Throwing Darts in the Dark at Soldiers

We may be hurting, perhaps indirectly killing, our own troops sent to serve and protect our nation. Suicide rates in the Army is up 80% in four years. The fact that most soldiers are being prescribed powerful medications without anyone ever looking at their brain is not good.

I gasped when reading the Los Angeles Times recent article, "A medicated military faces side effects," also noticing suicide rates in the Army is up 80% in four years. I'm a double board certified, military trained psychiatrist, and what they are doing does not make logical sense. Most soldiers are being prescribed powerful medications without anyone ever looking at their brain.

At the Amen Clinics we have performed more than 72,000 brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) studies and have treated thousands of patients, including military personnel. It is critical...