SPECT imaging in helping predict treatment response to antidepressant medication

There is an exciting new study about SPECT brain scans and the possibility that they can help predict treatment response to antidepressant medications! The following paragraphs are taken from a regular email newsletter I receive from the Amen Clinic called "Brain in the News":

Several previous studies have concluded that SPECT scans are helpful in diagnosing brain disorders, such as depression. But this trial is one of the first and largest to examine SPECT's ability to predict whether or not a patient with depression will respond to a particular antidepressant.

The study, which appeared in the prestigious journal Psychiatry Research, involved nearly 100 participants with major depression. Their brains were scanned at the outset of the study and again four weeks later after treatment with an antidepressant. The research team concluded that SPECT is indeed highly effective in predicting treatment response.

When the prefrontal cortex works too hard, the medication Celexa was effective in calming it down and treating the depression. When the prefrontal cortex was normal or low in activity, Celexa was not helpful.

If you are unfamiliar with what SPECT imaging is, please visit www.AmenClinics.com for additional information. It is an extremely interesting process that is very relevant if you work in the mental health field. The Amen Clinic website has a wealth of knowledge and information that can shed light on an entirely different side of mental health treatment. SPECT brain imaging can be a great addition to someones treatment and help clients and their families understand the underlying brain systems that may be contributing to the problems