sweet food, that is, the one from which we recover.

The production of certain hormones in the body is also dependent on light. This means that the lack of this factor can greatly affect our mood. This is especially true for women, because they are more hormone dependent.

How can one be saved?

How to behave in the autumn-winter period in order to avoid such influence of the lack of daylight:

  • In winter, there is still sun. On sunny days, be sure to go outside, “consume” the sun while you can.
  • Saving energy is great, but it can be harmful to your health. Sometimes, to cheer yourself up, you just need to turn on a bright electric light. It is not difficult to allow yourself this, especially when you consider that your good mood and slim figure depend on it. Even a professional psychologist will advise you . 
  • Add vibrant colors to clothes. Wear bright clothes at home, it also cheers up.
  • Use intense floral scents that will remind you of summer. It can also be citrus aromas.
  • Go in for sports. Physical education activates the hormonal system, helps restore metabolism, increases the production of happiness hormones. Start practicing even through “I don’t want” you will see, at the end of the workout your mood will improve. 
  • Support your body with artificial vitamins and a variety of foods. Natural antidepressants from food are: spinach, garlic.