Schuckit M A
Department of Psychiatry, University of California Medical School, San Diego.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1992 Nov;53 Suppl:3-6.
This brief paper introduces the reader to the materials presented in other manuscripts of this issue of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a dynamic brain imaging technique that grew out of the evolution of increasingly more sophisticated approaches to understanding the pathophysiology and biology of neurologic and psychiatric disorders over the past two decades. SPECT is a practical tool that is more available than positron emission tomography (PET), which is found primarily at academic centers. While SPECT has drawbacks that relate to levels of resolution and the possible impact of altered brain physiology on interpretation of results, it offers advantages of decreased cost, the need for less intensively trained technicians, and the ability to carry out clinical testing in facilities lacking a cyclotron. These factors raise the hope of more routine use of this imaging technique in clinical settings related to cognitive disorders, schizophrenia, affective disorders, and problems associated with substance use.
这篇短文向读者介绍了本期《临床精神病学杂志》其他稿件中呈现的材料。单光子发射计算机断层扫描（SPECT）是一种动态脑成像技术，它源于过去二十年来对神经和精神疾病的病理生理学及生物学的理解方式日益复杂的演变。SPECT是一种实用工具，比主要在学术中心才有配备的正电子发射断层扫描（PET）更为普及。虽然SPECT存在与分辨率水平以及大脑生理改变对结果解读可能产生的影响相关的缺点，但它具有成本降低、对技术人员培训要求较低以及能够在没有回旋加速器的设施中进行临床检测等优势。这些因素让人们希望在与认知障碍、精神分裂症、情感障碍以及物质使用相关问题的临床环境中更常规地使用这种成像技术。
