Image 1.TBI Infographic (ISU ,2023)

 

Old Concussions

     Read this about the significance of old knocks on the head!   And my thoughts on Qeeg vs SPECT scans.

     Dr Daniel Amen is one psychiatrist who, like me, has appreciated the importance of looking at the brain in addressing optimum performance or symptom assessment!

     He has especially helped raise awareness of the significance of the head injuries in contributing to symptoms.

     Where I differ with Dr Amen is in use of tools to look at the brain.  While I appreciate the pictures provided by SPECT scans, if I have to choose one or the other in treating patients, I’ll go with Qeeg.

     Qeeg is among the functional brain scans — scans that assess function, not just structure.  And Qeeg has the most accurate time-resolution in looking at brain function of all the functional brain scans.  In time sensitive depictions of brain function, it is clear that quick messages are coursing through the brain in sub-second timing, groups of neurons volleying signals like having three football, baseball, soccer, rugby, basketball teams and balls on the same field at once!   And of course, the communication (and chaos) multiplied by the millions!

     A Qeeg (a brain scan utilizing measures of Eeg over 20 minutes, then analyzing based on location and patterns compared with a normal database) provides not just information and pictures of brain function, but also helps determine a protocol for the Eeg Neurofeedback. (A protocol is what areas, what frequencies, what circuits, which communication to train first!) SPECT scans are not so useful for Neurofeedback protocol selection.  They might identify a location of problem, but that functional problem might have origin in a brain circuit best approach somewhere else.

    Both can be useful for confirming presence of patterns consistent with various symptom pictures and guiding medication treatment. Unfortunately, both are underutilized. And physicians training has largely ignored these modalities in favor of medication -saturated approaches.

     This is despite the fact that medications can be quite limited in addressing problems related to TBI, not to mention the often-problematic effects of anticonvulsants -often the Tx of choice for seizures and mood instability.  Since NF was first discovered for its effective anticonvulsant effects with no or minimal side effects, its advantage is obvious.  The downside is that like school, the brain learning in Neurofeedback takes time.  Frequent trainings are needed initially.

     Pharmaceutical funding for research and the associated preference on medication approaches by hospitals and training institutions is not based on accuracy and efficacy, but convenience profit, and lack of interest and education.  Patient /consumer interest, and slow but steady research (across the world) is what is keeping the field of Qeeg and Eeg-Neurofeedback moving forward.

 

For more information on head injuries, SPECT scan and Dr. Amen, please follow the link below.

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Reference

ISU. Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program(SPP). 2023, https://www.isu.edu/irh/traumatic-brain-injury/.