Mental Health and Post-Concussion Syndrome: Katie’s Story
Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube TL;DRKatie Jolly struggled with mental health challenges for most of her life, often feeling ashamed and without clear answers.Her breakthrough came after
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How to Stop Yelling at Your Child with ADHD: Calm Parenting Strategies That Work
ADHD and OCD can look alike. Learn key differences and how brain scans can help you get the right diagnosis and more effective treatment.
Before becoming a parent, you may have sworn you’d never be the one losing it in the grocery store aisle. But if you’re raising a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), you’ve probably found yourself yelling more times than you’d like to admit.
You’re not alone. Raising an ADHD child can be challenging—and it can stretch even the most patient parent to the brink. But here’s the tough truth: yelling doesn’t help. In fact, it usually makes things worse.
In this blog, you’ll discover why yelling doesn’t work with children with ADHD, and you’ll find nine calm parenting strategies that do work.
Yelling at an ADHD child may give their brain a dopamine hit—and reinforce bad behavior. Here’s what to do instead.
WHY YELLING BACKFIRES WITH ADHD KIDS
The brain-imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that children and teens with ADHD often have low activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotional regulation.
SPECT scans on tens of thousands of children and adults with ADD show that when they try to concentrate, activity in this critical brain region drops.
That’s the opposite of what happens in the brains of those without the condition. When kids who don’t have ADHD attempt to focus, the prefrontal cortex activates to help them.
Children with ADHD also tend to have low levels of dopamine and adrenaline, which can make them feel under-stimulated.
That’s where the conflict comes in. They look for ways to activate their brain.
Related: The Prefrontal Cortex and ADD
Yelling, screaming, or engaging in power struggles actually stimulates their brain. Your angry reaction becomes their emotional fuel. They don’t consciously seek it out, but when they have a meltdown and you explode, they get a hit of adrenaline and dopamine—and it feels good to their brain.
Over time, this can lead to an unconscious addiction to chaos. Your anger becomes their medicine. Research published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies explored conflicts between parents and adolescents with ADHD and found the most common arguments centered around:
- Homework issues
- Bedtime
- Personal hygiene
This pattern is sometimes referred to as children addicted to conflict—a destructive cycle in which emotional outbursts reinforce the child’s need for stimulation and attention, while leaving parents feeling drained and defeated.
Press Play to Learn More About Parenting ADHD Kids
In this video, Dr. Daniel Amen explains why yelling only makes things worse—and what strategies help children with ADHD thrive.
THE DANGER OF BECOMING THEIR “ADRENALINE DEALER”
In our clinical work at Amen Clinics, we often see an unhealthy cycle of behavior. Basically, a child with ADHD becomes addicted to provoking intense reactions from others—especially their parents.
They know how to push your buttons. They know what words, actions, or tone will make you lose it. And when you finally do, they feel better. It’s a neurological rush.
That’s why your anger may be feeding the very ADHD behaviors you’re trying to stop. This cycle is a classic example of ADHD and conflict seeking—a behavioral loop driven by underactive brain regions and a subconscious craving for stimulation.
Related: 10 Things Parents Should Never Do
THE WITHDRAWAL PHASE: IT MAY GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER
Here’s something important to know: when you stop reacting with anger, your child’s behavior may escalate at first. They’re going through a kind of withdrawal from the emotional intensity they’re used to getting from you.
They may become more outrageous, louder, or more defiant—because they believe you’ll eventually give them the adrenaline rush they crave.
But don’t fall for it.
If you practice calm parenting strategies, their conflict-driven behavior and emotional dysregulation will usually diminish over time. This is where calm discipline for ADHD becomes essential.
As psychiatrist and Amen Clinics founder Dr. Daniel Amen writes in his book Raising Mentally Strong Kids, “Remember the words firm and kind.” He calls these two words the essence of great parents who raise great people.
9 CALM PARENTING STRATEGIES THAT ARE BETTER THAN YELLING
So what should you do instead of yelling? These behavior strategies for ADHD will help you respond more effectively—without feeding the conflict.
Take responsibility for your mood.
Your child’s behavior is not an excuse to lose control. Take a few seconds to pause and center yourself before reacting. Remember, your calmness can help regulate your child’s nervous system.
Don’t speak until you’re calm.
Make a rule for yourself: No talking until you can speak at a normal volume and respectful tone. If your tone is out of control, your message will be lost.
Use deep breathing.
Teach yourself and your child simple breathing techniques to calm a tense situation. A few slow inhales and exhales can change everything. Even just 10 deep breaths can shift you out of fight-or-flight mode.
Call a family timeout.
When things start to escalate, everyone goes to a quiet space for 10–15 minutes to cool down. This gives both you and your child a break to reset and prevent further escalation.
Enforce clear consequences, calmly.
Don’t ignore broken rules, but avoid emotional punishment. State the consequence in a neutral tone and follow through. Consistency builds trust and teaches accountability without fear.
Distract yourself.
Try humming a tune or silently counting to 30. It helps you stay grounded. Small distractions can interrupt the flood of emotions before they take over.
Redirect their attention.
Help your child shift focus—offer a new activity or ask a surprising question to interrupt the cycle. A well-timed redirection can break the loop of defiance or dysregulation.
Pick your battles.
Not every annoying behavior needs a response. Focus on what really matters. Letting go of minor infractions can reduce unnecessary power struggles.
Whisper instead of yell.
It sounds counterintuitive, but speaking softly can snap your child to attention more effectively than shouting. A whisper forces them to tune in, and it models emotional control.
If you’re wondering how to stop yelling at your child with ADHD, these strategies provide a powerful place to start.
WHY CALM PARENTING WORKS
Yelling shows your child that you’ve lost control. And guess what? Kids do more of what you do—not what you say.
Emotional regulation for parents is just as important as it is for kids. Modeling calm, regulated behavior teaches them to manage their emotions more effectively, too. When you respond with patience, even in difficult moments, you’re showing your child what emotional self-regulation looks like in real time.
Over time, your steady presence becomes a powerful anchor for their nervous system. Children with ADHD often struggle with impulse control and emotional outbursts, but when they’re consistently exposed to a calm role model, their brain begins to internalize those strategies.
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being predictable, present, and peaceful. That’s the essence of parenting without yelling—less chaos, more connection.
FAQ
At first, they may push harder. That’s a normal part of change. Stick with it. If behavior continues to escalate, a brain-based evaluation can help uncover root causes.
Because behavioral symptoms often overlap, SPECT scans can reveal distinct brain activity patterns helping identify the correct diagnosis and avoid trial-and-error treatment.
If yelling, meltdowns, or defiance are a daily issue, it’s time to get support. At Amen Clinics, we use a functional brain-imaging technique called SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) to understand what’s really going on and how to help.
SPECT scans have helped us identify seven types of ADD, and knowing your child’s type is critical to getting the most effective treatment. Brain scans also help physicians ask better questions and help target treatment plans to an individual’s brain patterns and specific needs.
ADHD and other mental health conditions can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we provide personalized, science-backed treatment plans designed to target the root causes of your symptoms. Our 360-approach includes brain SPECT imaging, clinical evaluations, innovative therapeutic techniques, medications (when necessary), and holistic lifestyle recommendations to promote the health of your brain, body, and mind. Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
Garcia, A.M., Medina, D. & Sibley, M.H. Conflict between Parents and Adolescents with ADHD: Situational Triggers and the Role of Comorbidity. J Child Fam Stud 28, 3338–3345 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01512-7
Ginapp, Callie M et al. “The experiences of adults with ADHD in interpersonal relationships and online communities: A qualitative study.” SSM. Qualitative research in health vol. 3 (2023): 100223. doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100223
Amen DG and Fay C. Raising Mentally Strong Kids: How to Combine the Power of Neuroscience with Love and Logic to Grow Confident, Kind, Responsible, and Resilient Children and Young Adults. Tyndale Refresh, 2024.
Amen Clinics
Founded in 1989 by double-board certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, Amen Clinics Inc. (ACI) is known as the best brain and mental health company in the world. Our clinical staff includes over 50 healthcare specialists, including adult and child psychiatrists, integrative (functional) medicine physicians, naturopaths, addiction specialists, forensic psychiatrists, geriatric psychiatrists, nutritionists, licensed therapists, and more. Our clinicians have all been hand-selected and personally trained by Dr. Amen, whose mission is to end mental illness by creating a revolution in brain health. Over the last 35-plus years, ACI has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 250,000 SPECT scans on patients from 155 countries—related to how people think, feel, and behave.
ADHD vs. OCD: How to Tell the Difference and Why It Matters for Treatment
ADHD and OCD can look alike. Learn key differences and how brain scans can help you get the right diagnosis and more effective treatment.
Did you know that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can sometimes look alike?
It’s true. Although ADHD and OCD are two distinct neurodevelopmental disorders, they share a surprising number of overlapping of symptoms that can blur the lines between them. In fact, even mental health professionals can sometimes mistake one disorder for the other.
Too often, this can lead to misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment, and ongoing struggles that leave individuals feeling frustrated and misunderstood.
Those who struggle with ADHD can overcompensate for their inclination to be disorganized, distracted, and inattentive by adopting OCD-like coping skills.
The good news? There are ways to avoid this scenario from happening to you or a loved one.
In this blog, we’ll break down the key distinctions between each mental health condition, as well as a powerful diagnostic tool that helps ensure greater accuracy. With the right diagnosis, you (or a loved one) can get the right treatment and move toward lasting relief and a better quality of life.
WHY OCD AND ADHD MISDIAGNOSIS IS MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK
Experts have noted that ADHD and OCD symptoms associated with attention and concentration can appear remarkably similar despite each disorder having different brain activity dysfunction. This overlap in symptoms is particularly common among children and adolescents.
Related: 11 Things Not to Do If You Have ADHD
Unless a clinician is highly trained to spot nuanced differences between the two disorders and/or uses imaging to examine activity patterns in the brain, misdiagnosis can and does occur. Indeed, in one study, evidence suggested that OCD may be misdiagnosed as ADHD. This is because OCD-related attentional impairment looks like ADHD symptoms.
OCD is well-known to be misdiagnosed in general, particularly with family physicians. For certain types of OCD, misdiagnosis is shown to be as high as 52%, according to research. Childhood ADHD misdiagnosis also happens as documented in research.
WHAT IS ADHD? UNDERSTANDING THE CORE SYMPTOMS
ADHD is a neurological disorder rooted in prefrontal cortex dysfunction and linked to lower levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. It is characterized by significant problems with attention and disorganization, and frequently with impulsivity and hyperactivity as well.
Often these issues lead to behavioral problems, which may create challenges in school or at work. They may also interfere with social development and interactions.
ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood—and it can continue into adulthood. Roughly 7 million (11.4%) U.S. children aged 3–17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, based on a 2022 national survey. Survey data from 2023 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 15.5 million adults have had an ADHD diagnosis.
The core symptoms of ADHD include:
- Trouble focusing and concentrating
- Impulsivity (such as exhibiting inappropriate behavior without thinking or blurting out thoughts before thinking them through)
- Short attention span for routine tasks (such as homework or chores)
- Easily distracted
- Procrastination
- Disorganization
- Lack of follow-through
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Note that hyperactivity is not one of the hallmark ADHD symptoms.
The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics has revealed seven types of ADHD, which share the core symptoms plus the following:
- Classic ADHD: Restlessness, impulsive, fidgeting, talking excessively, and often, hyperactivity
- Inattentive ADD: Trouble maintaining focus, making careless mistakes, appearing unmotivated or preoccupied, being sluggish, not hyperactive
- Overfocused ADD: Over worrying, holding grudges, obsessive, may or may not be hyperactive
- Temporal Lobe ADD: Irritability, dark thoughts, periods of spacey or confused, feelings of fear or panic, may or may not be hyperactive
- Limbic ADD: Moodiness, hopelessness, chronically negative, loss of interest in things, may or may not be hyperactive
- Ring of Fire ADD: Overly sensitive, oppositional, has cycles of moodiness, may or may not be hyperactive
- Anxious ADD: Often feels nervous, stressed out, conflict avoidant, predicts the worst, may or may not be hyperactive
ADHD symptoms are known to overlap with a number of other mental health conditions, including:
- OCD
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
WHAT IS OCD? UNDERSTANDING OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a serious and often debilitating mental health condition rooted in brain overactivity, primarily in the frontal lobes. It is associated with:
- Reduced serotonin levels
- Obsessions—intrusive thoughts, urges, or mental images
- Compulsions—repetitive behaviors
Left untreated, persistent obsessions and compulsive rituals can take over an OCD individual’s life and lead to significant problems with personal, interpersonal, professional, academic, and social functioning.
The lifetime prevalence of OCD among U.S. adults is estimated to be about 2.3%, reports the CDC. That is 1 in 40 adults. In children and teens, it is estimated to be 1 in 100, according to the International OCD Foundation.
Related: What You Need to Know About OCD According to a Psychiatrist
OCD Symptoms: Obsessive Thoughts
Obsessive thoughts typically involve unwelcome, repetitive ideas, urges, or mental images that may feel disturbing, irrational, or even offensive. These thoughts often spark intense feelings of anxiety, fear, or revulsion.
Individuals with OCD will often try to suppress or resist their obsessions, but the more they attempt to control them, the stronger they can become.
Obsessive thoughts are often focused on one of these areas:
- Germs or contamination
- Forbidden sexuality
- Harm or violence
- Losing control
- Religion
- A need for symmetry or perfectionism
OCD Symptoms: Compulsive Behaviors
Compulsions are behaviors that are performed repeatedly, even though they do not bring any reward or pleasure. The disorder’s compulsions serve to neutralize the distress caused by the obsessions.
Inside, a person with compulsions feels compelled, almost like they have to perform the compulsive behavior according to certain rules and often in a specific, rigid manner. They can be complicated, time-consuming rituals.
Some of the most frequent compulsive behaviors seen in OCD include:
- Repeated handwashing or excessive focus on personal hygiene
- Over-the-top cleaning rituals, such as scrubbing household items that aren’t dirty
- Saying or mentally repeating certain words, names, or prayers over and over
- Checking things multiple times—like ensuring a door is locked or the stove is off
- Counting actions or objects, often driven by a need to stop on a “safe” or “right” number
- Touching objects in a specific order or pattern
Interestingly, most people with OCD either know or have a feeling that their obsessional thoughts are not true or realistic, but they still have trouble disengaging from the obsessive thoughts or stopping the compulsive behaviors.
WHY ADHD AND OCD ARE OFTEN CONFUSED
While distinct disorders, there’s an ADHD-OCD overlap of symptoms, which leads to confusion and misdiagnosis.
The most common symptoms they share are the following:
- Perfectionism
- Impulsivity
- Distractibility
- Repetitive Behaviors
- Anxiety
Here’s how these five symptoms can cause both ADHD and OCD diagnosis confusion:
Perfectionism
Perfectionism is the most common cognitive distortion adults with ADHD report. It typically manifests as procrastination and/or a negative self-image.
Having ADHD often makes a child the recipient of criticism and punishment because memory and attention issues make completing schoolwork and chores very difficult and hyperactive behavior can cause disruption.
Additionally, the disorganization that goes with impaired executive function may also cause ADHD people to be perfectionistic. They’re basically trying to overcome their shortcomings, as if a little more discipline or trying harder would solve their challenges.
But OCD individuals struggle with perfectionism too. With OCD, perfectionism manifests in fixing and checking behaviors to ensure things look, feel, and sound correct, symmetrical, organized, and balanced.
For example, OCD children or adults might compulsively check a written communication to ensure it is perfect or repeatedly rearrange objects on their desk or in their closet.
Impulsivity
In addition to having poor impulse control because of executive dysfunction, ADHD individuals may additionally display impulsivity as a result of perfectionism. They set very high standards typically and when they are not met, they can make impulsive decisions out of frustration. It creates a negative feedback loop.
Imaging research on OCD individuals shows that they have dysfunctional reward processes thought to be important in addictive disorders and impulse control. Impulsivity is linked to more severe OCD.
Distractibility
The low dopamine and epinephrine in the frontal lobes of an ADHD brain translates to difficulty paying attention for longer periods of time and being easily distracted. Those who struggle with ADHD can overcompensate for their inclination to be disorganized, distracted and inattentive by adopting OCD-like coping skills. Such compulsive tendencies indicate OCD traits in ADHD patients, which can be misleading.
Conversely, when OCD mimics ADHD in school and social settings, a clear diagnosis is difficult. Like ADHD, OCD can cause inattention but for a different reason. Preoccupied by an obsession or a compulsion, an OCD person may not be able to keep their focus on what’s going on around themself.
For example, a student who seems inattentive and antsy during class may actually have OCD and not ADHD since distraction from repetitive thoughts and fidgeting from compulsive behaviors can both appear to be ADHD symptoms. Because teachers usually equate attention problems and hyperactivity with ADHD, many OCD patients are being misdiagnosed.
Repetitive Behaviors
ADHD with compulsive behaviors and sensory seeking, like fidgeting or touching objects for stimulation, can look superficially similar to OCD compulsions.
Anxiety
ADHD individuals may experience heightened stress and anxiety from the inherent challenges of the disorder, such as disorganization and impulsivity.
For example, a person with ADHD may regularly struggle with managing their time, which may lead to anxiety about keeping up with deadlines and maintaining job performance. Of course, anxiety is a hallmark symptom of OCD, stemming from distressing obsessions.
Other Similarities
Additionally, both conditions may trigger irritability and depression and are associated with sleep and gastrointestinal health issues.
Press Play to Learn If Having ADHD and OCD Is Possible
In this video, Dr. Daniel Amen shares whether or not people can have both ADHD and OCD at the same time while offering advice on what medicine or supplements will help balance the brain.
Click below to tune in:
THE DANGERS OF MISDIAGNOSIS
When treatments for ADHD and OCD have opposing goals, a misdiagnosis of one for the other can have disastrous results. For example, a clinician will typically prescribe stimulant medication (such as methylphenidate, sold as Ritalin or Concerta) for an ADHD child or adult to increase dopamine and epinephrine levels and promote greater focus.
Yet, research warns that if an OCD individual is misdiagnosed with ADHD, a stimulant medication will exacerbate their symptoms making their OCD worse.
Conversely, the main medicines prescribed for OCD are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), aimed to help OCD symptoms by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
However, if an ADHD individual is misdiagnosed with OCD and undergoes antidepressant treatment with an SSRI medication, research shows inconsistent changes, often worsened ADHD symptoms, and sometimes apathy and disinhibition.
When this happens, in either case, misdiagnosis delays critical and effective treatment for both conditions.
3 KEY BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADHD AND OCD
Despite the overlapping symptoms seen in these mental disorders, the following three differences can help you answer the question, is it ADHD or OCD?
External/Internal Disorders
ADHD is considered an “externalizing disorder,” meaning that it impacts the way an ADHD individual responds and engages with their external environment.
OCD is considered an “internalizing disorder,” meaning that it impacts how a person relates to themself. They have obsessive thoughts and react with compulsions to help them feel a sense of control over them.
Risk Taking
Experts suggest looking closely for the presence or absence of risk-taking or impulsive behavior. OCD people are rarely impulsive and seldom exhibit risk-taking behavior. One study found that OCD individuals exhibiting doubt and checking behaviors appeared to be risk adverse. OCD individuals tend to be overly conscientious about causing harm.
On the other hand, risky behavior is a common symptom of ADHD, according to research. Novelty seeking and high-risk behavior can increase dopamine levels, something ADHD brains crave.
OCD Compulsions
With OCD, compulsions are typically carried out consistently, and according to precise rules. However, a strict and detailed routine, which would require paying close attention might be challenging for a person with ADHD.
Simply evaluating the complexity of rituals an individual performs offers a great way to differentiate between ADHD and OCD.
ADVD vs OCD Similarities and Differences
WHY A BRAIN SCAN MAY BE THE MISSING PIECE
The best way to obtain a definitive diagnosis is to get a brain scan for ADHD and OCD. Brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics is one of the most reliable tools to examine brain activity and guide diagnosis.
It measures blood flow patterns in the brain showing where there is too little activity, too much activity, or balanced activity. SPECT imaging can be especially helpful when behavioral symptoms overlap as they can do with ADHD and OCD.
HOW AMEN CLINICS APPROACHES ADHD AND OCD DIFFERENTLY
At Amen Clinics, our integrative evaluation process combines brain SPECT imaging with a biological, psychological, social, and spiritual history, plus neuropsychological assessments. This aids our specialists in understanding the root causes of symptoms and developing a personalized treatment plan.
If you or a loved one is suffering from any of the symptoms associated with ADHD or OCD, it’s a good idea to seek this type of integrative mental health support. Using our innovative and personalized care, outcomes consistently demonstrate improvement for patients—including many who have tried and failed prior treatment.
FAQ
ADHD involves poor focus due to distraction and impulsivity, while OCD involves obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions often aimed at reducing anxiety. Both can look similar on the surface but differ at their root.
Because behavioral symptoms often overlap, SPECT scans can reveal distinct brain activity patterns helping identify the correct diagnosis and avoid trial-and-error treatment.
Yes, there are seven types of ADHD, and each requires different strategies. A brain scan can uncover the specific type and lead to more effective solutions for both behavior and relationship success.
ADHD and other mental health conditions can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we provide personalized, science-backed treatment plans designed to target the root causes of your symptoms. Our 360-approach includes brain SPECT imaging, clinical evaluations, innovative therapeutic techniques, medications (when necessary), and holistic lifestyle recommendations to promote the health of your brain, body, and mind. Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
International OCD Foundation website
Accessed June 14, 2025
Perez M, et al. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Misdiagnosis among Mental Healthcare Providers in Latin America. J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2021 Nov 1;32:100693.
Ford-Jones PC. Misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: ‘Normal behaviour’ and relative maturity. Paediatr Child Health. 2015 May;20(4):200–202.
Danielson, Melissa L et al. “ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment.” Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : The Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53 vol. 53,3 (2024): 343-360. doi:10.1080/15374416.2024.2335625
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
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National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
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Frydman I, et al. Self-reported and neurocognitive impulsivity in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Compr Psychiatry. 2020 Feb:97:152155.
Abramovitch, A., Dar, R., Mittelman, A., & Schweiger, A. (2013). Don’t judge a book by its cover: ADHD-like symptoms in obsessive compulsive disorder. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 2(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2012.09.001
Popper, CW. Antidepressants in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 1997:58 Suppl 14:14-29; discussion 30-1.
Luigies J et al. Doubt in the Insula: Risk Processing in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Front Hum Neurosci. 2016 Jun 14;10:283.
Shoham R et al. ADHD-associated risk taking is linked to exaggerated views of the benefits of positive outcomes. Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 11;6:34833.
Amen Clinics
Founded in 1989 by double-board certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, Amen Clinics Inc. (ACI) is known as the best brain and mental health company in the world. Our clinical staff includes over 50 healthcare specialists, including adult and child psychiatrists, integrative (functional) medicine physicians, naturopaths, addiction specialists, forensic psychiatrists, geriatric psychiatrists, nutritionists, licensed therapists, and more. Our clinicians have all been hand-selected and personally trained by Dr. Amen, whose mission is to end mental illness by creating a revolution in brain health. Over the last 35-plus years, ACI has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 250,000 SPECT scans on patients from 155 countries—related to how people think, feel, and behave.
How Brain Imaging Is Improving Mental Health Care
Brain SPECT imaging reveals the root causes of mental health struggles, improving diagnosis and treatment. Learn why brain scans matter.
Most medical professionals and patients wouldn’t imagine diagnosing or treating an issue without even looking at the organ involved. Yet this is considered the normal procedure when it comes to mental health. Instead of examining the brain, mental health professionals often diagnose and treat conditions based solely on reported symptoms.
Fortunately, there is a better way. Functional brain imaging, such as SPECT, helps take the guesswork out of the equation, reducing potentially ineffective or even harmful treatments. SPECT has been a game changer in helping thousands of patients find recovery at Amen Clinics over more than 35 years.
However, questions and misconceptions still surround functional brain scan tools like SPECT. Here, you’ll find answers to six of the most frequently asked questions about brain scans and get an in-depth look at the many ways they can transform mental health.
Without a clear picture of how the brain is functioning, it can take years for individuals to be properly diagnosed and receive effective treatment.
6 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT BRAIN IMAGING IN MENTAL HEALTH
What Is a Brain SPECT Scan?
SPECT stands for single photon emission computed tomography. This sophisticated brain imaging technology is a helpful clinical tool for diagnosing and treating psychiatric, cognitive, and behavioral issues.
SPECT is a nuclear medicine technique that evaluates regional cerebral perfusion (blood flow) and activity patterns within the brain. The resulting scans can aid in the diagnosis of numerous mental health conditions, as well as previously undetected root causes of symptoms and disorders.
These brain scans show which areas of the brain are underactive (lower blood flow), overactive (abnormally high blood flow), and working well. Brain blood flow and mental health are closely linked. Therefore, brain activity imaging for mental health conditions helps clinicians observe the various influences that may be affecting clients’ mental health.
SPECT differs from other well-known types of scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. Because each provides different information, choosing a SPECT scan vs. MRI for mental health concerns is often determined by the issue at hand.
For example, MRI and CT scans are structural brain imaging tools, which are used to view the brain’s anatomy. These are beneficial for spotting tumors, blood clots, or other abnormalities in the brain. SPECT, however, is a type of functional brain scan, which indicates how the brain is actually working.
SPECT is well-studied with over 15,000 scientific abstracts on PubMed, and it has a wide range of applications. It has been used since the 1970s to evaluate strokes, seizures, and brain tumors. Since then, scientists have employed SPECT to study Alzheimer’s disease, head trauma, schizophrenia, depression and other mood disorders, ADHD, and substance abuse.
In 2021, the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine unanimously endorsed the use of SPECT for the evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders and more. Today, in addition to these uses, medical experts utilize this type of brain scan to detect chemical exposure, Lyme disease, brain inflammation, and drug toxicity.
Why Is Brain Imaging Important for Mental Health?
Using brain SPECT imaging for mental health makes sense because brain health is mental health. The connection between brain activity and mental health symptoms has been well-established through research as well as over 250,000 brain scans performed at Amen Clinics over the decades.
Furthermore, traditional psychiatric diagnoses may fall short without the benefit of brain imaging techniques. Without a clear picture of how the brain is functioning, it can take years for individuals to be properly diagnosed and receive effective treatment.
That’s because traditional psychiatry too often looks only at the patient’s symptoms clusters. Mental health conditions are complex and nuanced, and every individual is unique. Therefore, cutting-edge mental health tools like brain scans enable the most effective diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
In a 2012 study, seven psychiatrists were asked to evaluate 109 medical charts, both with and without brain SPECT scans. In eight times out of 10, adding the scan to the process changed the diagnosis and/or treatment.
In more than one in five cases, the scan revealed a previously unknown brain injury. In another one in five cases, unexpected toxicity was found. And 60% of the time, the SPECT findings changed the medications or supplements recommended as part of treatment.
How Does a SPECT Scan Work?
Unlike the MRI process, which can provoke anxiety for some clients, SPECT scans are fast and easy to perform. They don’t require entering small, enclosed spaces or enduring noisy environments.
The clinician simply hooks up the client to a small IV containing an iodine-free imaging solution with a very small amount of a radioactive tracer. This tracer travels to the brain cells within just a few minutes of the injection and produces a “snapshot” of brain activity.
About 30 minutes later, the client enters a camera room and lies down on an imaging table for 20 minutes. The camera’s detectors rotate around the head, gathering data from the “snapshot” of brain activity.
A full evaluation at Amen Clinics includes two brain SPECT imaging studies. One study is done while at rest; the second is performed after the client completes a concentration task.
Images are then processed for reading by a trained and skilled physician, who writes a full report detailing the client’s brain function. An Amen Clinics doctor then evaluates these results alongside other information, such as neuropsychological tests and clinical history. The client is then provided with a personalized treatment plan.
What Mental Health Conditions Can SPECT Scans Help Address?
When used as part of a complete psychological evaluation, SPECT scans can help in the diagnosis and treatment of many mental health conditions, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- ADHD and its subtypes
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Addiction and its effects on the brain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
However, mental health conditions are never a simple or single disorder. Each manifests differently for different individuals, and numerous disorders share similar symptoms.
For example, utilizing SPECT scans, Amen Clinics has found that there are:
- Seven types of anxiety and depression
- Seven types of ADD
- Six types of addicts
- Five types of overeaters
Many people struggle with more than one mental health condition, which complicates both diagnosis and treatment. For example, a person who has been given a stimulant-type medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can experience unwanted side effects if they also have anxiety. The ADD medication may help them focus, but feeling more anxiety will detract from their ability to concentrate.
In addition, each symptom or condition can have multiple possible causes. Depression, for example, may indicate a hidden concussion or other undiagnosed head injury, exposure to toxins (such as black mold or chemotherapy), inflammation, or an infection like Lyme disease.
Alternatively, depression can be caused by overactivity in the deep limbic system or underactivity in the prefrontal cortex. A SPECT scan helps pinpoint which of these many potential causes of depression are present, which guides treatment.
Functional brain imaging also helps evaluate memory issues. Evidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, for example, can be detected years before symptoms appear. Conversely, SPECT can rule out dementia when there is another culprit to blame for issues like memory loss and other cognitive challenges.
What Are SPECT Scan Benefits?
Amen Clinics is a pioneer in creating personalized mental health treatment with the help of SPECT. Too many traditional psychiatrists merely guess at possible treatments based on reported symptoms. They may then prescribe medications that are ineffective or even harmful to the patient. Without SPECT scans, diagnosis and treatment are not as accurate as they could be.
Identifying the root causes of mental health challenges is crucial. With improper treatment, a symptom or condition can persist or worsen. And a trial-and-error approach to medications can expose clients to a roller coaster of side effects, leading to additional or increased mental health symptoms.
Clients can also feel demoralized when the supposed “correct” treatment isn’t working. Many people experience treatment-resistant depression because the root causes are misunderstood. Or perhaps they could benefit more from natural treatments like neurofeedback, diet, and exercise.
Tailoring treatment plans based on brain activity patterns facilitates a more precise plan of recovery. Brain SPECT imaging has many benefits, including:
- Identifying affected brain systems and previous brain trauma
- Showing brain blood flow deficits
- Highlighting co-occurring conditions that might need their own treatment
- Showing visual results to better inform clients, loved ones, legal experts, and others
- Increasing treatment compliance
- Informing follow-up appointments to determine the effectiveness of treatments
- Reducing stigma and shame associated with mental health conditions
Using advanced mental health diagnostics like SPECT has created thousands of success stories among clients at Amen Clinics. From pop stars battling depression to high-performing executives who want a better relationship with their brains, they have reported transformative outcomes and improved quality of life.
What Are Some Common Myths and Misconceptions About SPECT Scans?
As with any medical technology, some people have raised concerns about the efficacy of SPECT scans. Fortunately, over the past 35-plus years, Amen Clinics has amassed the world’s largest database of brain scans that relate to emotional, learning, and behavioral problems. These scans have been performed on patients from 9 months to 105 years old, and from more than 155 countries.
To back up its results, Amen Clinics has also led extensive scientific research on SPECT, with more than 80 peer-reviewed studies published in respected medical journals.
In terms of safety, other studies confirm that radiation exposure risk during SPECT scans is minimal, for both patients and clinicians. The procedure typically exposes patients to less radiation than a CT scan.
It’s also important to note that SPECT is best used as one aspect of a comprehensive mental health evaluation. SPECT provides invaluable insights to mental health professionals and helps them ask better questions to get to the root causes of mental health symptoms.
Ultimately, SPECT helps significantly improve patient outcomes. At the end of six months of treatment at Amen Clinics, 85% of patients indicate better quality of life.
THE FUTURE OF MENTAL HEALTH NOW
Although brain imaging for mental health may seem like a futuristic technology, it is currently available. If you (or a loved one) are struggling with mental health issues or aren’t responding to traditional treatment, you may find the answers you want with brain scans.
In addition, physicians and mental health professionals often partner with Amen Clinics in patient care. Sending patients for brain scanning helps medical professionals better diagnose patients with complex cases and develop more effective treatment plans.
As a growing number of individuals and mental health professionals understand the value of brain imaging, the use of SPECT will continue to expand. And a greater number of people will benefit by accelerating their healing journey.
We're Here To Help
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
Amen Clinics
Founded in 1989 by double-board certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, Amen Clinics Inc. (ACI) is known as the best brain and mental health company in the world. Our clinical staff includes over 50 healthcare specialists, including adult and child psychiatrists, integrative (functional) medicine physicians, naturopaths, addiction specialists, forensic psychiatrists, geriatric psychiatrists, nutritionists, licensed therapists, and more. Our clinicians have all been hand-selected and personally trained by Dr. Amen, whose mission is to end mental illness by creating a revolution in brain health. Over the last 35-plus years, ACI has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 250,000 SPECT scans on patients from 155 countries—related to how people think, feel, and behave.
National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=brain+%2B+spect
Amen DG, Jourdain M, Taylor DV, Pigott HE, Willeumier K. Multi-site six month outcome study of complex psychiatric patients evaluated with addition of brain SPECT imaging. Adv Mind Body Med. 2013 Spring;27(2):6-16. PMID: 23709407.
Yandrapalli S, Puckett Y. SPECT Imaging. [Updated 2022 Oct 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564426/
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SPECT SCANS
What is a SPECT scan?
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine study that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. A single SPECT scan can show blood flow and activity across the entire brain. Often used in research, SPECT is becoming more commonly used in clinical psychiatric practice. Compared to other functional brain-imaging methods, SPECT is typically the most affordable. Over the past 30-plus years, Amen Clinics has built the world’s largest database of brain scans related to behavior with over 225,000 brain SPECT scans. Based on this groundbreaking work, as well as decades of research on brain SPECT imaging, a growing number of mental health providers are recommending brain imaging as part of a complete evaluation.What do SPECT scans show?
SPECT scans show how the brain functions and reveal areas of the brain with healthy activity, too much activity, or too little activity. Healthy Brain SPECT Surface Scan
Low Blood Flow on Brain SPECT Surface Scan
Healthy Brain SPECT Active Scan
Overactivity on Brain SPECT Active Scan
In 2021, the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine (CANM) unanimously adopted new procedure guidelines for SPECT imaging for psychiatry and neurology. CANM endorsed brain SPECT imaging for the evaluation of several common conditions that impact millions of individuals, such as:
- Neuropsychiatric disorders: ADHD, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Suspected dementia: mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, frontal temporal lobe dementia, and vascular dementia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Substance abuse
- Strokes
- Subtypes of ADD/ADHD
- Subtypes of anxiety and depression
- Exposure to toxins
- Violence
- Complex mental health problems
- Treatment-resistant psychiatric issues
- Decreasing shame and stigma: Seeing that a “mental” health condition is actually a brain-based issue helps people see their problems as medical, not moral.
- Improving compliance: Seeing that problems are biological encourages people to stick with a treatment plan.
- Breaking denial: Seeing abnormal brain activity helps individuals stop denying that they have a problem. This can be especially powerful for people with substance use disorders or addictions.
- Helping prevent treatment mistakes: When used in conjunction with a full psychiatric evaluation, seeing the brain helps psychiatrists make more effective treatment recommendations.
- Offering hope that you can change your brain: Seeing before-and-after SPECT scans of patients who have optimized their brain function and improved their symptoms gives hope that you can do it too.
MRI SCANS
What is an MRI scan?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to view parts of the brain. MRI produces images of the brain’s structure.What do MRI scans show?
The 3-D pictures produced can show problems in the anatomical structure of the brain or brain stem, such as:- Tumors
- Cysts
- Blood vessel problems
- Inflammation
- Swelling
- Infections
fMRI SCANS
What is an fMRI scan?
Functional MRI, or fMRI, is a type of MRI that measures blood flow and brain activity. The fMRI is a very expensive tool that has become popular for scientific research but is not as commonly used in clinical settings.What do fMRI scans show?
fMRI shows neural activity in real time, showing how the brain responds to various stimuli. For example, depending on which brain functions are being evaluated, a person will be asked to perform certain tasks. These tasks may include viewing pictures, reading, playing word games, or listening to audio files. Performing these tasks will cause increased activity and blood flow in certain brain regions. The fMRI machine captures the heightened activity in the images it produces. One drawback of using fMRI to evaluate the brain is that it only takes images of one particular brain region at a time. Depending on your symptoms, multiple scans may be required. This can be time-consuming and expensive. Another downside of fMRI is that like an MRI, the procedure can be uncomfortable and loud and can make people feel anxious.PET SCANS
What is a PET scan?
PET (positron emission tomography) is a nuclear imaging technology that is similar to SPECT in that it is a functional brain scan. Like SPECT, PET scans show areas of the brain with healthy activity, overactivity, and underactivity. What are the basic differences between SPECT and PET scans? Importantly, PET scans are far more expensive than SPECT scans. In addition, with PET scans, the brain images are taken while an individual is lying in the camera. Many people find this to be noisy and unpleasant, which can be anxiety provoking. With SPECT, the images occur while a person is in the injection room. This increases reliability and makes the procedure easier to perform.What do PET scans show?
Like SPECT, PET scans allow healthcare professionals to view how the brain functions. PET measures blood flow and glucose metabolism in the brain. PET scans are often used to investigate:- Cancerous brain tumors, or to see if cancer elsewhere in the body has spread to the brain
- Epilepsy
- Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
- Abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems
- Neuropsychiatric disorders
WHEN TO CHOOSE BRAIN IMAGING FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
If you’re struggling with mental health issues or memory loss that isn’t responding to standard treatments, it’s time to consider brain imaging. Based on costs, availability in the psychiatric clinical setting, reliability, comfort, convenience, and research, brain SPECT imaging checks the most boxes. Functional brain imaging with SPECT helps psychiatrists ask better questions to get to the root causes of your problems. This leads to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans. Over the past 30-plus years, Amen Clinics has used SPECT to scan people across the globe from 9 months old to 105 years old. And it has helped them with a wide variety of mental health disorders and other cognitive issues. With this experience, as well as more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific studies on SPECT published, Amen Clinics has emerged as the world leader for brain SPECT imaging in the mental health field. Depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, memory loss, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. America is in a mental health crisis. In 2020 alone, an estimated 1 in 5 people experienced some form of mental illness, and over 12 million seriously contemplated suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. There’s no doubt that our nation is struggling with emotional, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral issues. But the real crisis lies in the way people are being diagnosed with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. The current standard for making psychiatric diagnoses is based on symptom clusters described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Psychiatrists are the only medical specialists who virtually never look at the organ they treat—the brain—leaving them to make diagnoses of complex cases based only on talking to patients, observing them, and searching for symptom clusters. This is basically the same method that was used to diagnose Abraham Lincoln with melancholia, or depression, over 150 years ago. According to an explosive study in Psychiatric Research, making psychiatric diagnoses based solely on symptom clusters is scientifically meaningless and disingenuous. According to an explosive study in Psychiatric Research, making psychiatric diagnoses based solely on symptom clusters is scientifically meaningless and disingenuous.WHAT IS THE DSM AND WHY IS IT INADEQUATE AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL?
In 1952 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the first version of the DSM, which categorized mental disorders in an attempt to create more objective standards for making diagnoses in a field that struggled with credibility. The DSM, which has since undergone multiple revisions, has had great success. Nearly all mental health professionals in the U.S. and many around the world use it. Yet, the DSM is not without controversy. In a 2005 lecture at the annual meeting of the APA, Thomas Insel, one of the most powerful psychiatrists in the world at the time as Director of the National Institutes of Mental Health, caused an uproar when he announced the DSM was 100% valid, meaning if you make a diagnosis with the criteria today for a certain disorder, like depression, you will make it again tomorrow, but 0% valid because it is not based on any underlying neuroscience. Regarding the DSM-V’s release in 2013, Insel posted a blog in which he wrote: The goal of this new manual, as with all previous editions, is to provide a common language for describing psychopathology. While DSM has been described as a “Bible” for the field, it is, at best, a dictionary, creating a set of labels and defining each. The strength of each of the editions of DSM has been “reliability”—each edition has ensured that clinicians use the same terms in the same ways. The weakness is its lack of validity. Unlike our definitions of ischemic heart disease, lymphoma, or AIDS, the DSM diagnoses are [not] based on . . . any objective laboratory measure. . . . Patients with mental disorders deserve better. After using a number of the DSM versions on thousands of patients at Amen Clinics over the past 30-plus years, it is clear that it can help psychiatrists categorize illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, panic disorder, or borderline personality disorder. The problem is that the DSM doesn’t reveal anything about what causes these conditions or how to predict which treatments will work. As Insel said, the DSM is not based on any underlying neuroscience.THE PROBLEM WITH STANDARD MENTAL ILLNESS DIAGNOSES
The landmark study mentioned above was led by University of Liverpool researchers who focused on a meticulous analysis of 5 chapters in the DSM-5: Their main findings highlight many of the shortcomings of the current diagnostic paradigm:- There is a major overlap of symptoms among diagnoses.
- Many diagnoses overlook the role of psychological trauma and head trauma.
- The current approach rarely takes the individual in mind.
MENTAL HEALTH AS BRAIN HEALTH: A NEW PATH FORWARD
Based on experience with tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics, it is clear that making diagnoses solely based on DSM symptom clusters, such as anxiety, depression, temper outbursts, or a short attention span is inadequate and disrespectful to patients. Symptoms don’t reveal anything about the underlying biology of the problems patients have. All other medical professionals look directly at the organs they treat, but psychiatrists are taught to assume what the underlying biological mechanisms are for illnesses, such as depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and addiction without ever looking at the brain. This is despite the fact that psychiatric patients are every bit as sick as those with heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Reframing the way psychiatrists think about “mental illnesses” by looking at them as brain health issues are more accurate. Psychiatry needs a completely different diagnostic paradigm rooted in neuroscience and hope. A new way forward in psychiatry will require ending the paradigm of mental illness because psychiatric issues really are so much more. Your brain creates your mind. The issues that affect our minds stem from our brains, our bodies, our thoughts, our social and work interactions with others, and our deepest sense of meaning and purpose. It starts by looking at the brain because if you never look, you never really know. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and complex brain disorder causing shifts between manic and depressive phases, requiring bipolar disorder treatment. The patient may feel out of control of their lives and unable to participate in daily activities. Episodes of bipolar disorder can lead to dramatic changes in the person’s life, such as a lost job, failure in school, damaged friendships, or even jail time. Those with bipolar disorder are often hospitalized for their mental illness when experiencing an episode. The disorder can be difficult to diagnose as there are not many tests to offer a true diagnosis. The cyclical emotional state of the patient and vital information based on brain SPECT imaging are the two main factors Amen Clinics uses to diagnose and recommend bipolar disorder treatment.What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is found to run in families despite not having a single cause, and three out of five patients with bipolar disorder are women. The brain disorder affects around 4% of Americans as a fairly common illness. Unfortunately, those with bipolar disorder are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide when compared to the general population. There are four distinct types of bipolar disorder:- Bipolar I
- Bipolar II
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Bipolar disorder otherwise not specified
- Periods of high energy and motivation
- A decreased need for sleep
- Selective racing ideas
- Grandiose or delusional thinking with exaggerated self-confidence
- Excessive involvement in risk-taking activities
- Periods of depression or hopelessness
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Inability to concentrate
- Thoughts of suicide
Treatment and Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Those with bipolar disorder experience unique struggles and require highly customized treatment. Here at Amen Clinics, we’ve found brain SPECT imaging is vital to identifying the root cause of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is sometimes identified with co-existing problems, such as brain injury, and as many as 50% of those with bipolar disorder also have ADD/ADHD. Brain SPECT imaging gives patients a direct view into the physical nature of their brain, destigmatizing any fears they might have against treatment. The emotional toll of finding help for this brain disorder can be lifted once the patient understands the physical nature of their illness. While this condition is difficult to diagnose due to bipolar disorder’s many types and tendency to overlap with other brain disorders, it is a serious psychiatric condition requiring expert care. Many patients with bipolar disorder fall into continuous episodes because they do not follow through on their bipolar disorder treatment, believing there is no longer a problem once treatment starts or that there never was a problem. Amen Clinics is committed to offering personalized bipolar disorder treatment options that take into consideration all aspects of the patient’s life. When enrolling with Amen Clinics to treat you or your loved one’s bipolar disorder, we use a four-pronged approach to first assess your case by taking the following steps:- We will begin by taking the time to explore your specific biological, psychological, social and spiritual influences.
- Next, we will perform neuropsychological tests to measure various aspects of your brain function.
- Then, we will perform two brain SPECT scans: one at rest and one during concentration.
- Finally, we will order lab tests to rule out nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, toxicity, etc.— if deemed necessary.