After being a psychiatrist for over 40 years, it’s clear to me that depression is not a weakness or a character flaw. It’s a brain health issue. At Amen Clinics, we’ve scanned thousands of people struggling with depression, and their brains don’t all look the same. SPECT imaging can reveal different patterns of blood flow and activity associated with depressive symptoms. Some common patterns we see include: Limbic System: Too much activity in the brain’s emotional centers can be associated with sadness, negativity, and feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Prefrontal Cortex: Lower activity in this area can be associated with problems with focus, motivation, impulse control, and decision-making. Anterior Cingulate Gyrus: Overactivity here can make it harder to shift attention, causing people to get stuck on negative thoughts. Temporal Lobes: Abnormal activity in these regions can be associated with mood instability, memory problems, irritability, and emotional struggles. Depression isn’t ...