Most would agree that our brain is the most important organ in our body, yet it is the only organ that is consistently medically treated without any diagnostic testing or brain scan.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, the average number of people who took medication for mental health reasons was 15.8%. Post-covid that average is now 24%. And keep in mind that often times the medication is ineffective and clients need to try many different combinations before they get relief.
The most commonly used diagnostic tool for brain conditions is EEG (electroencephalogram). This test is generally reserved for patients with epilepsy, seizure disorders, stroke, encephalitis and sleep disorders; and can involve lengthy assessment and result wait times, costly expenditures, as well as requiring a referral from a family doctor or neurologist.
Quantitative EEG (qEEG) is a more recent development involving the analysis of the digitized EEG. In lay terms, this sometimes is also called “Brain Mapping”. When you have a qEEG performed, it means that the EEG is recorded and broken up into numbers computed to determine the brain’s functioning and identify patterns that are associated with a range of neurological disorders.
What if qEEG was accessible to everyone to diagnose common mental health issues?
Even though artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is not yet celebrated by all, it may be this very innovation that helps up provide early and more accurate mental health diagnoses and treatment plans. Based on over 10,000 scans, a team of neuroscientists developed a qEEG AI Brain Scan imaging system that detects 9 biomarkers in the brain for some of the most common mental health issues including: depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, burnout, ADHD, autism, chronic insomnia, and alcoholism. And it can provide data before even subtle symptoms are experienced!
How does the AI brain scan work?
Using a headset with non-gel electrodes, a 6-minute scan is captured and assessed by the AI database (and verified by a qualified medical professional), and returned to the clinician within 15 minutes.
A full report generally consists of 20+ pages and offers indicators (ratings) for the presence of each biomarker (as standard, above or below average).
What are the real benefits of qEEG / AI Brain Scan?
- Learn what mental health conditions are present before even noticing or becoming overwhelmed by the symptoms.
- If you are currently being treated for one of the 9 conditions, the AI brain scan can validate or refute the diagnosis.
- It only takes 6 minutes to complete the scan and results are provided almost immediately rather than waiting weeks or months.
- The cost for the procedure is a fraction of the cost of other brain scans
- Other scans can only be provided by highly trained neuropsychologists which contributes to extensive wait times. With the AI brain scan, everything is contained in the headset and operator training is minimal.
What are the specific benefits for each of the 9 mental health conditions diagnosed by the AI Brain Scan?
Anxiety – many confuse stress with anxiety; early interventions can be initiated before the anxiety escalates to panic disorder.
Depression – distinguishing between passing sadness and depression; providing treatment for depressive symptoms before it becomes a Major Depressive Disorder.
PTSD – We all have triggers, however some originate from trauma; teaching mindfulness practices and providing appropriate Trauma-based therapy before full-blown PTSD takes over a person’s life.
Chronic Pain – when most people experience pain they believe it is temporary. Often it is not. Determining early whether pain is actually a chronic pain disorder and providing early intervention is crucial.
Burnout – since it is reported that 70% of leaders and managers are on the burnout spectrum, it can easily be detected and treated before the symptoms are present and consume the individual. Seven in 10 workers experiencing burnout or imposter syndrome, research finds (peoplemanagement.co.uk)
Alcoholism – substance usage is a slippery slope; an early diagnosis can alert individuals of their risk to help avoid chronic abuse.
Insomnia – one bad night’s sleep to lead to a chronic condition of insomnia over time; knowing whether you were preconditioned for insomnia would be very motivating to establish healthy sleep etiquette early on.
ADHD – many children and adults are not really sure if they have ADHD, but rather are diagnosed based on symptoms and administered tests; brain imaging can determine this within minutes.
Autism – many people (especially adults) wonder if they are on the spectrum, however, were not diagnosed because autism was not as well researched years ago; having a clinical diagnostic test can answer so many questions for puzzled adults.
If this innovation in mental health is of interest to you, watch my interview with Patrick Benson, a Canadian Organizational and Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Leaders of Tomorrow Institute, Vancouver, Canada.
After watching the video, I invite you to offer your opinion about this new development in a brief survey. I would love to hear your thoughts.
And if you would like more information on this AI brain scan, please write us at: support@nickersoninstitute.com
