Longitudinal Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Neuroimaging as an Indication of Improvement in Psychiatric Disorders in a Community Psychiatric Practice

Bibliographic Data

ID15519370
AuthorsJohn S Thornton (0000-0003-3248-8437, International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology), John F Thornton, Howard Schneider (0000-0001-8052-6448, International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, corresponding author), Philip F Cohen (Lions Gate Hospital), Simon DeBruin, John Michael Uszler, Yin-Hui Siow (International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology), Mary Kay McLean (International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology), Muriel J van Lierop (International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology), Dan G Pavel (Pathfinder International), Theodore A Henderson (Synaptic Research (United States))
Year2022
Volume13
Pages787186-787186
Publication date2022-03-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2022.787186
PMID35401270
OpenAlexW4226427352
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

In the community, there is a need to more objectively evaluate the response of common chronic psychiatric disorders to treatment. Brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) indirectly measures cerebral functional activity by uptake of a radiotracer, which follows regional cerebral blood flow. Brain 3D Thresholded SPECT scans are thresholded three dimensional images derived from brain SPECT data. A retrospective community study of longitudinal (before and after treatment) brain 3D Thresholded SPECT scans of 73 patients with all-cause psychiatric disorders (most frequent diagnostic clusters: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-mild traumatic brain injury, affective disorders, psychotic disorders, post-viral chronic syndromes), shows these baseline SPECT scans predict improvement (non-worsening to large improvement) in clinical functioning with a sensitivity of 94% (95% confidence interval 86-98%) and a specificity of 67% (95% confidence interval 21-94%). In contrast, contemporaneous analysis by the same radiologist of conventional 2D reading of the same before and after treatment brain SPECT scan data of the same 73 patients, predicted improvement (non-worsening to large improvement) in clinical functioning with a sensitivity of only 26% (95% confidence interval 17-37%) although with a specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval 44-100%). These data suggest 3D Thresholded SPECT scans can provide the clinician with a more objective measure for verifying improvement in psychiatric disorders seen in the community, consistent with prior studies of SPECT as a measure of neurobiological change. Furthermore, these data suggest 3D Thresholded SPECT scans may have clinical application in guiding treatment and potentially improving outcomes

Cerebral blood flow · Confidence interval · Emission computed tomography · Neuroimaging · Nuclear medicine · Positron emission tomography · Psychiatry · Single-photon emission computed tomography · Spect imaging · Functional Brain Connectivity Studies · Medicine · Schizophrenia research and treatment · Treatment of Major Depression · Internal Medicine

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access