Author: Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA, OSU-CCS Psychiatrist

Music for better focus?

Increasing number of people are struggling with focus problems in recent years. While the cause of this is complex and multifactorial, so are solutions.

It is important to consider that medications are just 1 part of the solution and may not be appropriate for everyone.

There are many medication and non-medication ways to improve attention depending on the individual.

Music might be an option for some people to improve focus.

  • One study found that classical orchestra music can increase mood and productivity, making it great for studying (1).
  • For those who don’t prefer classical music, electronic music with little to no lyrics may be an option (1).
  • Another study found that instrumental music without lyrics was better for focusing, as lyrics can be distracting when high concentration is required(2).
  • One study found that compared to silence, personally chosen background music enhanced young adults’ attentional control performance(3).

Caveats

  • Research shows a that there is a variation from person to person in their capacity to benefit from music (4).
  • This is an ongoing area of research and further study is needed.
  • You may have to experiment with various types of music to find what works best for you, if at all.
  • Music that causes you to feel stressed or sad can negatively impact attention (5).
  • For example, listening to strongly preferred or popular music while attempting to focus tends to decrease task performance (6,7).
  • Other strategies to improve focus can be found here (8) and here (9).

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By Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA ,OSU CCS Psychiatrist

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

References:

  1. https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/
  2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-of-choice/202410/the-link-between-attention-and-music
  3. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.557225/full
  4. Bowling, D.L. Biological principles for music and mental health. Transl Psychiatry13, 374 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02671-4
  5. Shih YN, Chien WH, Chiang HS. Elucidating the relationship between work attention performance and emotions arising from listening to music. Work. 2016 Oct 17;55(2):489-494. doi: 10.3233/WOR-162408. PMID: 27689591.
  6. Orpella J, Bowling DL, Tomaino C, Ripollés P. Affectively parameterized music improves mood and attention (preprint). PsychiArXiv. 2023. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/yauxt
  7. Huang RH, Shih YN. Effects of background music on concentration of workers. Work 2011;38:383–7.
  8. https://u.osu.edu/emotionalfitness/2023/11/30/strategies-for-finals-and-academic-stress/
  9. Patel R. Mental Health For College StudentsChapter 15, Page 494-500.

 

Accupuncture for PTSD?

Exercise, nutrition, sleep strategies, have been shown to help improve a variety of mental health conditions (1).

A previous post discussed yoga for ptsd (2). This post looks at a recent study using acupuncture for ptsd (3)

What is PTSD? (4)

According to the National Institute of Mental health, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (4):

  • Is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event
  • The main symptoms of PTSD include traumatic experience, arousal/anxiety and re-experiencing symptoms, thought or mood disturbances
  • Treatment typically involves counseling and or medications
  • Learn more about signs, symptoms and treatment of ptsd here: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

What was the study? (3)

In a randomized trial of 93 veterans with combat-related PTSD compared twice-weekly acupuncture for 24 sessions compared to sham acupuncture with superficial needle insertion (2).

What were the results ?(3)

In an 80 point clinician administered symptom scale, the acupuncture group showed a 14.5 point reduction from baseline vs versus 7.5 point reduction for the sham group (2).

What are some caveats?

  • This is 1 small study and further study is needed
  • Results in the veteran population may not necessarily generalize to other populations such as college students
  • There are other studies showing benefits of acupuncture for ptsd (5,6,7,8)
  • It is unclear which patients with ptsd may benefit from acupuncture as a treatment option.
  • Due to limited evidence, this service may not be covered by insurance for ptsd.

Additional resources for PTSD:

By Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA OSU-CCS Psychiatrist

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

 

References

  1. Patel R. Mental Health For College Students Chapter 9: Exercise strategies to improve mental health
  1. https://u.osu.edu/emotionalfitness/2024/05/31/yoga-for-ptsd/
  1. Hollifield M, Hsiao AF, Smith T, et al. Acupuncture for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry 2024; 81:545.
  2. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
  1. Engel  CC, Cordova EH, Benedek  DM,  et al.  Randomized effectiveness trial of a brief course of acupuncture for posttraumatic stress disorder.   Med Care. 2014;52(12)(suppl 5):S57-S64. doi:1097/MLR.0000000000000237
  2. Kim  SH, Schneider SM, Kravitz  L, Mermier  C, Burge  MR.  Mind-body practices for posttraumatic stress disorder.   J Investig Med. 2013;61(5):827-834. doi:2310/JIM.0b013e3182906862
  3. King  HC, Spence DL, Hickey  AH, Sargent  P, Elesh  R, Connelly  CD.  Auricular acupuncture for sleep disturbance in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a feasibility study.   Mil Med. 2015;180(5):582-590. doi:7205/MILMED-D-14-00451
  4. Moiraghi  C, Poli  P, Piscitelli  A.  An observational study on acupuncture for earthquake-related post-traumatic stress disorder: the experience of the Lombard Association of Medical Acupuncturists/Acupuncture in the world, in Amatrice, Central Italy.   Med Acupunct. 2019;31(2):116-122. doi:10.1089/acu.2018.1329

Breakfast foods and memory

Previous posts have discussed nutrition strategies for depression.  This study looked at breakfast consumption and subsequent performance on memory afterwards (1).

Who was studied? (1)

100  healthy college students

What was the intervention? (1)

A toasted sandwich of about 400 calories with high saturated fat and high sugar, did worse than a similar calorie toasted sandwich with lower saturated fat and low sugar; similar carbohydrate and high protein, about 30 grams vs 10grams).

What were the results? (1)

Just 4 days of a breakfast of high saturated fats and high sugars led to worse performance on memory tests taken after breakfast when compared to as higher protein, moderate carb, lower sugars and lower saturated fat breakfast.

The effect size of this change was significantly associated with the change in blood glucose across the experimental meals.

What does this mean for college students?

  • This study replicated what was initially seen in animal models, but this is just 1 small study and further study is needed.
  • According to this study, college students may remember their class material better if they consumed a breakfast that was high protein, moderate carbohydrate and lower in added sugars, lower in saturated fats.
  • More practically, it may be a good idea to become mindful of your mental performance after you eat various types of meals.
  • An optimized and personalized approach to nutrition can help with both physical and mental health (see resources below like nutrition coaching).

Any other resources to improve nutrition?

If you would like to be notified of future posts (about once per month), enter your email above.

By Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA ,OSU CCS Psychiatrist

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented.

Reference:

  1. Attuquayefio T, Stevenson RJ, Oaten MJ, Francis HM. A four-day Western-style dietary intervention causes reductions in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and interoceptive sensitivity. PLoS One. 2017 Feb 23;12(2):e0172645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172645. PMID: 28231304; PMCID: PMC5322971.