Brain Imaging in Affective Disorders

This work describes the basic principles and methodologic issues involving CT, MRI, and PET techniques, respectively. It covers the findings of studies in patients with primary affective disorders utilizing each of these techniques. Further discussions focus on brain imaging studies in two related subgroups within the affective disorders spectrum: patients with an affective syndrome secondary to a focal lesion caused by cerebrovascular accident; and elderly patients with a mood disorder believed to be associated with cerebrovascular changes accompanying aging. Using the new generation of brain imaging technology, researchers now have the potential to examine specific brain regions of interest in the affective disorders and to discern the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the production of affective symptomatology. The task of researchers working in brain imaging is to design studies that utilize the new technology and investigate the relationship between structural brain changes and the neuroendocrine, neurochemical, and/or probable genetic abnormalities found in affective disorders.