Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2011 Feb;18(1):5-14.

Understanding of Neuroimaging and Its Perspectives in Mental Illnesses

• Kim JJ
• Han K
• Lee JS
• Choi SH

Abstract

Neuroimaging in psychiatry encompasses the powerful tools available for the in vivo study of brain structure and function. MRI including the volumetry, voxel-base morphometry(VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are useful for assessing brain structure, whereas function MRI, positron emission tomography(PET) and magnetoencephalography(MEG) are well established for probing brain function. These tools are well tolerated by the vast majority of psychiatric patients because they provide a powerful but noninvasive means to directly evaluate the brain. Although neuroimaging technology is currently used only to rule in or rule out general medical conditions as opposed to diagnosing primary mental disorders, it may be used to confirm or make psychiatric diagnoses in the future. In addition, neuroimaging may be valuable for predicting the natural course of psychiatric illness as well as treatment response.

Keyword

Neuroimaging; Brain structure; Brain function; Mental illnesses

MeSH Terms

Brain
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Electrons
Humans
Mental Disorders
Neuroimaging