tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post114814108968910436..comments2024-03-18T03:28:36.581-04:00Comments on Shrink Rap: Roy: Warrantless Brain ScansUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-32487025134723987692007-11-29T16:51:00.000-05:002007-11-29T16:51:00.000-05:00I recently came across an interview on webmd.com w...I recently came across an interview on webmd.com with <A HREF="http://www.webmd.com/content/article/79/96235.htm" REL="nofollow">Daniel Amen</A> in which he clearly explains that these Brain scans are only a part of a diagnosis. Dr. Amen states;<BR/><BR/><I>So scans don't give you the answer; they give you part of the answer. They give you the biology of the answer. You still have to put it into the context of a good history and understanding of the patient.<BR/><BR/>So scans are not a doctor in a box, but are a very helpful tool in helping us understand what's going on in a person's brain.</I><BR/><BR/>In my opinion, any additional tool that psychiatrists can use to aid in an accurate diagnosis is valuable. A wrong diagnosis can lead to improper medication being prescribed, on the basis of a 15 minute consultation consisting of nothing more than a series questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148876533438403762006-05-29T00:22:00.000-04:002006-05-29T00:22:00.000-04:00There are a handful, like Amen Clinics, which purp...There are a handful, like <A HREF="http://www.quackwatch.org/06ResearchProjects/amen.html" REL="nofollow">Amen Clinics</A>, which purport to diagnose based on brain scans. Can't say they are too highly regarded, however, but I long for the day we have some kind of objective diagnostic test in psychiatry.Steve & Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16543746132388754693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148799787154307012006-05-28T03:03:00.000-04:002006-05-28T03:03:00.000-04:00shoot! I was reading something, somewhere (on a p...shoot! I was reading something, somewhere (on a psychological/psychiatric "consumer" site), that linked to a study using one of those brain scan dealies, and used a computer to detect anomalies in the scans too small for a person to see; it'd check for these, and where and what and all that stuff, and apparently it has an 82% success rate at diagnosing schizophrenia (why is it always schizophrenia in these studies? Probably the one that more is known about in the brain that others maybe? But do more on other ones, puh-leeeese!!)<BR/><BR/>If I find this, I'll post a link in the comments of this thread, if you want it. I thought it was very interesting. And promising, that they are starting to do things on this level. That's a pretty d*** high success rate, if you ask me.Sarebearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208596053319110470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148582323806147072006-05-25T14:38:00.000-04:002006-05-25T14:38:00.000-04:00Roy: The chronic pain link above is interesting, B...<B>Roy:</B> <I>The chronic pain link above is interesting, BTW. It makes me wonder if real-time fMRI scanning can be used to learn how to better control obsessive thoughts or auditory hallucinations or anxiety.</I><BR/><BR/>I ran across this blog entry the other day that is applicable...<BR/><BR/><I>Some time ago I met a psychiatrist who had an unusual theory about the causes of mental illness. He wanted us to do two MRI scans on a patient to prove his theory. When I told him that we were not yet able to do that in individuals, he was indignant, “But you’ve published all those studies showing abnormal brain structure in schizophrenia.” I explained that all the brain imaging studies have told us quite a lot about groups of people with mental illness, but little about individuals. I do not know of any academic psychiatrists anywhere in the world who think that we can yet use PET, SPECT, fMRI or MRI scans for diagnosis of mental illness.</I><BR/><BR/><B>Source: <A HREF="http://richardgpettymd.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/05/a_new_atlas_tha.html" REL="nofollow">A New Atlas... Richard G. Petty, MD</A></B>Spiritual Emergencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283478682307609903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148172763688005922006-05-20T20:52:00.000-04:002006-05-20T20:52:00.000-04:00...and this one from Jan 2006 Wired....and <A HREF="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.01/lying.html" REL="nofollow">this one</A> from Jan 2006 <I>Wired</I>.Steve & Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16543746132388754693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148172530860224632006-05-20T20:48:00.000-04:002006-05-20T20:48:00.000-04:00Here's the Wired Magazine article, which points ou...Here's the <A HREF="http://www.wired.com/news/columns/1,70411-0.html" REL="nofollow">Wired Magazine article</A>, which points out how complex and variable the results are with this technique:<BR/><I>The fMRI results have to account for up to 30 or 40 factors other than deception -- including heart rate, respiration, motion -- that might all cause variance in the signal. Also, the area of the brain related to deception differs a bit from individual to individual. Culture, language, personality, handedness, gender, medications and health can all affect the results.</I>Steve & Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16543746132388754693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148165955429146672006-05-20T18:59:00.000-04:002006-05-20T18:59:00.000-04:00The relevance of this to psychiatry is:Section 505...The relevance of this to psychiatry is:<BR/><BR/>Section 505 would allow things such as this (in addition to the obvious access-to-records thing):<BR/><BR/>1. Continuous wiretap of phone calls of psychiatrist's office and/or monitoring of patient's phone calls to psychiatrist<BR/>2. Interception of psychiatrist emails to/from patients<BR/>3. Confiscation of computer equipment/documents at home <I>or</I> office.<BR/><BR/>You get this idea. To date over 30,000 national security letters have been issued. The FBI claims that none of these have involved access to medical records, but they have also not fully complied with laws requiring them to report aggregate data to the Senate Judicial Committee.ClinkShrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316134491751195651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148165004794762022006-05-20T18:43:00.000-04:002006-05-20T18:43:00.000-04:00In September 2004 the U.S. District Court in New Y...In September 2004 the U.S. District Court in New York decided that Section 505 of the U.S. Patriot Act was a violation of the First and Fourth Amendments. This case has been consolidated with another case (ruling that it <I>was</I> constitutional to subpoena ISP's) and are awaiting decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals. See <A HREF="http://www.law.duke.edu/publiclaw/civil/index.php?action=showcase&id=29" REL="nofollow">Doe v Ashcroft 334 Fsupp 2d 471 (2004).</A><BR/><BR/>This will be a major constitutional decision when it comes down. It involves the use of National Security Letters (NSL's) to obtain "any tangible thing" relevant to an authorized government investigation. It can be issued by an FBI agent and does not require endorsement by a court. It cannot be challenged in court or quashed. Once served, the recipient is bound to secrecy forever. The original Act even disallowed consultation with an attorney (a secrecy violation). This aspect was modified when the Act was renewed in March 2006.<BR/><BR/>Be afraid. Be very afraid. It can be used against American citizens with no showing of any wrongdoing whatsoever.ClinkShrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316134491751195651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148146912249026962006-05-20T13:41:00.000-04:002006-05-20T13:41:00.000-04:00But the really creepy scenarios are mental manipul...But the really creepy scenarios are mental manipulation by TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341704109256270557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148146715601947392006-05-20T13:38:00.000-04:002006-05-20T13:38:00.000-04:00I'd think lie detection is the nearer application....I'd think <A HREF="http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=1409" REL="nofollow">lie detection</A> is the nearer application.<BR/>Here's a couple more recent (but alas subscription only) <I>Nature</I> news articles on imaging for<BR/><A HREF="http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041129/full/041129-1.html" REL="nofollow">Lie detection</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050919/full/437457a.html" REL="nofollow">Terrorist detection</A>MThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02341704109256270557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1148142668644907532006-05-20T12:31:00.000-04:002006-05-20T12:31:00.000-04:00I have the sneaking suspicion that a true psychopa...I have the sneaking suspicion that a true psychopath (and that would seem to be your average, fly-a-757-into-a- building type) will be as elusive to the scan of the <I>f</I>MRI as they are to the polygraph - the emotions (and I'll bet the blood flow) are just not there. This presumes, of course, that the <I>f</I>MRI result have any bearing on the issue at hand in the first place. Naturally cowardly chumps like myself, however, are destined for a midnight flight to Egypt (where "We do not condone torture.") for an "information gathering" afternoon tea.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, there was a hilarious article in <I>Wired Magazine</I> about using the fMRI to measure "coolness"; evaluating reactions to photos of Paris Hilton, Versace-wear, slick automobiles, etc. Just wait until the IRS gets a hold of one...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com