We are looking at this testing as a last resort. We are in Australia and deal with a doctor who specialises in learning and behavioural disorders and also a well respected pychiastist. The problem is we can't find the right medication and have tried everything. The best results have been fro quick release ritalin but as it only last 3 hours it has been difficult to maintain at school. The doctors even disagree with the diagnoisis - the pychiastist believes he has ASD while the other specialist believes it is severe anxiety. He is now 14 - hasn't hit puberty and has suffered a breakdown 6 months ago where he became extremely anxious and paranoid withdrawing from social contact. He is back at school but his working memory is shot. He's ability to write and recall as so limited and he is so clever that he is becoming incredibly frustrated. We have tried most meds (please excuse my spelling!) resperdal, prozac. dex, among others. We have had some shocking side effects.In Australia we don't have the patch - . At present he is on a mix of quick release ritalin, zoloft and concerta. He is happy at school generally mixing with other students.
I suppose I am now in panick mode and searching for answers. I thought that if we could work out where the issue was then the right medication could be found to help. Some relations say I should just let him be and not put any pressure on him to do well. I just can't do this. A boy with an average to above average IQ - there must be an answer.
Has anyone been to Dr Amen's Clinic? We have tried so many things. It all seems so logical. Does it work? What does it cost? Would you recommend it?
Look forward to seeing some replies
Yep, I kept it for a reason. I didn't have an agenda or anything like that but I thought it would somehow be useful in the future. This is the first time I've quoted that Psych and I will of course keep his other info confidential as my hsuband and I have a lot of respect for him.
If anyone has any other questions about Amen Clinic, I still have copies of the scans and other paperwork...
Pear
Wow. I always suspected maxdad knew what he was talking about.....
How cool to have that psych's letter to quote from....really nails it down.
I apologize in advance for the length of this response. BUT in regard to the "Amen Clinic"...
I was diagnosed at the Amen Clinic in Fairfield, CA in April, 2002. Referred by my therapist at the time. I did the complete routine: Filled out various questionnaires and other forms, took written and performance tests and had the infamous Tomographic (SPECT) brain imaging scans. All this over a couple of days. Luckily, I live only about 45 minutes away. Some people travel great distances to receive Amen's magical diagnoses.
The cost of the entire procedure(s) at that time was approximately ,750 not including any follow-up appointments. They do NOT accept insurance. They MUST have payment(s) in advance. I found most of the staff - especially the telephone people - unprofessional. The turnover rate for the on-site psychiatrists was very high. At one of my follow-up appointments I saw yet another newly hired shrink - the lead dude - my husband and I found very impressive and knowlegeble. Later, within a year, he too left the clinic. (We never met nor saw Mr. Amen) So I emailed him and asked where he would be practicing next and why he left Amen's clinic. His reply is as quoted:
"Thank you for your letter of support. My reasons for leaving the Amen Clinic relate to conclusions I reached based on my experience as chief psychiatrist there as well as my own investigations. Basically, I failed to find any good research supporting Dr Amen's assertions about the value of SPECT scans in clinical psychiatry, and, when I reviewed almost 200 patients I had personally evaluated, there was no significant correlation between the clinical diagnosis and the scan findings in regards to mood or anxiety disorders or ADD.
I finally concluded that The Amen Clinics, Inc are essentially in the business of selling an over-hyped, expensive, high-tech product directly to patients, who read Dr Amen's books and become convinced that SPECT scans can provide more accurate diagnosis and better treatment for their psychiatric problems.
I did learn quite a bit working with Dr Amen, especially about the different parts of the brain involved in particular symptoms and behaviors. Unfortunately, blood flow studies of the brain (which is what SPECT scans are) don't reveal these associations."
So there ya have it. Max Dad pretty much nailed it. At least I did get a good diagnosis, albiet an expensive one. Granted all this was in 02 so it's possible a lot has changed since then, but that was my experience.
Thank you so much. Sounds like our experience with DORE program. A lot of slick advertising!!!
Much appreciated!