I have read the bad reviews and I have to share how Dr.Putnam gave ME a new lease on life - in particular because of his knowledge of head injuries. 35 years ago I was in a terrible car accident in which I lost my father. After the accident I had nightmares every single night, for 35 years. I had chronic depression. I had episodes that I thought were full blown panic attacks, though one doctor told me he wasn't exactly sure what they were - they were similar to panic attacks, but didn't fit exactly. That doctor treated me as if it was a standard panic attack, and that did not work well at all. I was diagnosed by doctor after doctor with PTSD (trauma + nightmares+ anxiety...made sense enough), BUT every time I took any meds recommended by these doctors I would have immediate, terrible, frightening adverse reactions. Doctor after doctor threw up their hands, and a couple accused me of refusing treatment just to be difficult, which was absolutely not true. I gave up even going to doctors about the issue and had not been to anyone in about 10 years, when my mother died. I was doing so poorly that I thought ""one more time"", but I was terrified of being prescribed some horrible medication that would make me feel more ""crazy."" A therapist recommended Dr. Putnam, saying he was very cautious about meds and would listen to me if I didn't feel comfortable with his treatment plan. His initial interview was so thorough and he asked questions that no one had ever asked, but that made total sense once he asked them. He is extremely knowledgeable about PTSD vs TBI (traumatic brain injury). The symptoms are very similar (nightmare, anxiety, depression) but there are some tell tale differences and he was able to root out the truth. He diagnosed me with TBI instead of PTSD, prescribed appropriate medication (that I had not tried before), and within three days the nightmare and anxiety attacks stopped cold. It was AMAZING, truly. He told me that my adverse reactions to the other drugs were indeed due to the fact that I had a head injury, and not just me being ""difficult"". An EEG confirmed his suspicions that I had a seizure disorder due to TBI,, not PTSD. So in answer to those who question his ""obsession"" with possible head injuries, I say listen to him!! He may be right about your condition. It does seem to be his ""pet"" area, and maybe I just got lucky, but again, he was so thorough, asking questions that 10 doctors before him never thought or knew to ask. His manner IS very no-nonsense, but he is not there to do therapy, he is there to diagnose and treat physically, Besides no-nonsense, I have found him to be very respectful and encouraging and genuinely happy that he could help me in such a profound way. I would HIGHLY recommend him, especially for anyone who suspects they have been misdiagnosed or where previous treatment plans have not worked well.
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