Amens brain scan | ADHD Information

Sonya I think they just opened an Amen Clinic in the DC area.Really?  That might be something worth checking out...

Thanks for responses. I'm just trying to get a feel for this clinic, as I had never heard of it before. My girlfriend went and visited her mother last month, and her mother got a good dose of one of the anger epsiodes my g/f throws at times, and decided it was time to get her daughter in for a brain scan. I was looking at some of the scans last night. It is pretty amazing what they can tell. Kind of scary, too, though.

Anyway, one of the things my girlfriend has is called 'the ring of fire.' I didn't need THIS explained to me. But, for those who've never heard of it, it is an area which tends to impulsivly inspire great fits of rage!

I'll just have to keep guessing the old fashioned way about my own symtoms, as I can certainly not affford the scan.

The reactions from her sisters--who have displayed various stages of frustration, anger, exasperation, 'grow-up-and-get-a-life' behavior (which I have experienced myself, at times, I have to admit, when it comes to the g/f)--are reacting in very unexpected ways. And my g/f sounds more emtionally mature and sensible than, quite frankly, I've ever heard her sound. (It's been ~2 years I've known her). SHe's taking huge doses of fish oil since she came back from the clinic. I think it's helping her. Plus, she feels more, um....validated, I think, seeing it in black & white, as it were. Let's her know it's NOT just all in her head (well, it is, techically, but--you know what I mean, I hope!)

 

lostinthemaze38557.3407175926

My psych talked a lot about the similarity between bi-polar and ADHD.  A good portion of the first few sessions he would insert lots of questions about bipolar type attributes.  I'm pretty good these days (especially on my meds) at seeing subterfuge so it shows on my radar and I picked it out.  He says that there are only a couple of differences that make the proof of either and mainly its the sudden and extreme mood change rollercoaster that is the difference.  I never had the highs and lows so it was an easy call for him.  I was always kind of flat emotionally speaking.

Bipolar is detectable on MRI using just blood flow.  ADHD is more subjective so if someone really doubts they have ADHD but rather has bipolar that would be the way to go.  Depression really changes blood flow in scans.

I'm to understand they are using EEGs for therapy for ADHD so probably could show ADHD-like behaviour in the brain.  I'm assuming they use EEG as biofeedback but not sure.

My ex gf has bipolar and it's like having 3 people in the house - just never at the same time.  It's scary as they have no control of their emotional state and you have to try to gauge what to do depending on their mindset right then.  When you are ADHD trying to guess emotion is really really hard.  It was a nightmare.

 

 

Anyone seen Amens' brain scan?

I wish I could go to Dr. Amen's clinic, but I live on the opposite side of the continent...(in North Carolina)

I have his book.

I tested positive for the limbic ad/hd..(the kind that makes you less motivated, "lazy" and often accompanies depression) and also I think the temporal lobe ad/hd (the kind that makes you very angry) runs in my family.

Davidornado,

Click on the link on Wordwoman's post and you can view the different scans there. They show the way it shows up in different catagories of ADHD, from inattentive to seriously hyperactive with no impulse control.

Has anyone on here done the brain scans at the Amen clinic in CA? My girlfriend just came back from doing this. Very interesting results! Plus, she brought back some info that indicates that I may have a form of ADD! But not the type where you can't focus or remember things--my problems are mainly hyperfocus (I can focus for hours on one project intensely), and irritability, anger, fatigue, ect....plus I get words and numbers mixed up. BUT--I have always been a 4.0 'teachers pet' type. Confusing!!

I've been diagnosed with BiPolar II and GAD and fibrolyalgia. But now I'm going, hmmmmm.

My girlfriend had a solid 'diagnosis' and now has a treatment plan. Any imput on the Amen clinic?

I contacted the Amen Clinic about this and that is where I found my current P-Doc (I can't stand him by the way). He wants me to get it, but it's so expensive. Insurance doesn't cover.

bb

I haven't had his brain scan but I was having serious ADD symptoms (before anyone would admit adults could have ADD). My dr even said that if it were possible, I would be because I had all the symptoms and nothing else even came close. Since it was impossible for me to have ADD back then, he ordered all kinds of tests, including an eeg. The results came back that they had never seen anything like it. Every single person in the facility had looked at it and no one had a clue as to what it could be. There was a lot of mis-firing in my brain but it wasn't epilepsy because of whatever. I was having serious trouble with my mind racing all over the place when it was done.

I've often wondered since then whether eeg's could be used as a diagnostic tool if they knew what to look for.

I spent 3 years trying different things before he put me on Welbutrin. I don't know yet whether he finally admitted I had ADD or just got lucky. All he ever said about it was it seemed to keep my brain activity level or something to that effect.

I know the imaging pictures on Dr. Amen's web site really impressed me. I would have it done in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

From the for what it's worth department -- I tend to be a skeptic, though,
especially when the cost is 00+. I don't have an experienced-based
opinion -- if it's been useful to anyone, more power to you.
http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/05/dr-daniel-amen-and-sp ect.htmlWordwoman38555.7455787037Just curious -- are you thinking that the other diagnoses are wrong and
that ADHD fits better?

For kids, at least, there is a lot of research now indicating that many kids
diagnosed with ADHD are probably bipolar. I imagine it can go the other
way, too. I just posted about a doctor that I met who does Urine testing to measure neurotransmitters for 0 I suspect it would detect ADHD/ADD too?? www.docbron.com  Amens clinic is about an 1.5 hr from me but too $$$$.