Posted by SLS on January 9, 2011, at 6:32:16
In reply to Re: P.E.T. Scans in Depression » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on January 8, 2011, at 16:23:31
> I can only imagine your feelings. :(
>
> Any followup scans since? I'm curious if you have detected any (esp positive) changes.No doctor has since asked for more scans. I would need some justification for getting any more. Right now, I'm not sure that a new scan would be helpful in choosing treatments at this point in the development of the technology.
The hot spot might be the amygdala - anxiety. That's just a wild guess, though.
Amen uses SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). I'm of the impression that PET scans are ultimately more useful. I believe that SPECT only shows blood flow. The presumption is that blood flow is an indicator of neural activity. PET can detect radio-labeled glucose (FDG) utilization (metabolism), which is a more direct measure of brain activity. Also, PET can determine the concentrations of specific ligands that accumulate, including drugs and receptors.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.
poster:SLS
thread:976214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101231/msgs/976292.html