Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with [123I]N-
isopropyl iodoamphetamine--[123I]IMP--was used to study regional cerebral
blood flow (rCBF) in 94 psychiatric patients and six controls. Patients
with dementias had distinct brain-image patterns, consistent with the
expected neuropathology. Major depressives had decreased cortical and
subcortical rCBF. Increased caudate rCBF was observed in schizophrenics and
other psychoses with positive symptoms. SPECT is a practical method of
functional brain imaging with potential in the differential diagnosis of
neuropsychiatric disorders. Further studies are needed to assess the effect
of other variables on brain-image patterns.Abstract Teaser