COULD HEAD RADIATION TREATMENT RESULT IN DEPRESSION? Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness COULD HEAD RADIATION TREATMENT RESULT IN DEPRESSION? Question: I had a stroke in 2001 at 40 years old which damaged my balance and short term memory. I’m now 43, retired on social security and can’t shake my depression since. Prozac after 1 year didn’t make a difference. I was told the stroke was caused by radiation therapy damage after a brain tumor removal from the cerebellum in 1981. Do you think the radiation therapy from 20 years+ ago may have also done physical damage to cause may unshakable depression? Do you have suggestions on how I can feel better? I exercise at a gym religiosly 3+ days a week which helps bring my mood up to medium then falls until I exercise again? Thanks Dr. Heller’s Answer: Assuming you didn’t have mental health problems before the stroke AND that you have no active coronary artery disease, there’s a moderate chance psychostimulants like Ritalin and Adderall can make a difference. While the scientific literature is sketchy, I’ve seen it work on many stroke patients. Here are some references that don’t prove the point but show it might help: Methylphenidate in early poststroke recovery: a double blind, placebo controlled study. Arch Phys Med Rehab 1998 Sep “Methylphenidate appears to be a safe and effective intervention in early poststroke rehabilitation that may expedite recovery.” Effects of methylphenidate on attentional function after traumatic brain injury. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1997 Nov-Dec “Methylphenidate produced a significant improvement in the speed of mental processing. Most aspects of sustained attention, and measures of motor speed were unaffected. Methylphenidate may be a useful treatment of traumatic brain injury, but is primarily useful for symptoms that can be attributed to slowed mental processing.” 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home MENU: Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home Video DVDs now available! You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind. By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery. “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World. Dr. Leland Heller Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-8771 Email: Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness, BiologicalUnhappiness.com, & Dyslimbia Press are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)