Dr. Amen on Dr. Phil: Will Jessica Ever Stop Raging?
Everyone in Jessica’s family has repeatedly been the target of her unbounded rage, yet she takes no responsibility for her behavior. Ironically, she feels like people hate her, and doesn’t seem to understand why.
Jessica has had anger problems all of her life, and now at age 18, she continues to destroy relationships and other things in her path. Without question, she is a very difficult and challenging teen.
She has undergone numerous psychiatric evaluations, been admitted twice for 72-hour involuntary stays at mental health facilities, was sent to 3 different residential treatment schools, and was arrested for assaulting her mother.
No treatment has successfully changed Jessica’s behavior. Not only does she continue to lash out at others—without provocation, but she also lies, has zero empathy or apology for her behavior, and acts entitled. Yet, she blames everyone else for the problems she invokes.
Is it Jessica’s fault? Or is there something happening in her brain that is driving her behavior?
Dr. Phil’s Insight: Jessica Needs a Brain Scan
Jessica, her mother, Victoria, and other family members were on the Dr. Phil show to see if he could help them. After learning more about her, Dr. Phil said he believed that Jessica has not yet been properly diagnosed and that for her to make changes to her behavior, she will need to get her brain assessed and treated. He recommended that she undergo an evaluation that includes brain SPECT imaging with Dr. Daniel Amen, world-renowned neuropsychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics. By using SPECT scans, the doctors at Amen Clinics can identify areas of the brain that aren’t working well and are likely causing problems for a patient. By using SPECT scans, the doctors at Amen Clinics can identify areas of the brain that aren’t working well and are likely causing problems for a patient. Dr. Amen appeared on the show to talk with Jessica and her family about the results from her brain scans, which showed she has severe temporal lobe ADD. This condition is caused by lower-than-normal activity in her prefrontal cortex (PFC) and temporal lobes and is one of the 7 Types of ADD discovered through the brain imaging work at Amen Clinics.Temper Problems and Other Temporal Lobe Symptoms
The temporal lobes, which are on either side of the brain, play a critical role in mood stability, temper control, and learning. This finding likely accounts for Jessica’s aggression and emotional instability, as well as the learning disorder and reading difficulties she was diagnosed with in childhood. It was not her fault that she struggled academically—this part of her brain does not work as well as it should. Temporal lobes are also involved with other important functions; thus, deficits in this part of the brain can also be related to problems with:- Memory
- Aggression
- Emotional instability
- Irritability
- Periods of spaciness or confusion
- Auditory processing
- Periods of panic and/or fear for no reason
- Headaches or abdominal pain of uncertain origin
- Dark thoughts (may involve suicidal or homicidal thoughts)
Prefrontal Cortex Symptoms
Jessica’s scans also revealed low activity in her prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is a consistent finding in all types of ADD. When the PFC works well, it helps us stay focused and on task. It also helps us control our emotions and behavior. But when the activity in the PFC is low, it can lead to many issues, including problems with:- Concentration and attention span
- Decision-making and reasoning
- Organization
- Procrastination
- Follow-through
- Forgetfulness
- Empathy
- Insight
- Impulse control
Moodiness, Anger, and More in Temporal Lobe ADD
Sudden bursts of unbridled anger are common with temporal lobe ADD, along with these behaviors and symptoms:- Periods of mood instability and misinterpreting comments in a conversation
- Defiance towards parents or authority figures during episodes of aggression
- Difficulty controlling negative thoughts
- Some people may experience déjà vu, see shadows or objects changing shape, and may hear sounds that nobody else can hear
There is Hope for Temporal Lobe ADD and Anger Issues
The good news for Jessica is that her brain problems are treatable, especially because her brain is still developing—and will continue to until she’s in her mid-twenties. There’s an opportunity for significant improvement if she chooses to comply with the treatment plan Dr. Amen created for her. Aside from any medication or supplements to support brain function, there are some specific lifestyle changes necessary to help Jessica optimize her brain function. These include:- Avoiding things that are bad for her brain, such as drugs, alcohol, and vaping
- Doing things that help her brain, like eating a healthy diet (no sugar or junk food!) and getting regular exercise
