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Best SRD, Haustrup N, Pavel DG. Brain SPECT as an Imaging Biomarker for Evaluating Effects of Novel Treatments in Psychiatry-A Case Series. Front Psychiatry 2022; 12:713141. [PMID: 35095582 PMCID: PMC8793864 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.713141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The difficulties of evaluating patients with complex neuropsychiatric conditions and prescribing appropriate treatments are well known. Imaging complements clinical assessments and allows a clinician to narrow the differential diagnosis by facilitating accurate and efficient evaluation. This is particularly relevant to neuropsychiatric conditions that are often diagnosed using a trial-and error process of exclusion. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is a functional brain imaging procedure that allows practitioners to measure the functional changes of gray matter structures based on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The accurate diagnosis and treatment selection in psychiatry is challenging due to complex cases and frequent comorbidities. However, such complex neuropsychiatric conditions are increasingly benefitting from new treatment approaches, in addition to established medications. Among these are combination transcranial magnetic stimulation with ketamine infusions (CTK), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and perispinal administration of etanercept (PSE). This article provides readers with six case study examples that demonstrate how brain SPECT imaging can be used, both as a diagnostic tool, and as a potential biomarker for monitoring and evaluating novel treatments for patients with complex neuropsychiatric conditions. Six patients were assessed in our clinic and baseline brain SPECT imagesTourettes and a long history of alcohol were visually compared with SPECT images collected after periods of treatment with CTK or HBOT followed by PSE. This retrospective review demonstrates the clinical utility of these novel treatments and describes how SPECT imaging can complement standard diagnostic assessments. A novel display technique for SPECT images is described and we argue that SPECT imaging can be used for monitoring biomarker for clinical change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dan G. Pavel
- PathFinder Brain SPECT, Deerfield, IL, United States
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Yongyue Z, Yang S, Li Z, Rongjin Z, Shumin W. Functional Brain Imaging Based on the Neurovascular Unit for Evaluating Neural Networks after Strok. ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.37015/audt.2022.210033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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McLean M, Henderson TA, Pavel DG, Cohen P. Increased Asymmetric Perfusion of the Cerebral Cortices and Thalamus Indicates Individuals at Risk for Bipolar Disorder: A Family Cohort Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Neuroimaging Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:829561. [PMID: 35619621 PMCID: PMC9127269 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.829561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a significant mental illness affecting over 4 million people in North America and approximately 46 million worldwide. While the onset of bipolar disorder is typically in late adolescence and early adulthood, the correct diagnosis can be delayed for several years. This delay can result in inappropriate pharmaceutical interventions, loss of career or productivity, suicide, family hardship, and unnecessary expense. Moreover, prolonged untreated or inappropriately treated bipolar disorder may cause damage to the brain. Early diagnosis is a critical need to circumvent the damage, suffering, and expense caused by the current delay. Brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) neuroimaging reveals visual correlates of brain function. Herein, a family cohort all with bipolar disorder is described and their symptoms correlated with findings on the individual SPECT brain scans. The family consisted of two parents and three children (one female). The scans were interpreted by a panel of experts. Then a post hoc region-of-interest (ROI) analysis was conducted on SPECT data normalized to the cerebellum maximum with comparison to similarly normalized data from a normative sample. These findings support two distinct patterns of SPECT perfusion scan changes that can be found in individuals with bipolar disorder. In addition, these findings indicate that SPECT scan findings may be predictive of individual risk for progressing to symptomatic bipolar disorder. While preliminary, the findings in this cohort support the need for larger, diverse cohort studies of bipolar and control subjects to assess the predictive value of these particular SPECT perfusion findings in bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary McLean
- Private Practice, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The International Society of Applied Neuroimaging (ISAN), Denver, CO, United States
| | - Theodore A Henderson
- The International Society of Applied Neuroimaging (ISAN), Denver, CO, United States.,The Synaptic Space, Inc., Denver, CO, United States.,Neuro-Luminance, Inc., Denver, CO, United States.,Dr. Theodore Henderson, Inc., Denver, CO, United States.,The Neuro-Laser Foundation, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Dan G Pavel
- The International Society of Applied Neuroimaging (ISAN), Denver, CO, United States.,PathFinder Brain SPECT, Deerfield, IL, United States
| | - Phil Cohen
- The International Society of Applied Neuroimaging (ISAN), Denver, CO, United States.,Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Etkin A. A Reckoning and Research Agenda for Neuroimaging in Psychiatry: Response to Henderson et al. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:638-639. [PMID: 32605448 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19080801r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Etkin
- Alto Neuroscience, Los Altos, Calif.; the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif
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