Our weird brain

...we're being our own psydoc again and found this interesting article:

http://www.bu.edu/writingprogram/journa ... -3/manton/

It basically says that they found that in DID there is a disturbance in a brain region called the Orbitofrontal Cortex that has to do with decision making but also with memory and identity. This is basically caused by disorganised attachment in childhood and exacerbated by abuse and trauma.

Interestingly, this very same brain region is impaired in addicts:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2246020/

Now that would explain why pretty much any addict we have ever known is a bit Jekyll and Hyde

Gabriel

These articles are amazing thanks! It's so difficult to find a scientific explanation so I'm glad they're making progress. A very interesting read and hopefully they're be able to find some conclusive evidence.

Rachael

This is highly interesting. Thank you.

...yeah, I agree - if nothing else, at least it is some hard evidence that DID is, an fact, "real".

I'm quite fascinated by the link to addiction - in the article, it somehow sounds as if the addicts "did this" to their brain by taking drugs. But of course, they did the research on people who were already addicted, so it is perfectly possible that these people were dissociated/DID in the first place and that is why they started using.

It also means that potentially, some of the things that help addicts could help us, too.

Like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibogaine

Quote from wikipedia: "The most-studied therapeutic effect of ibogaine is the reduction or elimination of addiction to opioids. An integral effect is the alleviation of symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Research also suggests that ibogaine may be useful in treating dependence on other substances such as alcohol, methamphetamine, and nicotine and may affect compulsive behavioral patterns not involving substance abuse or chemical dependence."

Those compulsive patterns are associated with Orbitofrontal Cortex hypofunction - which supposedly is our problem, too.

And from another site: "Ibogaine manifests itself pharmacologically and psychologically. In the latter, repressed memories are accessed objectively by the patient, for the most part in a non-emotional, non-threatening manner. Ibogaine initiates a pharmacologically induced process whereby patients gain insight into the trauma underlying their chemical dependence. Ibogaine is particularly important as it eliminates narcotic withdrawal and drug craving, while concurrently allowing the patient and the treatment group to come to an understanding of the patient's underlying psychopathology. These effects, including abreaction, are generally accomplished within four days of a single Ibogaine administration."
http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/ibogaine_trauma.html

We're still in the early stages of reserach, but we are looking into this drug. From what we gather so far, it might work - it might also fry our brain so badly we'll spend the rest of our day in a mental ward. But it looks intriguing.

Mind you, I'm posting this for entertainment purposes only. We are DEFINITELY NOT ADVOCATING this drug to anyone. It is untested and potentially dangerous and in some countries, illegal. If you have a mental illness, seek medical help (disclaimer, end of)

Gabriel

Wow! If they are able to perfect a drug such as that it would be a really big breakthrough. The fact that it curbs addiction but also helps psychologically is really interesting. It's wonderful to hear they are in the starting stages of something so beneficial. I hope researchers are able to continue this line of study. Thanks so much for all the wonderful information!

-Rachael