Bradley Engwall, MD

Relief for Bipolar Depression: Turns out there's a new study published in a top psychiatry journal that addresses exactly what my patient discussed in the last posting: tDCS for bipolar depression. There are so few options often for bipolar depression and fewer that work well or quickly. Many folks with bipolar depression don't respond well to the available options or have become manic with them. This study showed tDCS was rapid, safe and quite effective for depression i...n bipolar 1 or 2. Full text article in JAMA Psychiatry: https://jamanetwork.com//jamapsychiat/fullarticle/2666768 We work with existing providers, upon referral, to consult about the potential for neurotherapy treatments such as tDCS. Providers or patients may contact us.

Starting to offer tDCS to the public soon after getting impressive results from my existing patients (adults), including one who wrote me today with a testimonial: "I suffer from Bipolar II and recently relapsed into depression. I thought I was headed toward another severe episode. At Dr. Engwall’s suggestion I decided to try tCDS in his office. I did a series of eight 20 minute sessions. The experience was painless. I noticed directly following each session feeling calmer and an improved sense wellbeing. By the end of the eight sessions, I was out of the depression and my mood since then has been generally good. ... tCDS proved to be a lifesaver for me and was remarkably fast acting. If I start to slip into a depression again, I would immediately go to tCDS again."

Had dinner with a colleague who's doing research at the UCLA Department of Neuromodulation about various things the other night. I came across this article from the Boston Globe afterward highlighting the exciting potential of this field to move us away from medication (including the work that I've been engaging in with tDCS and neurofeedback). It's an interesting read. https://www.bostonglobe.com//r2bWZzLMpmeN2uYv9P/story.html

Fascinating dialogue/interview of two scientist/meditation teachers on buddhist contributions to neuroscience and on psychoanalysis vs meditation here: https://www.theatlantic.com//buddhism-and-neurosc/548120/ I found it interesting that they discuss/contrast meditation and psychotherapy as competing practices. I wonder where the discussion would lead if they considered the potential of their being highly complimentary instead. Meditation can cultivate qualities of mind that enhance the ability to gain insight/deeper connection from collaborative inquiry into ones emotional life in psychotherapy.

For those who are interested in the role genetics plays in mental health, this is a great article. It discusses the potential for genetic markers to change the way we conceptualize psychiatric illness. They've already done so for me. https://jamanetwork.com//jamapsychiat/fullarticle/2664008