Posted by ocdforyears on January 9, 2004, at 10:39:04
In reply to Re: brain scans of CBT patients vs. med patients, posted by badhaircut on January 7, 2004, at 13:31:15
Brain scans are fascinating; the same phenomenon is observed with ocd. Of course, the abnormal activity shown in the scan could be the result, not the cause, of the neurosis. Meaning my brain looks this way because I'm depressed or obsessing, not I'm obsessing because my brain looks this way (though in ocd there certainly is a vicious cycle). Anything which lifted mood even for a short while, cbt or emotional release or meds, might change the look of the scan, but long term clinical experience: as in how do I feel? seems just as valuable.
The deeper issues, unresolved emotional trauma, may still lie below the detection level of any brain scan. Cbt or meds may manage that, but it's possible it takes deeper work to heal it and really feel cured, though I have heard good things about cbt and meds. Now I am sounding like an analyst.
poster:ocdforyears
thread:297458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040102/msgs/298539.html