Magnetic resonace imaging study in major psychiatric disorders.

Magnetic resonance brain imaging provides good contrast between the three principal compartments of the brain: gray and white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Not only brain volumic and structural understanding, the application of magnetic imaging techniques as in Functional MRI (MRI), Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) also has greatly enhanced the range of findings in brain function of psychiatric patients. The objective of this paper was to present a brief review of the technological advances in magnetic neuroimaging, and to indicate how these techniques have impacted the study ofpsychiatry. Reviews of recent researches, examples of imaging techniques, and major findings for schizophrenia, affective disorder, anxiety, personality and other major psychiatric disorders are offered. In summary, the using of magnetic neuroimaging as an aid to diagnosis is discussed, and findings from the most accessible imaging techniques are reviewed.