So, as the clocks “spring” forward an hour, are you suddenly feeling energised, full of cheer and zing again after a winter of sluggishness, depression and sleepiness? If so, you may be amongst the three per cent of the population who are known to suffer from winter depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Many of us feel more tired, sleep more and put on weight in the winter but SAD mimics symptoms of depression with low mood, lack of energy, lack of interest in things and irritability characteristic of the condition. In addition (and unlike typical symptoms of depression), those with SAD sleep and eat more not less. They crave chocolate and high carbohydrate foods and feel inordinately drowsy. The comparison with a state of hibernation is striking. Continue reading
‘Goldman’s Cultural Quandary’ by Dr Sarah Barker
Last week (14/3/12) Greg Smith resigned from Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs saying, ‘‘I am sad to say that I look around today and see virtually no trace of the culture that made me love working for this firm for many years.”
Mr Smith is not alone in feeling he no longer fits with the organisation he works for. One of the primary aims of a job interview is to ensure that the person fits with the culture of the organisation. ‘Person-Organisation fit’ is said to have strong links with performance and retention (Sheridan, 1992). However, over time, company values as well as individual priorities can change. The subsequent feeling of a ‘lack of fit’ can lead to considerable personal distress, and is often cited by people seeking help for work-related stress. Continue reading
‘Love in a Hopeless Place’ by Leah Siteman
Do you know what you would do in a situation of extreme violence inflicted upon you from someone you trusted? It is easy to assume what you would do, how you would act, but how can we be sure until it is happening? Continue reading
‘Do Clothes Really Make the Man?’ by Dr Pieter Kruger
The power of perception is widely known and the way we dress can have a significant impact on the way others perceive us – ‘clothes make the man’, said Shakespeare. Is it possible, however, that what we wear can have an impact on how we perceive ourselves and how well we work? According to a new study published by researchers at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, USA (Adam & Galinsky, 2012), the clothes you wear can. When research subjects were asked to wear a scientist’s or medical doctor’s white coat, they performed better on a well know cognitive test (“Stroop” test) than the control group. In this study they found that individuals wearing the lab coats, which people typically associate with care and attentiveness, made almost 50% less mistakes than their peers. Continue reading
‘Safe Prescribing in Dementia Patients’ by Dr Ian Martin, Consultant Psychiatrist
As a Psychiatrist with special interest in dementia care, I am frequently asked to advise on the management of the so called ‘non-cognitive’ or ‘behavioural and psychological’ symptoms of dementia. In short, the “challenging behaviour” which is so often one of the most distressing aspects of this devastating illness. Continue reading
The Man Who Hears Colour – Dr Phil Hopley
Artist Neil Harbisson is completely colour-blind as a result of his rare sight disorder: achromatopsia (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16681630). But now with the assistance of a web-cam attached to his head, a microchip and some software, light waves are transformed into sound waves which are passed through his skull so that he hears colour. Continue reading
The Tragedy of Fernando Torres: Performance Dysfunction? – by Dr Pieter Kruger
John Carlin wrote in the Weekend FT Magazine (17 February 2012) about the ‘catastrophic and inexplicable loss of form’ that the Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has been experiencing over the past 12 months. This is a type of performance dysfunction that numerous elite sports people have to deal with during the course of their careers. While there are occasional physical or physiological explanations for such changes in performance, in general they arise from psychological causes. Continue reading
‘Was that a Micro Expression I just saw?’ By Leah Siteman
Have you ever got a strange feeling about somebody but you couldn’t put your finger on why? Perhaps you got the impression that you upset somebody with a throw away comment but when confronted they say they are fine. They act normally, however your gut feeling remains that they are genuinely upset. I’m sure there are thousands of such examples, and perhaps they are in part due to Micro Expressions.
‘Clinical Psychology is Needed in The Boardroom’ by Rob Archer
For many years leadership trainers, coaches and consultants have worked in organisations helping leaders build high performance teams and cultures. Yet recently a new trend has emerged whereby Clinical Psychologists have been in increasing demand to share their expertise within organisations.
Why is this? Continue reading
Free Breakfast Briefing – Resilience in the Workplace – 23 February 2012
LPP Consulting is delighted to announce a free Breakfast Briefing in our consulting rooms at 8 Devonshire Place, London W1G 6HP on Thursday 23 February 2012 (8am for 8-30am).
The subject is Building a Resilient Workplace with Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Our speaker is Rob Archer, Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Director, LPP Consulting.