Positron emission tomography in depression research: principles--results--perspectives.

At present, PET is the only technology affording the quantitative, three-dimensional imaging of various aspects of brain function. In the few PET studies of mood disorders performed so far, usually cerebral glucose metabolism was investigated by the fluorodeoxyglucose method. Its largest individual diagnostic potential was demonstrated in certain forms of organic depression, while metabolic abnormalities in major unipolar and bipolar depression were more subtle--albeit significantly different. Other PET tracers for investigation of transmitter systems are available, but have not been systematically applied in depression research.