Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger and Impulsiveness, by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

Through his work in Psychiatry Dr. Amen found that many patients resisted treatment, and he wondered what could be done to convince them that they needed help. He found the answer through a nuclear medicine physician who used a new kind of brain imaging known as SPECT. It measures blood flow and activity levels in the brain, and shows in a clear image the difference between the defective brain and a normal one.

When patients saw the images they could no longer doubt their problem and the need of treatment, reinforcing the popular saying that “Seeing is believing.” They could see clearly that the physical condition of their brain was the cause of their deviant behavior and accepted the prescribed remedy. The author claims to be one of a very few psychiatrists in the world who are licensed in nuclear brain imaging, and he is convinced of its effectiveness.

Throughout the book there are clear images of the brain taken by SPECT, and studies showing the results of medication given to remedy the faulty brain function. The author shows how the various functions of the brain work together, and the images clearly show the basic problem. Whether his patients are suffering from depression, angry outbursts, marital problems, or whatever malady, they readily accept the prescribed medication after seeing the brain images, and the rate of success in nearly 100%. The language used in the book is highly technical, but convincing.