What is a Brain SPECT Scan?
Ranked #9,460 in Healthy Living, #157,880 overall
Helping ADD With SPECT Scans
Anybody who suffers from ADD - "Attention Deficit Disorder," ADHD, depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, Compulsive-Obsessive Disorder, or other disorders that usually fall under the category of "mental disorders," could benefit from knowing about SPECT Scans.
Why? SPECT scans are a form of brain imagery that can pinpoint exact areas of the brain that are not functioning in the "normal" range.
This lens is designed to take you on a visual tour of how SPECT scans can change the lives of people who have certain "behavioral" problems. It designed to raise awareness of a 20 year old diagnostic procedure that more accurately pinpoints problem areas in the brain and enables more effective treatments for the "disorders" mentioned above.
If you, or someone you know or love, has issues with behavior, please read on. And watch the videos.
What exactly is a SPECT scan and how does it help Attention Deficit Disorder?
Scientific SPECT Scan Definition:
SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. It is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays. It is very similar to conventional nuclear medicine planar imaging using a gamma camera. However, it is able to provide true 3D information. SPECT is usually used to complement any gamma imaging study, where a true 3D representation can be helpful. E.g. tumor imaging, infection (leukocyte) imaging, thyroid imaging or bone imaging.
Nuclear medicine? At first that may sound sort of scary, but it is just a different type of imaging that has a very valuable place in certain diagnostic situations.
Brain imagery - An Advanced use of SPECT
A newer application of SPECT is brain imagery, pioneered by Dr. Daniel Amen back in the early '90's. A brain SPECT scan looks at blood flow and activity patterns in the brain. First, there is the "surface view" which shows the cortical surfaces. A healthy, balanced brain will have smooth cortical surfaces. Second, there is an "active view" which shows the activity deep within the brain.
Literally it is many images of the brain that show how a patient's brain specifically works. The SPECT scans are sometimes called functional scans, because they show how the brain functions. Simplified, a SPECT scan measures three very specific things; normal brain activity, under-activity, and over-activity in all areas of the brain.
Using the SPECT Scan as a Diagnostic Tool
The benefits to Neuro-psychiatry and patients
Think of it this way. You fall and twist your ankle. The pain could be from just a pulled muscle. It could also be caused by a pulled tendon or ligament, or a bone fracture. The doctor may look at the bruise, and poke and prod. But an X-ray is the diagnostic tool the finalizes the diagnosis and treatment.
Using the SPECT scan for brain imagery now provides an actual look into the organ that controls behavior - the brain. It helps in two ways. First it provides physical evidence of specific brain activity in each brain area, identifying if it is under-active, or over-active. It gives the medical health care professional a way to physically diagnose a behavior problem. It gives the patient a way to see there is a physical cause of certain behavior patterns. The doctor can reduce the guesswork in a treatment plan. The patient finally can see behavior stems from a physical cause, it is not just "all in their head."
This lens is meant to be an adjunct to the two lenses listed below. If you or someone you love suffers from ADD or Depression, and you have not read these, you might find the information to be new and different from what you already know, Knowledge is power. And when a miniscule area of brain dysfunction can be identified and treated most effectively, it can literally change lives. I can change the life of the patient, and the lives of family members.
Have Attention Deficit Disorder?
Are you up-to-date on the latest findings?
Let's Look at How SPECT Brain Imagery Works
A Peek At Diagnosing ADD with SPECT
Another Use of the Brain SPECT Scan
Measuring effectiveness of medications
Do keep in mind, this is not for everyone, as SPECT scans are not an inexpensive procedure. But there are people using SPECT in this way. Watch the video for one person's results using this method for medication and treatment comparisons. This simply is another way treatment results can be optimized.
SPECT Scan or Symptom Clusters
Which diagnostic approach would you favor?
If you suspect something is not right in your brain, what type of diagnostic system would you prefer? Would you be satisfied with the standard approach of using symptom clusters and family history for diagnosis and treatment, or would you prefer to add physical evidence to support diagnosing symptoms?
Which would you prefer? Standard diagnostics, or physical proof along with standard diagnostics?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI would love to have physical proof.
The-Java-Gal says:
Show me the proof, and save time in getting the treatment nailed down.
Posted June 06, 2010
Standard diagnosis has been around for years, and is good enough for me.
Healing ADD
The 6 types of ADD
And Dr. Amen has a very interesting and practical treatment approach. He looks at both natural and pharmaceutical treatments. And he doesn't stop there - he sheds light on many other modalities that literally help the brain, such as exercise, relaxation, clearing negative thinking, and many more. He presents concrete activities for regaining better brain function and normalcy.
Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD
Amazon Price: $9.04 (as of 02/23/2012)
This is a total resource for determining the types of ADD, and a reference guide for creating a complete program to regain a "normal" brain pattern. It includes written quizzes to help determine which type, or types of ADD are present. He then correlates the symptoms with specific brain areas, and the activity pattern in each affected area of the brain. And most important, he lays out not only the natural remedies that are known to help each area, but also specific medications. (Some ADD medications can be absolutely wrong for certain types of ADD. Do you know what they are?
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
It's easier than you think
Well that is exactly what Dr. Amen has seen happen for 20 years, working with SPECT Scans, brain dysfunction, and individualized health activities. It is a book of hope for people who have never felt "normal." It is a book of practical applications. It is not rocket science. Simple techniques. A doable plan.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness
Amazon Price: $6.98 (as of 02/23/2012)
In this age of do-it-yourself health care (heck, if the doctor only sees you for 10 minutes each visit, what other options are there?), Change Your Brain, Change Your Life fits in perfectly. It is filled with "brain prescriptions" (among them cognitive exercises, natural remedies, nutritional advice, deep breathing, guided imagery, meditation, self-hypnosis, and biofeedback) for treating disorders that are so frequently dealt with by prescription only. It is geared toward readers who've experienced anxiety, depression, impulsiveness, excessive anger or worry, and obsessive behavior.
Build A "Brain Health" Reference Library
More Great Brain Health Books
Did You Enjoy Learning About SPECT Scans?
Then bookmark this lens for others to enjoy
A Little About Me
by The-Java-Gal
Thousands of people worldwide suffer from inappropriate brain activity. Learn about SPECT scans, and how they literally capture images of problems in... more »
- 14 featured lenses
- Winner of 10 trophies!
- Top lens » The Power of Music
Explore related pages
- Types of Attention Deficit Disorder Types of Attention Deficit Disorder
- Children with Dyspraxia Children with Dyspraxia
- Depression With Psychotic Features Depression With Psychotic Features
- The Da Vinci Method by Garret LoPorto The Da Vinci Method by Garret LoPorto
- Low-Risk Interventions for Attention Deficit Disorder Low-Risk Interventions for Attention Deficit Disorder
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Healing ADD
by Dr. Daniel Amen
Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD
Amazon Price: $9.04 (as of 02/23/2012)
Hard, visual data make a compelling case for the existence of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in this pioneering work by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. Using a nuclear medicine technique called "single photon emission computed tomography" (SPECT)--a controversial step, according to some of his peers--Dr. Amen scans patients' brains to identify various abnormalities. From more than 8,000 such studies and more than 12,000 patient evaluations, Dr. Amen concludes that six--not the formerly presumed two--different types of ADD exist. This book encompasses the full spectrum of Dr. Amen's work: from symptom identification to clinical evaluation, to diet and medication recommendations, to everyday strategies for living with ADD (whether the reader is a parent of an ADD child, or has been diagnosed with the disease.)
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body
By Dr. Daniel Amen
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body: Use Your Brain to Get and Keep the Body You Have Always Wanted
Amazon Price: $6.59 (as of 02/22/2012)
Dr. Amen's groundbreaking work gives us a blueprint for a better brain, better health, and a better body. What more could we ask for? I highly recommend it.
Other Lenses Dealing with Brain Health
Start improving your brain today!
