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Clinician handoff

Digital

Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.

Why this still fits

I want to systematically evaluate whether Digital is contributing to my brain fog and compare it against close alternatives.

What would weaken it

  • -Does cognition improve quickly with phone/notification removal and focus blocks, or is fog still severe despite low screen exposure and adequate sleep opportunity?
  • -Were attention/executive symptoms lifelong and cross-setting, or mainly amplified by current high-notification/screen environment?
  • -Is low mood and anhedonia driving cognition most days, or does focus mainly break during high-scroll/high-interruption periods?
  • -When symptoms flare, do they reliably occur 1-3 hours after meals and improve when meal composition changes?

Key points to communicate

  • Please document what findings would confirm this cause versus lower confidence.
  • I want an evidence-first workup with clear follow-up criteria.
  • Please note which competing causes should be checked in parallel if results are inconclusive.
  • Please separate metabolic, sleep, autonomic, and medication overlap before narrowing to one cause.

Tests and measurements to discuss

Need the fuller context? Use the test explainers for the measurement itself, or jump back to the tests section on the Digital page to see how the tests fit the whole pattern.

Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing report

Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

ASRS-v1.1 if attention problems feel lifelong and cross-setting

What this helps clarify: Patient-facing ADHD screener route matching the ASRS-v1.1 wording used in results cards and clinician conversations.

Range context

0-6 screener context

How to use the result

Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.

PHQ-9 / GAD-7 if low mood or anxiety is traveling with the fog

What this helps clarify: Depression screening — overlap with brain fog symptoms

Range context

Score <5

How to use the result

Save the result with date and symptoms from the same week.

Self-Assessment

Used to rule in or rule out Digital.

What this helps clarify: Used to rule in or rule out Digital.

Peer-reviewed references

  1. https://doi.org/10.1086/691462
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39967678/
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23332236/