News Release

Brain SPECT imaging predicts outcomes in depressed patients

Peer-Reviewed Publication

IOS Press

Statistical Parametric Map

image: A statistical parametric map demonstrated brain regions that are abnormally lower in regional cerebral blood flow in treatment resistant depression (blue shaded areas) compared to persons who do respond to treatment. These include the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. view more 

Credit: Amens Clinic

March 20, 2018, Costa Mesa, California: New research from the Amen Clinics shows that brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging, a study that measures blood flow and activity patterns, identifies who is likely to get better from depression and who is not. The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, because depression is a highly treatable risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers compared the SPECT scans of 507 depressed patients who responded to treatment to the scans of 106 patients who were considered non-responders. The study found that patients who did not respond to treatment had lower overall cerebral blood flow, especially in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes and in brain regions known to be affected by Alzheimer's, including the right hippocampus and left precuneus.

Lead author psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD says, "This is a critically important study. Knowing who is likely to get better from depression and who is not, will help treating physicians be sensitive to which patients are likely to need more help and need to be monitored more closely." Treatment resistant depression is a major risk factor for suicide, divorce, and job loss. Dr. Amen also says, "This finding will also lead to more personalized treatment. For patients with low brain activity, stimulating the brain will be more important, than standard serotonin enhancing drugs that tend to lower brain activity."

###


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.