Review of Two Years of Experiences with SPECT Among Psychiatric Patients in a Rural Hospital Setting

Abstract

We summarize single proton emission computed tomography (SPECT) findings from 63 psychiatric patients in a small rural hospital in western Minnesota. SPECT scans were ordered only for patients in whom documentation of hypoperfusion and functional deficits might be helpful in clarifying diagnoses and treatment planning. The patients referred for SPECT scans had histories of traumatic brain injuries, atypical psychiatric symptom presentations, or conditions that were refractory to standard treatments. In the context of strict referral guidelines and close psychiatrist-radiologist collaboration, a much higher yield of significant findings was obtained compared with those noted in other reports in the literature.

Brain SPECT as an Imaging Biomarker for Evaluating Effects of Novel Treatments in Psychiatry–A Case Series

“…Hyperperfusion was indicated in the right putamen and in parts of the posterior cingulate and right cerebellum and vermis. This combination of hypoperfused areas is commonly associated with dysfunctions related to memory, executive function, social interaction and impulse control and the hyperperfused areas are often associated with anxiety and depression ( 58 , 59 ). Based on the initial assessment, CTK treatment was selected, and the patient received a total of 24 sessions over 5 months.…”

Functional Neuro-Imaging and Post-Traumatic Olfactory Impairment

“…With regard to the implications of the present findings for forensic practice, it occasionally may prove necessary to seek some type of corroborating evidence of olfactory dysfunction, such as a SPECT scan [47] when malingering of anosmia is suspected or the results of so-called "effort-testing" are questionable. Similarly, olfactory evoked potential paradigms would appear to have some future utility in providing corroboration for the clinical complaint/finding of anosmia [48][49][50] as does the Olfactory Stop Reaction used with quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) records.…”

Improved Outcomes Using Brain SPECT-Guided Treatment Versus Treatment-as-Usual in Community Psychiatric Outpatients: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

“…Visualizing the different levels of activity in the brain may allow more accurate evaluation of psychiatric disorders by revealing abnormally functioning neural regions and circuits, hence allowing more targeted, effective treatment. [1][2][3][4][5] For example, the finding of increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the subgenual cingulate and prefrontal cortex demonstrated by SPECT predicted which depressed patients would more readily respond to citalopram. 4 In recent years, the analysis and visual representation of SPECT, which we term "3D SPECT," has been shown to facilitate the management of psychiatric patients.…”