false 51373 0812929985 9780812929980 267 100 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170379132m/51373.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51373.Change_Your_Brain_Change_Your_Life_The_Breakthrough_Program_for_Conquering_Anxiety_Depression_Obsessiveness_Anger_and_Impulsiveness 28913 Daniel G. Amen 572 191 4 0 false Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Oct 08 08:39:02 -0700 2008 Sun Oct 12 10:04:45 -0700 2008
Dr. Amen explains the current scientific beliefs supported by his own research and use of SPECT scans about various areas of the brain, what drugs and treatments are effective in treating problems in those areas, and so forth.

This book would be an excellent tool in helping to convince someone they should consider some sort of drug treatment for a problem if they are reluctant to do so. However, for each condition Dr. Amen describes in his book, he also offers alternative treatment options useful for those who either don't have very extreme symptoms or insist on trying alternatives before they "jump on the drug bandwagon."

This book also talks about "street drugs" and their effects on the same areas of the brain as well. Caffeine and nicotine are included in this chapter and made me wonder if maybe I've been self-medicating my own undiagnosed ADD with lots and lots of caffeine. Considering the long-term effects of caffeine Dr. Amen describes in the book, I decided to scale back my intake to more reasonable levels.

Looking at the brain SPECT scans in the book of hardcore users of marijuana and nicotine, it's no wonder they often have telltale personality characteristics. ]]>