3D MRI scan of a human brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is primarily a medical imaging technique most commonly used in radiology to visualize the internal structure and function of the body. MRI machines use extremely powerful magnetic fields to spin align the hydrogen atoms in your body along the direction of the magnetic field lines. Radio Frequency (RF) fields are used to knock these hydrogen atoms out of alignment, while sensors pick up the signals generated when the hydrogen atoms re-align with the strong magnetic field. en.wikipedia.org
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It is well over $3,000 and they make you pay up front, providing you with only a walk-out receipt for (possible) reimbursement from the insurance carrier. On the Amen Clinics website, it says that some insurance carriers will reimburse but not all. However, I have read some websites where some people said that their private health insurances don’t cover it and have yet to find anyone’s testimony on the internet saying that it was covered (except for one, whose doctor wrote a letter of necessity to the insurance company).

I’m 19 and don’t have insurance but am thinking about it in the future. I have had symptoms of ADHD as a child, teenager, and adult, as well as some depression and sadness as a teen (because I was emotionally abused at home by my aunt & uncle), and maybe a little bit of bipolar symptom (not the extreme mania or psychosis you might hear people do have). I also had a few epileptic seizures as a child and so far have taken Carbamazepine age 8-10 for that & Zoloft and then Lexapro (not together) when I was 16-18. I have not yet taken ADHD meds, but might in the near future when I begin seeing a psychiatrist again.

I haven’t been recommended yet for this treatment and I know it’s risky to choose it all on my own for insurance purposes without referral. Other than the example I gave above, can anyone tell me about their own and/or someone else’s experience and specifically what insurance plan type (HMO, PPO, etc) and carrier was used to reimburse for this, and how much of it they paid? Tell me what happened in detail to give me some clues, so I know if I can get this also.

Even if they didn’t reimburse, please feel free to share your story; every little bit helps. Thank you so much and sorry about this being so long

I have seen previous responses here but so far NONE of them provide the answers I need for my question. Now just to clarify, I have been on SEVERAL different treatment medications and NONE of them worked. ADHD stimulants are the only medicine my psych doctors haven’t prescribed to me yet because of other (slightly false) diagnoses of depression and even bipolar. I’m not directly planning on doing the SPECT scan anytime soon, only as a last resort. I know better than that‼ It may take up to 5 years or more before I ever start such a thing! The other issue I have is that I will do anything to prove if I have REAL ADHD because some psychiatrists are reluctant to give stimulants to adults *sometimes* because they think we might abuse them.
NO I am NOT trying to abuse anything; I just want to take it IF it’s found to be right for my condition. I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING‼ Even if I do get the ADHD stimulants, if that doesn’t work, then what am I gonna do? I would only want to do the scans to speed up the process if other treatments have failed. Please don’t tell me what not to do because I never I was going to do it right away. I may be young but I know better than to do something expensive and under-necessary. I just need my main question answered: HAS ANYONE HAD THE SPECT BRAIN SCAN DONE AND ALSO GOTTEN PRIVATE INSURANCE TO REIMBURSE YOU FOR IT??? One example is Amen Clinics that does this. No unsolicited mental health advice, please!! unless you have an answer to give and/or a story to tell me about your experience. Sorry, it’s just that I don’t want the entire page to be clogged with stuff I didn’t ask for. Thank you.
For example, blue_bipo2 is the only yahoo member at this time who has given me the type of answer I’m looking for, but I’m still not finished yet and may extend the answering period for my question if I need to.

Is there something that causes chemical imbalances in the brain? The only thing I can think of is my mom smoked while pregnant with me, but I know tons of people who’s mom’s smoked while they were pregnant with them, and they’re just fine.

Or are you just born with it? Or is it hereditary?

Bipolar disorder is thought to be the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. The extreme mood swings that result are very intense. During the cycle of changing from depression to mania and back again, sleep patterns are interrupted, activity level changes, and cognitive behavior is extremely altered.

There is no known cure for bipolar disorder. It is thought to be a hereditary illness. To live a quality life with bipolar disorder, it must be carefully monitored and controlled. During the depression stage an individual is likely to experience sadness, anger, anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating. In severe cases of bipolar disorder, psychosis can occur during the depression cycle. Psychosis can lead to delusions and hallucinations, further causing difficulty with daily functioning.

During the mania phase and individual is likely to experience hostility, a high sex drive, psychosis, and a feeling of superiority over others. Often the person has a high energy level and speaks rapidly. 

It is no surprise that moving from one extreme to another continually is very difficult for those suffering from bipolar disorder. The illness takes its toll on a person’s ability to focus and make decisions. Therefore, it is understood that relationships will be difficult, raising children an almost impossible feat, and maintaining employment very hard. Often employers see the person as lazy and hard to get along with rather than suffering from a mental illness.

 If you suspect you or someone you know many suffer from bipolar disorder, immediately schedule an appointment with a doctor or mental health professional. There are various drugs on the market today to help reduce the cycles of bipolar disorder, allowing the individual to focus on daily activities.

But I’m curious about what it is that’s going on inside the mind with bipolar disorder that is causing it.