SPECT imaging of the brain may help clinicians understand and devise treatment for complex cases of chemical and behavioral addictions, according to a new study published in the March issue of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Use of SPECT can show which parts of the brain may be troubled to provide a more accurate diagnosis and more targeted, effective treatment, said study co-author Dr. Daniel Amen from Amen Clinics in Newport Beach, CA.
The irony of the mental health profession is that with mental disorders, many psychiatrists will prescribe medications without examining the organ responsible, according to Amen.
"SPECT imaging gives doctors the ability to see what's going on under the hood," Amen said. The most exciting discovery in medicine today is that with an accurate diagnosis using SPECT and a customized protocol, people can improve their brain health and change their lives, he added.
