Brain In The News

Now There is a Way to Find the Right Antidepressant Drugs Faster

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October 16, 2009

By Daniel G. Amen, MD      

In my nearly 30 years of practice, I have worked with thousand of patients suffering from depression. Treatment plans I recommend typically include natural supplements, such as fish oil, and exercise. When natural therapies aren’t enough, I may prescribe antidepressant drugs. Finding the right antidepressant medication, however, can take a while. Some patients may have to try several antidepressant drugs before finding one that works. Considering that it can take three months or more to know if a prescribed antidepressant medication is working, it can end up being several months before a patient finds the right antidepressant drugs to relieve their symptoms. In my practice, using SPECT brain scans has proven helpful in pinpointing the best depression treatment for individual patients. A new nationwide study from researchers at UCLA has found another non-invasive test that can help us accurately predict whether or not a particular antidepressant medication will be effective… in as little as one week! The test uses quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) to measure changes in brain-wave activity. Such changes are a precursor to improvements in mood and a reduction in depression symptoms. These brain-wave alterations can be used as a biomarker for the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs. If QEEG testing reveals these changes, it can be assumed the depression treatment is going to be effective. If the QEEG results do not indicate such changes, then it can be assumed the antidepressant medication is not going to work effectively and other antidepressant drugs can be prescribed. I am thrilled to read the results of this study, which was featured in two articles in the journal Psychiatry Research, because we have begun using QEEG at the Amen Clinics as a way to help us diagnose and find the best depression treatment for our patients. We are also using it to help diagnose and treat patients with ADD, anxiety, and many other disorders. With SPECT brain scans and QEEG, we can zero in on the right antidepressant medication as well as other depression treatment options for our patients so they can start feeling better fast. To Your Brain Health, Daniel

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