Brain Scan?

How important do you think it is to have a brain scan done as a part of your diagnostic testing? I know p-docs usually make their Dx. based on what we tell them, but I watch shows on TV that show mentally ill patients usually having a brain scan to confirm mental illness, and to discount any physical form of brain injury/illness.

for some diagnosing it is a requirement to have brain scans. for example the diagnostic criteria for DID says the symptoms cannot be because the person has physical health problems that may be causing the problem. So I had to go through - a complete physical, scans, EEG's, MRI's that kind of thing as well as the psychiatric evaluation, to make sure I did not have things like epilepsy, other seizure disorders, brain tumors, alzheimers and other physical problems that share the same symptom as having memory problems, loss of time, changes in speech and behaviors, that kind of thing.

some mental disorders actually show up in the brain scans like they now know some types of schizophrenia have alterations in their neuro-pathways. Bipolar disorder also sometimes shows up during medical workups because their receptors and fluids and that kind of thing in the brain works differently than normal peoples do and have different chemical make up in their brain.

My thought is to ask the psychiatrist. If the psychiatrist thinks it would be helpful, I would have one if I could afford it.

I think it is an excellent idea and should always be done. It is much more of a "rule out" for organic disorders that could be causing the symptoms than it is a "rule in" for mental disorders. In fact, it really doesn't say anything about mental disorders at all. If you get a PET Scan, these can sometimes show different areas of the brain that are hyperstimulated or understimulated, which can help point them in the direction of a potential mental health dx, but that's about it really.

Hope that helps.

Thanks ((Amanda)), ((BYZ)), ((Alysium)). My bipolar disorder has been treatment resistant for 15 years, which is why I was asking about the brain scan. For all I know I may not be bipolar at all and who knows maybe there is something going on in my head nobody knows about. Ive never had a Dr. suggest a scan so I thought Id ask you guys. I will bring it up to my p-doc the next time I go. Thank you so much!!!!!

I suspect the state of the art in using brain scans for diagnosing non-organic mental illness and/or distinguishing between various kinds is not very advanced, and therefore not very useful for making differential diagnoses, and certainly not useful for purposes of therapy. At the moment it is largely a research topic, is my impression.

Thanks ((Pachy)) I know Im probably just grasping at threads, but I have to have something to hang onto. Even if its the hopes of having something in my brain that could be removed or operated on. I mean theres got to be something going on that would make a person completely resistant to all medications. Right?...or maybe not......I dont know.

My p'doc thinks that scans are a useful tool to rule out anything organic. I had a scan a while back, but he is chasing up the results with my GP.

I have DID. Recently my pdoc asked me some questions about what I knew that as on his desk and covered them up..... And also placed things in my hands and asked which was heaviest and swapped them around. I failed the test.

So I think we are going to get some other neuropsychology tests done.

He said that sometimes brains may not learn some basic when they are young if they aren't nurtured....

I said to him well if its psychological its not going to show up on a scan.

Well we will just see......

Good luck to all of us.

I have been trying to find effective therapy for treatment resistant depression for the past two years. During this time I tried 15 different drug combinations. I have been dealing with depression for over 28 years.

I saw Dr. Daniel G. Amen on PBS. He was talking about using SPECT brain scans before prescribing treatment for psychiatric disorders. Dr. Amen owns four clinics in the United States. He is a neuro-psychiatrist.

I was so tired of feeling miserable I called the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California and got more information. I went to the clinic in March of 2010. It was an amazing experience and I now have some hope of feeling better. The brain scans are not treatment, but they gave the psychiatrist more information before prescribing a treatment plan for me. I feel the Amen Clinic is using a higher level of education in treatment than I was receiving at home.

I am not well yet, but I am making good progress. I have an atypical depression that needs to be treated with multiple medications and in a specific order. If you would like to learn more about the Amen Clinics, go to www.amenclinics.com.

Writing a blog about my experiences has been therapeutic for me. If you are interested in reading more go to, http://escapefromdepression.blogspot.com.

Sincerely,
Caramel

I wonder how Dr Amen feels about the Obamacare ruling that makes it illegal for a physician to manage, administrate, or invest in a medical facility where you work. That can't go well.

I know: what we wouldn't do for the magic cure!

I personally found medications, of which I have probably taken on the order of twenty, to be useless. I finally gave up on them and tried to go with what I always thought was the more correct path, that of psychological approaches. I have had to work those out mostly on my own, and with the help of others who have written books, and the help of many here on Psych Central. I found it to be a very difficult path, but the only one that has helped me. It takes a long time, though, and is often quite frightening. So what else is new?

I had a CAT scan done last week... I know it not a brain scan but they did not seen any "masses" in my brain... so I guess that was good...

I hope they did find something in there...

idk what's goin on in this discussion exactly (just kinda skimmed over everything), but monday after this next one I'm going 2 c my 1st forensic psychologist... no forensic stuff on my 1st visit or anything, but my doc & I r butting heads on sum things merely because he's more stubborn than I am & won't listen 2 what I have 2 say. I'm sittin here with 4 different diagnoses here & I might agree with 2 1/2 of them, so I truly believe I need a change & a brain scan just might be in the hand of cards I'm dealt next. how else will I know anything 4 sure?

HaHa ((Pachy)) You are so hilarious!!! I felt my depression lift right off my shoulders. I swear somewhere in the whole mix humor is part of the answer to all our problems. If they could just put whatever chemical it triggers in our bodies into a pill we'd all be cured!!!! UUUGGGGHH...I hope it has nothing to do with serotonin....back to square one. Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread. ((Caramel)) Please keep us posted on how your treatment goes based on the findings. Thanks for the info. you provided. I will read it.

Hi ruffy,

SPECT brain scans measure brain blood flow and metabolism; how the brain functions. They don't show the anatomy of the brain. I think a SPECT scan could show a brain injury by lack of blood flow. SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography.

I have posted my brain scans on my blog if you are interested in seeing them. The surface views of my brain are in Chapter 11, and the active, internal views are in Chapter 13. My blog address is http://escapefromdepression.blogspot.com.

Just wanted to give you more information.
Thanks!
Caramel

Hi Yoda,

Very interesting comment. Dr. Amen doesn't work out of any of his clinics. I don't know enough about this part of the new law to know how it will affect his clinics. I saw another psychiatrist when I was at the Amen Clinic. I didn't get to meet Dr. Amen.

Thanks!
Caramel

Thanks again Caramel...I did look at your brain scans. Quite remarkable, the details they show!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I swear my momma dropped me on my head when I was little. No fooling! I even have a faint scar on my forehead to prove it, but no natural mom to accuse, as Im adopted !! I have read that certain types of brain injury can cause disorders not unlike some of ours here at PC. Personal question, does insurance pay for the SPECT scan, and if they do, would a p-doc have to order it? Sorry Im so needy but youve got me curious. You can PM me about the insurance thingy if you want to keep that private. I wont tell a soul!!!

Hey ruffy,

I think it is awesome you would take the time to look at my brain scans!

I have also read that brain injury can cause disorders like some of ours here at PC. I am sorry you can't ask your mom about what happened. That information might be helpful.

You are not needy, and you are welcome to ask me any questions you would like. I was told at the clinic that some medical insurance policies will pay for SPECT scans. My insurance company is in the process of deciding. We have a very high deductible and I am anticipating they will say it is experimental treatment and will not be applied to our deductible. But I may be surprised.

The cost for the SPECT scans, an appointment with a historian to document your medical history, and an appointment with a psychiatrist to read your scans and prescribe treatment is $3,350.00. A half hour phone appointment with your doctor three weeks later is also included. I know this isn't inexpensive, but I spent more than this seeing a psychiatrist and trying 15 different drug combinations in two years. I decided I couldn't afford not to go to the clinic. There is also a company that does financing for the clinic if a patient is interested.

I was taking Luvox and clonazepam when I went to the clinic. When I got home I started taking Neurontin and began coming off clonazepam. I have been off clonazepam for 5 weeks. As soon as my body adjusts and the anxiety calms down I will start on Wellbutrin. I am not completely well yet, but I am doing a lot better than before I went to the Amen Clinic. My evaluation and treatment plan from the clinic is 20 pages long.

Thanks!
Caramel

Caramel, You are an angel. Thanks again for the info. Do let me know how it goes!!!

I would like to go through some tests to help confirm that it really is BP II I'm suffering from