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Depression
Case study: Obesity, Depression, and OCD
Rebecca Provorse ND
Portland, Oregon
Depression:
36yo female presents
with complaint of premenstrual disphoric disorder
(PMDD), onset with menarche at age 13 and becoming
severe over the past few years. The patient had
significant depression for 2-3 weeks prior to menses
accompanied by eating compulsions. The Patient was
over-weight (203 lbs) and desired weight loss.
Attempts at dieting fail during pre-menstrual attacks of
depression. Mood drops so low as to debilitate;
she often would not leave her home, she avoided social
situations and binges. Occasionally, work time was
lost. She denied purging. She described her
pre-menstrual phase as a time when she “feels crazy” and
out-of-control of her person. She is plagued by
negative thought patterns, as well as
obsessive/compulsive thoughts and behaviors.
The patient was put
on the NeuroResearch Clinics protocol (Level I).
On follow-up, her dosage was increased to Level II, then
Level III. The patient experienced appetite
suppression during the first two weeks of menstrual
cycle (maintaining a 900 cal/day diet). Two week
prior to menses, her appetite would surge and her
depression would return full force. Serum labs
revealed early stages of hypoestrogenism, but too early
to consider HRT.
The DBS Labs urinary
neurotransmitter lab testing was ordered.
Serotonin value was 19738; Dopamine was 1280. The
patient was switched to a different 5 HTP with
tyrosine combination. She began the following dosing
schedule based on NeuroResearch analysis of DBS Labs
organic cation transporter neurotransmitter optimization.
One month later, the
person’s complaints were significantly improved!
Whereas prior to balancing of 5-HTP, tyrosine, levodopa, and cysteine,
she described herself as having “one good week a month”,
she now said she felt great most days. She
described her PMDD as “slight edginess that is totally
manageable”. She also commented that she had less
interest in food, fewer obsessive/compulsive thoughts,
watched less television and improved motivation and
creative energy.
One month later, the
patient returned for a follow-up. She reported her
energy and motivation had decreased. Appetite
suppression was intact weeks 1-3 of her cycle, but
slightly reduced during her menses. Otherwise she
still feels “fantastic” and “has her self-esteem back”.
Friends and co-workers notice that she “smiles all the
time”. She has a romantic interest, for the
first time in many years.
A second urinary
neurotransmitter lab test was done. Serotonin
value was 62749; Dopamine was 1465. Serotonin
remained in Phase 3, while dopamine moved from Phase 1
to Phase 3. For her 5-HTP, tyrosine, levodopa, and cysteine
dosing protocol, we raised tyrosine dosing and reduce
the dopa dosing.
One month follow-up
(6 months from first office visit): person reports
motivation and energy have returned. There are no
PMDD symptoms. She says, she “doesn’t remember
ever feeling this good”. Her romantic interest
has evolved into a new relationship. Person weight
is 184 and she visibly glows.
Postpartum Depression
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