Updated August 18, 2014.

Alan Cohen, M.D. is board certified in neurology and psychiatry, and his research focuses on utilizing the latest research protocols for the treatment of a wide variety of emotional and physical disorders. Dr. Cohen has generated patent protected treatment protocols to advance the latest innovations in modern psychopharmacology. He is the author of a research study presented to the Third International Conference on Refractory Depression, titled [link url=http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/cohen.htm]Psychostimulant Augmentation Of Antidepressants In Anergic Depression Associated With Hypothyroidism.


According to Dr. Cohen, some key points on how depression and thyroid disease are related and effective treatments for both.

• Most patients with fatigue, anergia and depression need TSH levels in the lower zone [1.0.
• Once the TSH is adequately lowered to 1.0 or 0.50, and, once a patient has gotten symptom relief with an antidepressant, if necessary, and still has residual fatigue, or anergia, then a psychostimulant trial is offered as an additional treatment.
• Stimulants are very safe, compared to many non-controlled drugs.
• Carbohydrate binging is associated with some depressive syndromes.
• Studies have revealed that carbo-binging (selective ingestion of starches, sugars, etc. ) results in enhanced absorption of l-tryptophan from the gut. L-tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, known to us now as a major neurotransmitter in the brain, particularly in regards to mood and sleep functions. Studies on patients prone to depression but currently in remission relapsed into clinical depression when fed a diet free of all tryptophan

• The antidepressants used these days, although worlds better than their predecessors, cause some side effects. Weight gain is one commonly seen with a number of the antidepressants prescribed currently.
• The amphetamines seem uniquely suited for residual symptoms of fatigue in euthymic and "euthyroid" patients (normal numbers on labs or rating scales) because they are helpful in treatment of pathological fatigue states, in general, and provide stimulation in a way that thyroid patients seem "deficient" in .
• Thyroid disease appears to "numb up" the post-synaptic receptors for adrenalin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters.

More detailed information on his perspectives is featured in this in-depth interview with Dr. Cohen.