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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 AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
I am sick and tired of certian people in my life trying to tell me my problem isn't severe or questioning whether i'm ''pretending'' or other nonsense.
Plus it would help me figure out more clearly exactly what the problem is.
I have severe clinical depression caused by Accutane (vitamin A overdose). I have been on 20+ meds and ECT (which to this day gives me terrible memory problems).
SO what kind of brain scan shows neurotransmitters or chemical inbalances or cortisol?
I have read that Accutane depression victims all have very high cortisol. What scan would show this? I am willing to pay whatever the hell it takes.
Also anyoneknow any meds that word specificially on cortisol?
Posted by med_empowered on January 21, 2007, at 16:18:19
In reply to What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance?, posted by AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
"chemical imbalances" are really just a theory, and not necessarily a solid one, either. The Amen clinic ( I think they're in cali) use brain scans and then prescribe based on their interpretations of the scan(s) and also on more traditional psych. consults. From what I've read, though, one reason they get such good results is that they are skillful prescribers, and use a wider variety of meds and a wider range of dosages than most other shrinks. So..I don't know that the brain scans are really an integral part of their success in treatment.
Cortisol and most other hormones can be tested via blood and/or saliva, and the tests shouldn't be too terribly expensive. You might also want to check liver enzymes, T3, T4, blood sugar, so on and so forth--basically, do a thorough battery of tests. With thyroid, you might want to seek out a more alternative healthcare provider; they tend to be quicker to use meds/supplements to correct thyroid issues, while mainstream docs have been using pretty outdated thyroid tests that have some people in the "normal" range feeling terrible. So...give that a whirl, if you'd like.
Good luck!
Posted by Declan on January 21, 2007, at 17:41:00
In reply to What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance?, posted by AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
Adam, it would be nice to have proof, but isn't damage from Accutane as good a proof as you should need?
What can/do you do about that? Fish oil any use?
Dunno anything about lowering cortisol levels.
Posted by blueberry1 on January 21, 2007, at 18:48:29
In reply to What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance?, posted by AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
Is chemical imbalance the true cause of depression? No one knows. It could be a defective gene orchestrating everything. Could be DHEA, cortisol, other hormones? BDNF? It could a faulty sending receptor or receiving receptor. Or any number of things.
I had my neurotransmitters tested in a urine test. But what good is that? It doesn't show what's going on in the brain. And since all of our bodies vary considerably in large detail as well as molecular detail, who is to say what 'normal' balances are?
Whatever the cause, antidepressants seem to alleviate it in a slight majority of people. Probably not from directly increasing neuro levels, but from some cascade effect on other brain systems that results from it.
I've done cortisol testing. It's an easy one where you take a saliva sample 4 times in a day and send it to the lab. Lots of things can lower cortisol, such as many antidepressants, benzos, and others.
If something is wrong with your heart, kidneys, eyes, cholesterol, or whatever, no one disputes it. But no, not the brain. The brain is off limits for anything to go wrong with it. It is somehow magically protected. Unless it is parkinsons or alzheimers. But not mood. People who think that way advertise their own flawed logic. Ask them, do certain parts of your brain need to be in good working order to grab the right words in a conversation? To plan ahead detailed activities? How is it that good brain function is needed for those things, but that good brain function is not needed for proper mood? Why is it some people are just naturally overly happy and overly hyper all the time? Could it be they too have some brain malfunction, but that it manifests itself as the opposite of depression?
My family denied anything was wrong with me for years. Now they admit it and accept it. They tell stories of my great great grandmother and her battles of lifelong depression. Back then the only treatment was insulin-shock therapy which eventually killed her.
If those around you dispute chemical imbalance, that's fine. It might not be chemical imbalance. If they dispute anything is wrong with you, that you should be able to just snap out of it, then they are putting their own flawed logic and their own brain malfunctions on display. A person with depression can no more snap out of it than a person with diabetes could.
Posted by Phillipa on January 21, 2007, at 21:13:14
In reply to Re: What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance? » AdamCanada, posted by blueberry1 on January 21, 2007, at 18:48:29
Definitely believe in what blueberry said. Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on January 22, 2007, at 6:47:05
In reply to What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance?, posted by AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
PET scans (positron emission tomography) have been useful in detecting brain abnormalities in the depressed state. For instance, frontal and left temporal hypometabolism seems to be a consistent finding in depression. However, differences in receptor numbers are also seen. Interestingly, some areas show hypermetabolism. In addition, PET scans demonstrate a normalization of many of these measurements once remission is achieved.
I had a PET scan (FDG) performed on me in 1993. It was pretty scary to see how broadly my brain exhibited hypometabolism.
One study claimed that they could predict which people would be more responsive to Wellbutrin versus Effexor monotherapy based on PET scans.
While I am not sure PET scans have a place in diagnosis yet, it certainly has helped to resolve some of the biological abnormalities seen in depression.
- Scott
Posted by tensor on January 22, 2007, at 7:06:31
In reply to What kind of brain scan proves chemical inbalance?, posted by AdamCanada on January 21, 2007, at 15:20:02
Behavior results from cellular interactions between brain areas NOT from changes in levels of neurotransmitters.
A PET-scan could probably show a difference in brain activity.
/Mattias
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