This is perhaps the most important section of this atlas. It shows actual images of treatment, the before and after SPECT images of our patients who have experienced significant benefit from treatment. This section highlights that in many cases the brain can be healed or optimized to produce greater function and subsequently a healthier, happier life.
The opening case history is one that was listed in a previous section. It is such an important and instructive case study that it warrants repeating.
A 35-year-old man who had been living on the street was brought for evaluation by his mother. He had previously been diagnosed on many occassions with paranoid schizophrenia, but refused medication. His SPECT study revealed marked overall decreased activity throughout the cerebral cortex. Being able to see his own brain activity, represented by the 3D surface SPECT study above, was helpful for him. He agreed to take his medication under his mother’s supervision. One month later, after significant clinical improvement on 4 mg of risperidone a day a repeat SPECT study was performed which showed improved overall cerebral perfusion. Being able to see the before and after SPECT studies side by side on the imaging computer monitor again was very encouraging to the patient and helped significantly with compliance.
Mark, a 52 year old married accountant, sought help for problems with concentration, focus, follow through and severe temper problems.
He had become physically aggressive on several occassions with his wife. He tended to take things in a negative way and struggled with his memory.
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Mark, a 14 y/o male, was evaluated for anger outbursts and constant defiant behavior. Psychotherapy and parent training were ineffective. Depakote, Ritalin, Dexedrine and Wellbutrin were also ineffective.
Prozac made him much more aggressive. A SPECT study revealed marked hyperfrontality and he was placed on Risperdal. He had a dramatic response. He was more compliant, happier and less aggressive.
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Tim, age 12, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. He had problems with repetitive behaviors and very poor social skills. In addition, he was rigid in his thinking and had frequently temper outbursts.
His baseline SPECT study revealed marked increased patchy uptake throughout his cerebral cortex.
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Before and After Adderall.
The images without medication show very poor pfc and temporal lobe activity while the images with Adderall show a marked overall improvement.
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Before and After Tegretol/Clonidine.
The before image shows very poor prefrontal and temporal lobe activity while the after image shows overall improved activity.
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Before and After Tegretol/Clonidine.
The before image shows very poor prefrontal and temporal lobe activity while the after image shows overall improved activity.
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Linda was 26 years old when she first came to see me. She had a history of 2 prior violent rapes (age 15 & 22), a physically abusive love relationship, along with experiencing the deaths of 8 friends (age 14-16).
Her symptoms were depression, anxiety, worrying and drug use. Her baseline SPECT study showed marked overactivity in the cingulate (problems shifting attention), basal ganglia (anxiety) and limbic areas (depression and mood dyscontrol).
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Randy, age 17, sustained a severe blow to the left side of his head. He had a subdural bleed over his left parietal lobe and subsequently developed temper problems, school problems, speech and coordination problems.
This scan series was performed on and off Adderall. Note the marked overall improvement from Adderall, giving him more access to brain function.
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Bob, a 48 year old married system analyst, came to see me because he had a problems with holding grudges, "getting stuck" into loops of negative thinking patterns, obsessive thoughts, moodiness, irritability, periodic intense suicidal thoughts and problems with anger control.
"I am the anger broker of the valley," he reported during the initial session. His wife also reported episodes where Bob would often become upset about something, be unable to shift away from the thoughts which were upsetting him, lose control and exhibit aggressive behavior such as breaking furniture or putting holes in the walls.
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