"Medical and Scientific Days of the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia", conference organized with the support of Carmistin

Our team was involved, as a partner, in the planning committe for the ’’Medical and Scientific Days of the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry Prof. Dr. Al. Obregia’’ in Bucharest. The event brought together leading personalities of the medical field. As we were present at some of the workshops, we learned from experts how we can manage family related issues, especially the parent-child/parent -adolescent relationship, how we can ease stress related to school or the impact of rapid technological development on cognitive development of our youth. We were particularly interested in the topic of video games – pros and cons. We learned about the risks and benefits of video game exposure in young children and the impact it has on other aspects of their lives. Video games stimulate problem-solving skills, hand-eye movement coordination, strategic thinking and even social interactions, in the case of multiplayer games. Clearly, video games are considered to have a significant recreational and entertainment component. When in comes to excessive time spent gaming, it can become borderline addictive and compulsive and the negative effects start to be seen. It can affect sleep, academic performance and physical health due to sedentary tendencies. According to experts, video games are not the only cause of these issues, video game addiction is conditioned by a predisposed body, a predisposed brain and a source of severe stress. Simply playing video games as a recreational activity is not a direct cause of early onset addictive behaviours, and the developmental, cognitive and social pros are clear.

The conclusion highlighted by specialists is that kids and teenagers need to be encouraged and supported in finding balance between gaming, as a form of leisure, and schoolwork, exercise, real life social activities and other hobbies.

Sleep deprived teenagers = vulnerable teenagers

In her presentation ’’Sleep and sleep disorders in adolescents - practical aspects”, Dr Cristina Anghel spoke about the importance of sleep and the significance of treating sleep problems in modern medicine, explaining what happens when adolescents don’t get enough sleep or don’t experience a normal resting cycle. Global expert studies show that teenagers are the most sleep deprived of all age groups, with 85% of them sleeping virtually less than the recommended 8-10 hours/night. Short sleep and insomnia in adolescents have been declared a major public health problem worldwide. Even starting school hours so early in the morning clashed with their biological need for rest. Children and adolescents need to wake up and function optimally during the time when their brains are actually programmed for rest, not to mention the fact that morning sleep plays a crucial role in all cognitive aspects and emotional states.

What else contributes to an irregular sleep schedule among teenagers - worries about school and social life, other health problems, and medication. Another common factor that has been shown to significantly affect sleep among teenagers is the presence of multiple devices in the bedroom, which doubles the propensity for falling asleep at school or during homework. In summary, sleep deprivation creates a host of problems, affecting cognitive performance and overall health. Sleep deprivation also increases the risk of obesity and susceptibility to depression or anxiety, leads to mood swings, impulsivity or hyperactivity, and contributes to a predisposition to alcohol or substance dependence, especially among young people prescribed sleeping pills. As for the much sought-after remedy for sleep disorders in general and in adolescents in particular, specialists recommend carefully tailoring treatments, particularly recommending greater care in observing, accepting and subsequently treating such problems.