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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 16:43:16
http://www.brainplace.com/bp/atlas/ch7.asp
hi. this is a great site which I came across a few weeks ago. This SPECT imaging is supossed to show exactly what the problem or abnormality is in a person's brain.
There's a lot of very interesting information on this site. Including which subtypes of depression would be better suited for different classes of medications.
From this site my choice of trying Wellbutrin next seems like a good one. It seems the drug can work really well for cases of pseudodementia and for people who may have severe cognitive problems in general.
Be sure to check out the Images of treatment section.
http://www.brainplace.com/bp/atlas/ch16.asp
it's really amazing, the type of improvement one can make with just the right medication.If I continue to have trouble with my depression I will deffinetly look into getting SPECT imaging. At least it will tell me exactly what my problem is and be able to figure out what my best choices for treatment are.
Has anyone here had any experience with SPECT imaging?
Posted by lissa on July 23, 2001, at 18:32:51
In reply to link- SPECT brain imaging for Depression, posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 16:43:16
> http://www.brainplace.com/bp/atlas/ch7.asp
>
> hi. this is a great site which I came across a few weeks ago. This SPECT imaging is supossed to show exactly what the problem or abnormality is in a person's brain.
>
> There's a lot of very interesting information on this site. Including which subtypes of depression would be better suited for different classes of medications.
>
> From this site my choice of trying Wellbutrin next seems like a good one. It seems the drug can work really well for cases of pseudodementia and for people who may have severe cognitive problems in general.
>
> Be sure to check out the Images of treatment section.
> http://www.brainplace.com/bp/atlas/ch16.asp
> it's really amazing, the type of improvement one can make with just the right medication.
>
> If I continue to have trouble with my depression I will deffinetly look into getting SPECT imaging. At least it will tell me exactly what my problem is and be able to figure out what my best choices for treatment are.
>
> Has anyone here had any experience with SPECT imaging?
Posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 18:53:23
In reply to whoa! scam-a-rama ... [NP], posted by lissa on July 23, 2001, at 18:32:51
how is this a scam? I suposse PET scans are a scam too?
Posted by susan C on July 23, 2001, at 20:33:35
In reply to Re: whoa! scam-a-rama ... [NP] » lissa, posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 18:53:23
Hi, back again, just saw pdoc and asked him about SPECT, as disability pdoc suggested it. He said it does show "hot spots" it is interesting, but other than a tool to help people see that they do have something wrong with their brain, thats about it...he said, you already accept you have something wrong with your brain, so there is no need to do it. He has used it to confirm a diagnosis. If something were found, it could be biopsied...and my local hospital now has one and a doctor to interpert the results. but but but... I can see why the other poster suggested scammy, the amen clinic sounds that way with its dr.writing accounts in the first person voice. I think as patients we all need to be alert to choices, new ideas and at the same time, be sure and get lots of opinions.
> how is this a scam? I suposse PET scans are a scam too?
Posted by stjames on July 24, 2001, at 0:58:48
In reply to Re: whoa! scam-a-rama ... [NP] » lissa, posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 18:53:23
>
> how is this a scam? I suposse PET scans are a scam too?James here.....
Using SPECT scans to prove and pinpoint mental illness is still
in its infantcy. Blood flow, gross electrical activity, and
structure (and some other big scale items) are what these scans can show.
Not what the happening on the microscopic to moleculat level. It is at this level
that mental illness is played out.Scam ? Hardly. Primary dignostic tool? No way.
Given the current state of meds, having a specific
Dx does not improve the chances of getting the right med.
Once you sort out what one can and cannot tolerate, there are
not many left and AD's tend to treat many conditions, as do many psyco meds.
The end result of what happens of the molecular level is human behavior. Human
behavior is what pdoc seek to treat, so a careful
interview and observation of the patient is key to a Dx.Don't get me wrong, I welcome the day they can scan us and say
"You have xyz, here is pdq, tailored to your genetic structure.
Here is a script for 50 years."james
Posted by MB on July 25, 2001, at 1:19:23
In reply to link- SPECT brain imaging for Depression, posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 16:43:16
I actually thought about going to the Amen Clinic. I called to make an appointment, but chickened out when they called back, and didn't answer the phone. I guess you pay a lot of money, give an interview, and fill out a questionnaire. Then *they* decide whether you'll get the SPECT scan or not. There's a chance that they'll just prescribe based on you're interview and send you on your way. My initial impression was that the point of the clinic was to scan you *before* meds to diagnose, try you on a medication regimen, then scan you *again* post med to see if your scan has shifter toward normalcy. It upset me to find out that I might not even get a scan.
Posted by Elizabeth on July 27, 2001, at 0:04:00
In reply to link- SPECT brain imaging for Depression, posted by adamie on July 23, 2001, at 16:43:16
My understanding is that there isn't much information on how these types of brain scans ("functional imaging") can be used to identify specific problems. For example, I had a SPECT scan this spring (after an episode of acute respiratory distress syndrome of unknown etiology), and the results were markedly "abnormal" (in various ways), but nobody seems to have any idea what the abnormalities mean clinically. At the time, I was an inpatient and was taking a couple of psychoactive medications (Klonopin and Zyprexa) which could have affected the scan.
Keep in mind that a SPECT image is going to change any time your mood or state of consciousness changes, or if you start directing your attention to a particular type of thought.
-elizabeth
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