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Brain Scans for Mental Health Still Years Away
February 11, 2012
With many advances in diagnostic imaging and scanning in the past years, there have been amazing discoveries. For example, the MRI is able to give 3D dimensional and detailed images of many organs including the brain. The recent development of PET scans uses positron emission tomography and have been very helpful to those with cancer, heart disease, and nervous disorders. But what about discoveries in mental health?
As reported on by The New York Times, scientists and doctors still feel that society is years away from being able to use these types of scans to diagnose mental illnesses such as depression. Because each person’s brain is as different as their personalities, it is extremely difficult to come up with a universal blueprint of what a depressed brain looks like. This is partly because a hot spot in one person’s brain can be a normal train of thought in another’s.
However, there are mental illnesses that can be aided with the use of diagnostic imaging. For example, those with schizophrenia – an illness characterized by the breakdown of the thought process and/or poor emotional state – do have options in imaging. Those with the condition often suffer a loss of brain cells which can be detected via imaging technology. The same technology is also invaluable when working with illnesses such as tumor or stroke.
One of the newest technologies in brain imaging is the SPECT scan. It stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. More specifically, it is a type of nuclear imaging that shows how blood flows to the organs. By utilizing this sort of scan on the brain, doctors can better understand patients who may have clogged blood vessels, seizures, dementia, encephalitis, and other head injuries.
Some clinics claim that this type of SPECT scan can help diagnose mental disorders such as ADD, bipolar disorder, depression, and others. However, there are others, such as the Mayo Clinic who do not associate these disorders with the SPECT scan. As always, it is important to consult with your own doctor before undergoing any imaging or diagnostic procedures.
Casey Roberts is a student and also writes for Radiology Assistant which helps students find the right radiology degree.
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