Welcome to another edition of Common Ground Online. Here's what's in this week's edition:
- Dr. Popper: Afterword to A Promise of Hope
- Dr. Popper and EMPowerplus
In the afterword of Autumn Stringam's book, A Promise of Hope, Dr. Charles W. Popper (Harvard psychopharmacologist and psychiatrist) adds some of his valuable insight from using EMPowerplus in his private practice. We have compiled excerpts from Dr. Popper's afterword which may add to your understanding of mood disorders and how they can be most appropriately handled:
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Author Autumn Stringam |
“Autumn Stringam’s moving and unromanticized story rivets our attention on one of the countless human tragedies wrought by bipolar disorder. Autumn’s triumph over her mind-straining circumstances involved extraordinary luck, coupled with her own determination and the fearlessness of the people closest to her, who created a daring new approach to treating mental illness.
“Autumn’s enthusiasm for her treatment is justified. By all accounts, EMPowerplus changed her life more profoundly than conventional medication treatments could. The success in her case is undeniable. And there are thousands more like her.
“Controlled scientific studies of EMPowerplus are in the works, but it will take years before the results are in. At this point, individuals and families whose lives have been ravaged by bipolar disorder should exercise caution and balance in reacting to the initial observations on this seemingly promising approach. The initial findings are particularly challenging to physicians, because they do not fit easily into current psychiatric knowledge or theory on bipolar disorder. For patients and physicians alike, it would be a mistake to enthusiastically rush to use this treatment, and it would be a mistake to off-handedly dismiss it.
“Many clinicians who have been using EMPowerplus in their practices have already found variations on the original EMPowerplus formula that appear to enhance its effectiveness for specific individuals. In fact, Truehope has been changing the recipe for EMPowerplus over the years as it learns how to improve its overall usefulness in treating bipolar disorder and depression.
“Mood disorders are far too dangerous, too diverse, and too complex to be managed by pills alone. Suicidality, aggressive violence, loss of hope, impulsive behavior, impaired cause-and-effect judgment, and lack of self-protective intuitions should not be managed by self-help. Counseling, psychotherapy, family-orientated interventions, social skill training, development of coping skills, support programs, and community agencies can help. There is a need for systematic restorations of judgment and perspective, a building of the ability to understand and think rationally about an illness that impairs judgment and feelings, and a reconstruction (or construction) of a reality-grounded self-esteem. These are not supplied by pills and never will be. Patients and families need to learn how to seek help when needed, to understand this illness, to recognize early warning signs of recurrent symptoms, and to routinely take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of a return of symptoms.
“To understand the illness, patients and families can learn to see that strengths as well as weaknesses are a part of bipolar disorder. Contrary to some stereotypes, many people with bipolar disorder have extraordinary strengths, especially in the realms of creativity, persistence and determination, generosity and altruism, and interpersonal sensitivity. Rather than viewing bipolar disorder as simply a medical illness, it may be more accurate to view it as a medical “condition”—and as part of the human condition—entailing both strengths and weaknesses. (Helping people with bipolar conditions view themselves and their conditions more fully and more accurately.)
“Certain people find it difficult to accept help, especially for something as personal and shameful as bipolar conditions can feel. Autumn had the advantage of many helpful and determined people around her. The most important thing that you can do to help a person with bipolar disorder is to help them seek treatment, especially at times when they need but do not want treatment. You can also help by showing that you do not blame them for their condition, by helping them use their opportunities and strengths, and by contributing money to support scientific research to develop new and better treatments.
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Truehope Co-founders: Anthony S. Stephan (L) and David L. Hardy (R) |
“For this remarkable story, we can thank Tony Stephan and David Hardy, the originators of the vitamin-mineral treatment, as well as Autumn and her brother Joe as its first beneficiaries. Stephan and Hardy showed courage and steadfastness in pursuing the development of this treatment, even in the face of legal obstacles, and in pressing for controlled clinical trials. Scientific studies on EMPowerplus are beginning to be conducted, especially through the efforts of Dr. Bonnie Kaplan at the University of Calgary in Alberta. So some day, we will know whether their excitement and efforts will have paid off. I’m betting that the clinical trials will become the foundation for an important new direction in psychiatric research…
“Autumn’s story is much larger than the amazing personal, medical, and political events she describes. Autumn makes each of us grapple with our own presence on earth and what we do with our lives. Whether the vitamin-mineral approach to treating mood conditions will ultimately be found to be scientifically sound is an open ended question. But regardless of the outcome of the research, Autumn and the people who have supported her have conveyed to us their hope—hope that new treatments can be found, hope that tragedy can be made temporary, hope that we can work together to make new things happen, and hope that our lives will have an impact despite the odds.”
-Charles W. Popper, MD.
Harvard Medical School
 Dr. Charles W. Popper, psychopharmacologist and psychiatrist at Harvard University’s McLean Hospital, has been using EMPowerplus in his private practice for over 8 years, with encouraging results. In fact, he published a commentary in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry supporting the results of Dr. Bonnie Kaplan's (2001) study, in which he illustrated some of his clinical experience with EMPowerplus. He reported that of 22 patients (10 adults, 9 adolescents, 3 pre-adolescents) who clinically met criteria for bipolar disorder, 19 (86%) showed a positive response to the supplement. Of 15 patients taking medications, 11 (73%) were able to gradually withdraw from their medications, and were stable taking the supplement alone.
To access Dr. Popper's commentary, click on the reference below (note: to read the full-text articles of most medical journals, subscription is usually required):
Popper CW. Do vitamins or minerals (apart from lithium) have mood-stabilizing effects? J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Dec;62(12):933-5.
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We want to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date program information so that you can continue to make informed decisions regarding your health. Our hope is that you will find hope, healing, and health through education and continued support.
Yours in health,
The Truehope Staff
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