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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 PIERCE on January 15, 2004, at 13:45:23
After years of waxing and waning GAD, depression, OCD, and possibly some ADD, I have scheduled an appointment for a brain scan at one of Dr. Amen's clinics. He has written many books on ADD and anxiety/depression, and is supposedly the main pioneer of nuclear SPECT scanning in the nation. The scans show blood flow to different areas of the brain to aid in diagnosing the problem and tailoring medication to help. Has anyone else had a scan at Amen's clinic (or elsewhere?). Was it helpful? Thanks.
Posted by Jeffrey on January 16, 2004, at 19:25:46
In reply to I'm having a brain-scan at Dr. Amen's clinic, posted by PIERCE on January 15, 2004, at 13:45:23
> After years of waxing and waning GAD, depression, OCD, and possibly some ADD, I have scheduled an appointment for a brain scan at one of Dr. Amen's clinics. He has written many books on ADD and anxiety/depression, and is supposedly the main pioneer of nuclear SPECT scanning in the nation. The scans show blood flow to different areas of the brain to aid in diagnosing the problem and tailoring medication to help. Has anyone else had a scan at Amen's clinic (or elsewhere?). Was it helpful? Thanks.
I have not had a spect scan done but read Dr. Amen's book "healing anxiety and depression". He is a pioneer in the work of diagnosing mental illness using spect scans. He does not use the DSM-IV criteria. I think it is very promising work that he does. Best of luck with it and let me know how it goes because I am interested myself. I would also be interested if anyone has been spect scanned.
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 18, 2004, at 2:31:03
In reply to Re: I'm having a brain-scan at Dr. Amen's clinic, posted by Jeffrey on January 16, 2004, at 19:25:46
> I have not had a spect scan done but read Dr. Amen's book "healing anxiety and depression".
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by EscherDementian on February 12, 2004, at 3:11:56
In reply to Re: I'm having a brain-scan at Dr. Amen's clinic, posted by Jeffrey on January 16, 2004, at 19:25:46
Yes, i will also be having a SPECT brain scan at the Amen clinic.
Have this past weeks had my inital intake and evaluations so far. Next steps are the 4-part scans.
Will keep you posted.
Escher
Posted by MB on February 13, 2004, at 11:04:08
In reply to Re: I'm having a brain-scan at Dr. Amen's clinic, posted by EscherDementian on February 12, 2004, at 3:11:56
Scientists tend to find what their looking for. The Amen clinic specializes in ADHD, and that's what they're looking for. Hope you like speed.
It took me a year to recover from an iatrogenic Adderall addiction due to a misdagnosis as having ADHD. *BE CAREFUL* I was addicted, and had to call periodically to make my 15 minute, $200 phone consultation to get my Adderall script sent in the mail so I could get my next fix. I told the doctor I was getting addicted and he brushed it off. Mind you, the Adderall was prescribed *after* I told my doc that I had been in recovery for 2 years for amphetamine addiction...but he assured me that at the doses he'd prescribe, I wouldn't have that problem. It was an extreme nightmare.MB
Posted by micro on February 13, 2004, at 15:12:22
In reply to Re: I'm having a brain-scan at Dr. Amen's clinic, posted by EscherDementian on February 12, 2004, at 3:11:56
> Yes, i will also be having a SPECT brain scan at the Amen clinic.
>
> Have this past weeks had my inital intake and evaluations so far. Next steps are the 4-part scans.
>
> Will keep you posted.
>
> EscherEshcer, please do not let your gut feelings be swayed. While it may be true that some docs find what they looking for, It may also be the true that experience teaches them what to see and what not to miss. Medicine of any kind is not exact science- there are no magic bullets so to speak. Keep in mind that a Doc with a particular interest in a subject may also be more in tuned to the diagnosis. In some clinics, it may be true that, let's say for example the interest is in glaucoma ,or depression, or diabetes you will see a higher prevalance of the disorder. The key here is to find the Doc that doesn't miss it/or over treat. There are standards and treatment guidelines for all docs to abide by. The trick is the diagnosis not the treatment as you know from reading this site,the treatments are easily found in cook book fashion. Diagnoses are not.
GO with yor heart! Regards, Micro
Posted by PsychoSage on February 13, 2004, at 15:38:39
In reply to I'm also an ex-Amen Clinic Patient, posted by MB on February 13, 2004, at 11:04:08
> Scientists tend to find what their looking for. The Amen clinic specializes in ADHD, and that's what they're looking for. Hope you like speed.
> It took me a year to recover from an iatrogenic Adderall addiction due to a misdagnosis as having ADHD. *BE CAREFUL* I was addicted, and had to call periodically to make my 15 minute, $200 phone consultation to get my Adderall script sent in the mail so I could get my next fix. I told the doctor I was getting addicted and he brushed it off. Mind you, the Adderall was prescribed *after* I told my doc that I had been in recovery for 2 years for amphetamine addiction...but he assured me that at the doses he'd prescribe, I wouldn't have that problem. It was an extreme nightmare.
>
> MB
>
>I am appalled someone does not use the DSM. I was first spoiled at my university which has the top psych department in the country because all the services are also reaserch facilites, so the DSM is definitely used for studies involving brain scans if only just to discern between the healthy and unhealthy. When I was getting treatment "in the community" I could not believe the manner in which I was diagnosed. I was asked a few questions and that was it.
I have lesser standards for people, but Dr. Amen doesn't have to abandon the DSM even though it needs some revisions that are more obvious to those in the research/academic community.
The 8.5 hours for a complete battery of diagnostic questionaires and the DSM is worth it I feel. You have to be comprehensive because a few sentences from the patient/client about their depression and anxiety should not be enough to begin treatment. Even if a patient takes half an hour to discuss themselves in their own words, I think there needs to be some cost-effective and comprehensive way of diagnosing people regardless of whether they go to Amen or somewhere else. It should be conprehensive even outside a specialty clinic or research setting.
I have a history of speed addiction that ended 3 years ago, and my doctors at university and anywhere else don't want me near an amphetamine or methylpehnidate for inattention and related problems associated with the past abuse and bipolar.
Provigil but it's like a cousin to amphetamine regardless of what you hear. I just started it, and I am just going to treat it like wellbutrin which can be euphoric in the beginning or when titrating up. This too shall pass. It will likely poop out eventually, so I just have to keep an eye out for other possibilities to aid me. My doc mentioned Aricept and anti-parkinsonians as stimulant alternatives. I thought I was doing Aricept first, but it hasn't transpired that way.
This is the end of the thread.
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