treatment for bipolar depression
Read and learn more about treatment for bipolar depression. For more, visit the Depression website DepressionLearning.com
Q: Bipolar/Depression/Psychosis treatment and weight gain?
I am seeing the doctor on Monday for what I believe is going to be diagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, or psychosis. I’ve been doing a lot of reading about the medications used to treat these illnesses and they all talk about weight gain. I’m freaked out by this, so much that I’m thinking of not going to the doctor at all. Isn’t there another way to treat my awful mental problems without gaining weight?!
A: some of these do cause weight gain. not all.
my anti-depressive drug made me LOSE 45 pounds in 2 months. seriously.
talk to your doc about this fear – he or she does have several drugs to choose from.
Q: What does seeking treatment for depression/bipolar disorder disqualify you for?
I am pretty sure I have moderate depression and/or bipolar disorder, and would seek treatment ASAP except that my father told me if i did, i would instantly be restricted from alot of things by the government. For me, this would be handgun purchasing and ownership, and getting a private pilot’s license. I wonder if, after stuff like the Virginia Tech shooting, the systems will see my mental health issue (which has never presented outwardly or inwardly dangerous) being treated, and now the system will give red flags that prevent me from purchasing another handgun next month, and i hate to feel like i should wait to seek treatment until after i get that next handgun (which i have been wanting to get for a year). I also am considering getting a private pilot’s license this spring, as my father has an airplane. I do not feel my set of mental health issues should affect these things, but if i go into treatment for them, will they? If so, i can seek OTC treatments and self-help stuff.
A: The only handicap you have is the flying. Certain medications are forbidden to be taken and be a pilot at the same time. You can beat this problem by talking with your Pshrink when you start to take pilot training. He can change your medications to something you can fly with. I was an Air Force pilot with bipolar disorder.
Q: Geodon and zoloft for treatment-resistent depression?
I have been on zoloft for a few months now and changed to a new doctor. This doctor put me on the two drugs combined, but I thought Geodon was more an antipsychotic or used to treat bipolar depression, which I am just the opposite. If anything, I have very low moods. I have been doing some research, and I can’t find anywhere where the patient just had regular depression and was treated with this combination. Does anybody know firsthand or should I get another psychiatrist’s opinion? I am hesitant to take the Geodon due to what I have read about it, and I want to make sure that it doesn’t worsen my depression or send me over the edge. The Zoloft helps some, but I still have depression, but no where near suicide or psychosis and my thoughts are normal enough. Anybody know? Any advice?
A: I’ve taken Geodon 40 mg for years and it has never helped with depression. (I take it for mania/ psychosis.)
Yet other people have said that it gives them energy and helps with depression…. so I guess it is hard to say.
(I currently also take Abilify 10 mg for depression and Lamictal 200 mg as a mood stabilizer.)
Q: manic depression/bipolar and anxiety?
I’m fifteen years old. When I was 13 I was under treatment for Depression, I got on Prozac and everything was fine. Then I relapsed and was considered suffering from manic depression and was put on Effexor. Then it turned out I was Bipolar and I was given Lithum. And now I’ve been told that I apparently suffer from anxiety . I’m put again on Prozac. Does this make any sense?
A: NO!!!!
Q: If I enlist, can the military find out if I have depression?
Ive been recieving treatment for my bipolar/depression disorders for years now, if I join the military and I dont tell them I have these issues is there any way they can find out? Do they test you for these mental conditions?
A: as long as you have no cuts they will never know unless you tell them to be honest the military can cause a lot of depression they will test your stress levels there are quite a few suicides every year if you feel you can over come it Ive seen people with bipolar disorder make it if you seen the guys I worked with you would know there is no test for mental conditions military also gives you a sense of pride too
d. Current mood disorders including, but not limited to, major depression (296.2–3), bipolar (296.4–7), affective
psychoses (296.8–9), depressive not otherwise specified (311), are disqualifying.
(1) History of mood disorders requiring outpatient care for longer than 6 months by a physician or other mental
health professional (V65.40), or inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential facility is disqualifying.
(2) History of symptoms consistent with a mood disorder of a repeated nature that impairs school, social, or work
efficiency is disqualifying.
Q: Is there a possibility that I could have Depression?
My father has been undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety, Bipolar disorder, and borderline schizophrenia for the past year and a half. I seem to have more of his traits, and I was wondering if I could have gotten these from him. There have been signs of depression for me. I have been completely depressed before, not getting out of bed and feeling too sad to do anything. Also, I feel as if I could be Bipolar because I tend to have various mood swings. Please help me so I can fix these things (I’m 14).
A: Dear One, Depression can be inherited, as are other mental illnesses. Get to a doctor or therapist asap to that you can be treated, rather than waiting. As soon as you can get seen, the better your chances.
Also, first, see your doctor and get a physical and blood panel done. Physical problems, such as low thyroid, can mimic depression. So get checked out and tell your doctor what is going on. Take care and good luck.
Q: What are the treatments of depression?
I need a model for a depression project inside of science. My project is on dysthymic, bipolar, chronic, and long term depression. Can you help?
I’d like treatments of it, sources, and a picture of the brain’s area that is affected. Do you know where I can find it, or have answers?
Can anyone show me a picture of the hippocampus, a part of the brain that controls memory and emotions, before and after depression strikes?
A: While therapy and antidepressant medication are the most effective treatments for depression, home treatment is also important. There are many steps you can take to help yourself during a depressive episode and to prevent future episodes:
Set realistic goals for yourself, and take on a reasonable amount of responsibility.
Break large tasks into small ones, and set priorities. Do what you can when you are able.
Postpone major life decisions (such as changing jobs, moving, or getting married or divorced) when you are depressed.
Try to share your feelings with someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.
Let your family and friends help you.
Even if you don’t feel motivated, try to participate in religious, social, or other activities.
Get regular exercise.
Eat a balanced diet. If you lack an appetite, eat small snacks rather than large meals.
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs or medications that have not been prescribed to you. They may interfere with your medications or worsen your depression.
Get adequate sleep. If you have problems sleeping:
Go to bed at the same time every night and, more importantly, get up at the same time every morning.
Keep your bedroom dark and free of noise.
Don’t exercise after 5:00 p.m.
Avoid caffeinated beverages after 5:00 p.m.
Avoid the use of nonprescription sleeping pills or alcohol, because they can make your sleep restless and may interact with your depression medications.
Be patient and kind to yourself. Remember that depression is not your fault and is not something you can overcome with willpower alone. Treatment is necessary for depression, just like for any other illness.
Try to maintain a positive attitude—remember that feeling better takes time, and your mood will improve little by little.
Other Treatment
Professional counseling is an important part of treatment for depression. Complementary therapies such as massage therapy and yoga may also help you recover more quickly and improve your quality of life. For information about relaxation techniques you can do at home, see relaxation exercises.
Family therapy may help you and those who care about you deal with depression.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used for those who cannot take antidepressant medications, who have not responded to other treatments, or whose depression is severe and includes symptoms of psychosis, suicidal behavior, or an inability to eat. 10
Other Treatment Choices
Counseling is an important part of the treatment for depression. The types of counseling most often used for effective treatment of depression include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of counseling that teaches a person how to become healthier by modifying certain thought and behavior patterns. This type of therapy can be provided individually or in a group setting.
Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems.
Problem-solving therapy, which focuses on the problems you are currently facing and on helping you find solutions to those problems.
Family therapy, a type of counseling involving the entire family.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used to treat severe depression or depression that has not responded well to medications and counseling. ECT also may be a treatment choice for someone who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications. Modern ECT treatments consist of mild electric brain stimulation while you are unconscious (under general anesthetic) and are an effective treatment for depression. Side effects of ECT include memory loss and confusion.
Complementary therapies
The herb St. John’s wort has been shown to work for mild to moderate depression, but it can interact with other medications.
Fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids is currently being studied for possible antidepressant effects.
SAM-e ( S-adenosylmethionine), a substance that occurs naturally in plant and animal cells, is sometimes used to treat depression. Some studies show SAM-e may help with symptoms of depression, but more studies are needed to determine its safety and effectiveness.
What To Think About
ECT
Deciding whether to try electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be difficult. Although ECT can be a very effective treatment for depression, you may experience short-term memory loss, confusion, nausea, headaches, and jaw pain for several hours—and sometimes even several days—after the procedure. For some people, ECT may cause long-term memory loss. For more information, see electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
St. John’s wort
St. John’s wort is being tested in the United States to determine its safety and effectiveness. So far, the results have been mixed. High-quality St. John’s wort has been shown to work for mild to moderate depression as effectively as other antidepressants and with fewer side effects. However, some negative and dangerous interactions between St. John’s wort and certain medications have been discovered, especially between St. John’s wort and medications used to treat AIDS. 11
Let your health professional know if you are using St. John’s wort, especially if you are taking other medications.
Avoid taking St. John’s wort along with other antidepressants, because you could overmedicate yourself and have serious side effects.
Because St. John’s wort is not currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its quality—and effectiveness—may vary.
Omega-3 fatty acids
There is limited evidence that a small daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial either alone or when combined with an antidepressant. 14, 15 While benefits for depression are still inconclusive, research does show that taking omega-3 fatty acids can help fight other health problems, including arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish at least twice per week, plus other omega-3 rich foods. For people with heart disease, the AHA suggests additional fish oil supplements if your health professional thinks it is a good idea. 16
Brain ‘Pacemaker’ For Depression Sufferers
For the first time, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been shown to treat people suffering from major depression. DBS has been used to successfully treat epilepsy and Parkinson’s. About twenty percent of depression sufferers fail to respond to standard treatment; medication plus electroconvulsive therapy may work for some of them. Dr. Andres Lozano, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, explains why DBS is a more refined choice.
“Electroconvulsive therapy is analogous to rebooting your computer,” he explained. “This [deep brain stimulation] is very pinpointed, precise therapy, involving a very precise area of brain that plays a key role in depression.”
When people are acutely sad, the subgenual cingulate region, or Cg25 region, of the brain, becomes active. Antidepressants can reduce activity in this area somewhat.
“It was as if the thermostat was set for 120 degrees and you want it to be 70 degrees,” Lozano explained. “This area of the brain is running in overdrive, and it is causing depression and also interfering with the function of areas of the brain that are involved in cognitive function.”
(From Scientists stimulate sadness center)
Since this study only involves six patients, it can offer only the most preliminary results. But after a hear and a half, a “striking benefit” has been seen in 4 of the 6 patients in the study.
Science fiction readers may recall the wireheads of Larry Niven’s stories; a wirehead is a person who installs a droud to deliver a minute electrical current to the pleasure center of the brain. Niven creates a realistic picture of the social consequences of this technology in Ringworld.
Read more at Brain Pacemaker may help worse cases of depression; thanks to Jeff Schwenneker for providing the tip on this story.
Q: Help for chronic severe bipolar depression when all the meds and ECT fail?
Asking this question again – I have exhausted all my treatment options for bipolar disorder – have honestly tried over 2 dozen meds, alone and in combinations, and ECT (electroshock) and they have all failed or made me worse or I am allergic to the meds etc. ( this is over a period of 15 years – not short term med trials). I have severe depression in the morning nearly every day, and for the entire day about half the time and I just can’t take it anymore – my situation clearly became hopeless when my last ditch effort, ECT, failed. I rarely get mania anymore, just horrific agitated depression, the anguish so severe I literally want to claw my face off or slash my chest open with a knife, for hours most days, and often, all day. If I still had fingernails, I would have clawed my face off a long time ago. I don’t know what to do anymore – I have been on the edge of death for years. I have hung on and hung on, trying medication after medication, and now there is (realistically, this is not the depression talking) no hope of any significant relief.
So, since medication options aren’t there anymore, I am wondering if ACT (assertive community treatment) can help with this? My county workers have not run into psychiatric cases like mine, they swear up and down that most patients do get at least some relief from meds, but I am in a tiny, rural county, and am hoping that someone here has gone thru this, or has a relative who has, and can give me some advice. I’m thinking about going inpatient at mayo clinic, but I already tried the university of MN and that was a total failure, and my regular psychiatrist thought the university was better for psychiatry than mayo clinic. It would be hard for me to get to mayo clinic anyway, it is a 4 hour drive, and I can’t find any treatment online I haven’t already tried either, other than “out there” treatments that are very unlikely to help and experimental, like vagus nerve stimulation – weird crap.
Anyhow, I have had the finest psychiatric care there is, and it has utterly failed, I lost my faith in God a few years back, just have nothing left for me except a loving husband, 4 great kitties, and a home I love in rural Minnesota with beautiful maple trees and a lovely pond full of wood ducks and chirping frogs in the backyard, in other words, I have a LOT to live for. But I need to die, because I can’t stand the anguish anymore. It is unspeakable pain, and I feel this way for NO REASON, just endlessly live in agony, due to untreatable bipolar disorder. What can I do to live when I hurt so much, with no relief in sight?
background: I don’t have any personality disorders, already see a therapist regularly, have a social worker and a home worker, see a psychiatrist regularly, am not a substance abuser, excercise a lot, have an excellent diet (we have a huge garden and eat a lot of venison), use a light box, keep busy with hobbies, according to my varying energy level – all that healthy stuff. This is just ghastly, severe bipolar disorder that is ( apparently) untreatable. I do also have a severe sexual abuse history, which I have gotten plenty of therapy for. My workers know I have serious problems, but I play them down slightly, since I do not want to be involuntarily committed – it is hard to get help when you have severe mental illness, believe me. An involuntary commitment would not help me – what i need is a medication that would cut down the despair, and apparently, it doesn’t exist – otherwise, if it worked, I would take it. Please no religion stuff – my husband prays for me all the time, but that isn’t going to make me suddenly find my faith again – a person can’t “make” themselves believe. Great for you that your faith helped you, and I sincerely mean that, but it didn’t help me, tried that already. The question is, is there a way to endure daily agony from bipolar depression that is unending, and I will never get relief for it? Anyone been there, endlessly, and still alive? or have a relative like this? I mean, this is EVERY DAY, except for in May and June, pretty much (strong seasonal pattern, there). Thanks for anything that might help!
lamictal was worthless, antidepressants made me worse, so I have been off them for a long time, and I use a light box a lot in the winter, and took a vitamin D supplement, too – all that standard stuff has been tried, and some helps a bit, but only maybe 10%. Not enough to make life bearable.
oh, and I forgot, lithium only helped me with mania, which I very rarely get anymore, so it’s not worth taking it anymore, and I ended up with weirdo, scary side effects after a few years of lithium.
A: i’m pretty much in the same boat; though i refused ect, and my psych docs and even medical docs tried to talk me into it. i take lamictal that keeps me out of deep suicidal depression, though the idea hardly ever leaves my mind. i do know a few of the triggers that push me into despair, and i hide away from them as much as possible. my world is quite small, and as much as i hate it, it’s the only way i can keep half way stable.
the most disappointing thing for me is when i do have a mild manic episode that lasts for a few weeks or more and i want so bad to tell myself it’s over and i can function as a normal person. i’m usually blindsided when i crash, but when someone in my support system reminds me my life doesn’t work that way, i crash hard. too hard sometimes and i find myself hiding from my support system too.
i’m sorry i don’t have an answer for you, just wanted to let you know you are not alone. i just try not to think about how useless i am, and i keep working on the self destructive habits (not doing anything for diabetes, smoking, etc.) so i can go without my people feeling like i deliberately left them.
Q: insurance vs residential hospital stay?
are there any residential hospitals (looking for depression treatment namely bipolar, as well as a borderline issue) that take bcbs insurance? i can’t seem to find one and my history of in and out temporary stays seems to be doing way more harm than good at this point. the crazy thing is, my insurance company will more than willingly pay for me to stay in a temp setting hospital for over a year, but won’t cover residential treatment. any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.
A: You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here – health-quotes.isgreat.org
Q: anyone who has bipolar disorder/bipolar depression.?
I was wondering if you could tell me a little about what you go through on a daiy basis and a little about the disorder in personal terms/ factual terms, the things ive pulled up on the internet have been useful but a little patchy.
I think my friend may have bipolar disorder, anyone reading this do not tell me to take her to see a specialist, as you know I wont, I just need some accurate information before I can fully decide what to do for her.
I would like to know about what treatment is like aswell.. are people with bipolar prone to suicide?
some things she expeiences in depressed states include:
depressed mood
difficulty coping
sleep disturbance (having trouble getting to sleep and waking up early)
losing or gaining a lot of weight
poor appetite/ increased appetite
lack of energy
feeling tired all the time
worrying excessively and feeling overwhelmed
misusing panadol
suicidal thoughts
poor concentration and memory
when it comes to the happy/mania side
sleep disturbance (needing less sleep) even just 3 hours
having more energy than usual
poor judgment
spending too much money
irritability
talking too much and too fast
feeling really good
having lots of new and exciting ideas
making rapid decisions without thinking about them
making lots of changes or plans
phoning others late at night
she would be described as entirely hyperactive, to the point where she could be said to have add(the attention hyperactive disorder thing) however she does not have this, she could be describes as annoying and not shy, she gets very hyperactive. but when she is alone she can get really depressed.
people always say to her “geez do you have a personality disorder” people have even suggested bipolar, but they say it as a joke of course… because she swings from happy and hyper to sad and quiet in an instant. I have seen her at her worst and she can get very depressed.
im getting very worried as she wants to commit suicide.
without all the noncense about the doctor, make use of the fact that this is where people come to instead of going to a doctor and tell me the info, you could be saving a life.
thanks for your time if youve read this.
p.s shes 17, and thinks she may have had depression for about 4-5 years now, but now she thinks it could be bipolar because of the mood swings and the high-low manias/depressions.
she has had various eating disorders.
A: She must not be much of a friend to you, if you ignore the one group of people who can actually help her. Why worry about a diagnosis, since that is emblematic of a medical condition? Let her get depressed, even let her kill herself, since getting her real assistance is obviously beyond a level of caring that you are capable of possessing. I tell you what, why don’t you fix her a cup of magic tea, or hold her hands and pray with her, or whatever hocus pocus mumble jumble you think will cure her, and her family and true friends will hope you haven’t killed her.
Q: does natural bipolar treatment work ?wait am i even bipolar?
Ok, so heres the deal.
my psyciatrist lets just call him dr.quack cuz thats basically what he is, youll read why.
he says im bipolar when i first come to see him. now my counselor is ending my counseling and she says dr.quack doesnt have me listed as bipolar… if not then why the hell am i on the meds for it?!?! and then shes all like… well ill have to check.
ok this is why he thinks im bipolar… i have a bad attitute problem (i was a very spoiled brat when i was a kid >.> and still am <.< also i have a bad anger problem
Now my dr put my on depression pills at first >.> when you give a bipolar person depression pills they get more depressed. needless to say i had a really really hard day and i cut my self, i went to the hospital. then my dr told me how stupid i am WELL WTF you put me on crap pills for the diagnosis you gave me.. when he first evaluated me he said i had sever social anxiety order as well but like 2 months later i tried to get into a program that would give me hope for an education (homeschooling) he told my mum not do do it because i didnt have S.A.D ok so hes flipping all my diagnosis’s around… if today im supposedly not bipolar, S.A.D why am i on a anti depressent (makes me more depressed) S.A.D meds ANNNND ehm im not sure how to spell this schizophrenia. im not getting this… if i am bipolar what works for it… and i mean NATURAL hearbs and stuff taken on a daily basis, because i do not like having to consult every 6 months with a man who can barely speak english or make a descision about my mental health!! that and i dont like the things man made drugs are doing to me. so if you know any herbal meds or supplements, strange teas or weird bath salt crap. any ways. dont judge me for what ive said the typos ive made..
BOTTOM LINE I WANT ADVICE NOT PEOPLE GOING OFF ON ME BECAUSE OF WHAT I THINK…IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY THING NICE OR SOMETHING NOT RUDE TO SAY KEEP IT TO YOUR DA** SELF I WANT HELP NOT A LECTURE!!!!
thank you… for those you are the helping type dont mind the above message im just sick of people syaing mean judgmental or just plain stupid things in response to my questions…
thank you for reading this, have a nice day and double thank you for those who can help =^.^=
A: Hey buddy, i’m so sorry you’re on this toxic sludge …….. it sounds to me like you are suffering from an intolerant reaction to the meds they have you on mate …….. change physicians ….. get an appointment with a naturopath or nutritionally oriented physician so that you can be fully assessed and the anxiety and stress and brain frizz can be resolved from the source.
In the meantime eat more foods rich in calcium and magnesium such as fresh fish …. not the tinned variety …… fish is surely brilliant for healthy neural and heart functioning and for bolstering your immunity levels ……. leafy and green vegies too ….. i just love the green vegies mate …. way easier to digset too …… leafy and green vegies ….. broccolli, kale, chard, buk choy, collard greens, celery ………… rich in both calcium and magnesium.
Without sufficient calcium you will suffer insomnia, headaches and migraines, irritability and moodiness, terrible terrible mood swings and brain chatter and brain frizz, achy bones, digestive upsets such as bloating and cramping and constipation, even horrible violent dreams …… calcium is essential for healthy bones, teeth and heart health and works in tandem with magnesium (known as the antistress mineral)…… lack of magnesium will give you migraines and headaches, nervous and twitching and muscular issues and will also cause lower back aches and bad digestion ……. and contribute to high blood pressure ….. increasing your daily intake of foods rich in both such as leafy and green vegies, brocolli, kale, spinach, fresh fish such as tuna and salmon and organic nuts and seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts and sunflower seeds will dramatically increase your feeling of well being and peace of mind.
Eat more green vegies mate, another thing they’ll do is encourage the production of hydrochloric acid in your tummy and help resolve any issues you may have with constipation and bloating.
Get 10 – 15 mins daily of safe sun exposure too …….. everything hinges on sufficient supplies of vitamin D in your body …….. if you can’t do that take a homepathic vitamin D3 liquid supplement …… go to your local health food store or herbal dispensary and ask for their guidance as to which vitamin D3 drops would be the easiest for your body to assimilate …… pharmaceutical grade or practitioner only quality are the best you can buy…… calcium relies on vitamin D for effective assimilation.
A little extra effort sure but anything worth having is worth the extra effort ….. i reckon calmness and peace of mind is worth a few bowls of green vegies a day.
believe it mate, i’ve been where you are now ……. they misdiagnosed me with bipolar / schizophrenia years ago and near fried my brain before i had my epiphany …… that i felt the worst i ever had in my life ….. they had me on vast amounts of Effexor, Xyprexia, valium …. gaaah, toxic sludge all of it ….. i got reassessed and detoxed off the meds and went to a naturopath who diagnosed me with coeliac (intolerance to barley oats wheat and rye) and lactose intolerance (intolerance to milk and dairy) and severe soy intolerance and processed sugar ….. i went into denial for about 12 months and then finally i gradually started to sift slowly through eliminating the foods and chemicals that were making me soooo sick ……… please consider getting a reassessment from a naturopath.
oh, drink loads of water too and try to cut right back on the caffeine, sodas, pop and soft drinks and alcohol if you drink any cos they’ll all dehydrate you terribly and rob you of your precious B complex of vitamins …… processed sugar will also rob you of your B complex and deplete calcium stores and stress your system.
take care of you
peace baby
♥
Q: Is Pot a Medicinal treatment for Bipolar symptoms?
A certain entertainment figure said they used Pot to treat their Bipolar symtoms. Seems to me that it would make the situation worse. And having read what others have defined Bipolar disorder to be (manic depression etc.) I cannot help but wonder.
A: Man, I’ve had friends that smoked pot for a long time. They generally start acting more bipolar.
Q: Recently diagnosed with severe social anxiety & bipolar depression. Can I get disability?
I have been struggling with depression and anxiety issues for as long as I can remember, only I never received treatment until recently. These issues have become so great within the past 2 years that I have been unable to work a steady job or to be able to work at all. The only reason I never sought treatment before was because, when I was underage and was covered by my mother/father’s insurance, they didn’t believe I had any kind of depression issues, just wrote it off as teenage hormones. Once they finally realized that in fact, it wasn’t just hormones, and that I was really having these problems; their insurance no longer covered me (I was over 18 at that point). Ever since, I haven’t had any other kind of insurance and thought, “Well, without insurance I’m just shit out of luck.” Until my friend told me about a clinic that would help me – free of charge. But that was only recently.
So anyways, point being – I was diagnosed (finally) with severe social anxiety/phobia and bipolar depression (manic episodes) and I was wondering if that would qualify enough to get approved for disability, with my clinic testimony?
A: you can try, but alot of times mental disabilities get rejected most of the time. i was lucky with mine…i got approved in less than 3 months. (adhd, schizo-affective, anxiety, depression). they’ll send you to see their psych for an eval since you don’t have a great medical history with it, and if you don’t “Seem” mentally ill, they say you are fine. (quotes because their definition of that is skewed…) good luck if you do…oooh, and,if you do qualify, you’d only get SSI since you haven’t worked the requirement…it’s money, but not enough to ever live on.
Q: Anyone had SPECT imaging brain scan for ADHD Bipolar Depression etc, like Amen Clinics &did insurance cover?
Here’s my full question: Have you or anyone you know of had SPECT Brain Imaging at a specialty place, such as Amen Clinics, OR any other place that does this, for psychiatric evaluation of disorders such as ADD, ADHD, Depression, Bipolar, head trauma, Dementia, drugs/alcohol abuse, etc. and got the insurance company to pay all or part of the cost?
It is well over $3,000 and they make you pay up front, providing you with only a walk-out receipt for (possible) reimbursement from the insurance carrier. On the Amen Clinics website, it says that some insurance carriers will reimburse but not all. However, I have read some websites where some people said that their private health insurances don’t cover it and have yet to find anyone’s testimony on the internet saying that it was covered (except for one, whose doctor wrote a letter of necessity to the insurance company).
I’m 19 and don’t have insurance but am thinking about it in the future. I have had symptoms of ADHD as a child, teenager, and adult, as well as some depression and sadness as a teen (because I was emotionally abused at home by my aunt & uncle), and maybe a little bit of bipolar symptom (not the extreme mania or psychosis you might hear people do have). I also had a few epileptic seizures as a child and so far have taken Carbamazepine age 8-10 for that & Zoloft and then Lexapro (not together) when I was 16-18. I have not yet taken ADHD meds, but might in the near future when I begin seeing a psychiatrist again.
I haven’t been recommended yet for this treatment and I know it’s risky to choose it all on my own for insurance purposes without referral. Other than the example I gave above, can anyone tell me about their own and/or someone else’s experience and specifically what insurance plan type (HMO, PPO, etc) and carrier was used to reimburse for this, and how much of it they paid? Tell me what happened in detail to give me some clues, so I know if I can get this also.
Even if they didn’t reimburse, please feel free to share your story; every little bit helps. Thank you so much and sorry about this being so long 
I have seen previous responses here but so far NONE of them provide the answers I need for my question. Now just to clarify, I have been on SEVERAL different treatment medications and NONE of them worked. ADHD stimulants are the only medicine my psych doctors haven’t prescribed to me yet because of other (slightly false) diagnoses of depression and even bipolar. I’m not directly planning on doing the SPECT scan anytime soon, only as a last resort. I know better than that‼ It may take up to 5 years or more before I ever start such a thing! The other issue I have is that I will do anything to prove if I have REAL ADHD because some psychiatrists are reluctant to give stimulants to adults *sometimes* because they think we might abuse them.
NO I am NOT trying to abuse anything; I just want to take it IF it’s found to be right for my condition. I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING‼ Even if I do get the ADHD stimulants, if that doesn’t work, then what am I gonna do? I would only want to do the scans to speed up the process if other treatments have failed. Please don’t tell me what not to do because I never I was going to do it right away. I may be young but I know better than to do something expensive and under-necessary. I just need my main question answered: HAS ANYONE HAD THE SPECT BRAIN SCAN DONE AND ALSO GOTTEN PRIVATE INSURANCE TO REIMBURSE YOU FOR IT??? One example is Amen Clinics that does this. No unsolicited mental health advice, please!! unless you have an answer to give and/or a story to tell me about your experience. Sorry, it’s just that I don’t want the entire page to be clogged with stuff I didn’t ask for. Thank you.
For example, blue_bipo2 is the only yahoo member at this time who has given me the type of answer I’m looking for, but I’m still not finished yet and may extend the answering period for my question if I need to.
A: I first read about SPECT scans while reading a document on it in my psychiatrist waiting room in 2005. I immediately asked my GP to send a demand for me to get one…and after a long waiting list, I finally had mine done in 2006.
The results came back stating that there was a reduction of activity in my frontal left lobe and in my anterior and posterior gyrus (numerous convex folds or ridges of the surface of the brain)…basicaly: areas pertinent to normal brain activities. These situation can be found in poeple suffering from either: unipolar depression, certain bipolar illneses (in a depressive stage), and/or chronic fatigue syndrome.
The reason I’m sharring this personnal information with you is that, the results will show anormalities but won’t give a precise diagnostic. Some psychiatrist do not believe in their effeciency (because they say that any traumatic event will affect the brains functions) and therefore, some insurance compagny do not recognise the procedure as proof.
I personnaly wanted to have the SPECT scan done for me…( because I was tierd of people saying that there was no “proof”, and that I was just making excuses for my fluctuating behavior). The results gave me “physical” proof that my brain was indead functioning in different ways then most people and made me realise I didn’t have to doubt myself anymore (or put up with others comments). I am above average intelligence and would never have guessed that my brain activities were reduced. But it just goes to show how some things can be harder for me to grasp, while others don’t have to work as hard on it.
Some good did come out of it after all, because psychiatrists finaly realised I had bipolar type 2 (with more depressive episodes and a toutch of hypomania), and therefore I was finaly treated with the right medication. I have still yet to find the good combination of medication for me but, I now know that I’m on the rigth track. Also, I now do not feel the need to defend myself when others doubt that I am bipolar. The scan reasured me and helped me get on the recovery track faster (by accepting my condition).
Insurance wise though I may not be of any help to you, because where I live, my health procedures are covered. My disability claim is still “under investigation”, but the SPECT scan proves very clearly that I do have a condition.
I hope that sharing my personal experience helped you in any way.
Good luck 
Q: Has anyone out there ever received ECT? (electro shock therapy?)?
Have you ever received this treatment for bipolar/depression? How long was your treatment for? Was it effective? Did you have any side effects and do you still have to take your medication?
Prefer answers from Australia as that is where I am from. Thanks.
I would also like to add that I would prefer serious genuine answers and not those from people who havent the slightest clue of the struggles that depression can bring.
This is a serious question for a serious problem. If you cannot say something useful to me then move on.
A: I wouldn’t try anything, pills is bad enough, wtf would you mess yourself up with that for?? You are depressed for a reason, it means you’re not meeting your own expectations and standards.. so start doing it!
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