6 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT BRAIN IMAGING IN MENTAL HEALTH 

1. What Is a Brain SPECT Scan?

SPECT stands for single photon emission computed tomography. This sophisticated brain imaging technology is a helpful clinical tool for diagnosing and treating psychiatric, cognitive, and behavioral issues.

SPECT is a nuclear medicine technique that evaluates regional cerebral perfusion (blood flow) and activity patterns within the brain. The resulting scans can aid in the diagnosis of numerous mental health conditions, as well as previously undetected root causes of symptoms and disorders.

These brain scans show which areas of the brain are underactive (lower blood flow), overactive (abnormally high blood flow), and working well. Brain blood flow and mental health are closely linked. Therefore, brain activity imaging for mental health conditions helps clinicians observe the various influences that may be affecting clients’ mental health.

SPECT differs from other well-known types of scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. Because each provides different information, choosing a SPECT scan vs. MRI for mental health concerns is often determined by the issue at hand.

For example, MRI and CT scans are structural brain imaging tools, which are used to view the brain’s anatomy. These are beneficial for spotting tumors, blood clots, or other abnormalities in the brain. SPECT, however, is a type of functional brain scan, which indicates how the brain is actually working.

SPECT is well-studied with over 15,000 scientific abstracts on PubMed, and it has a wide range of applications. It has been used since the 1970s to evaluate strokes, seizures, and brain tumors. Since then, scientists have employed SPECT to study Alzheimer’s disease, head trauma, schizophrenia, depression and other mood disorders, ADHD, and substance abuse.

In 2021, the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine unanimously endorsed the use of SPECT for the evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders and more. Today, in addition to these uses, medical experts utilize this type of brain scan to detect chemical exposure, Lyme disease, brain inflammation, and drug toxicity.

2. Why Is Brain Imaging Important for Mental Health?

Using brain SPECT imaging for mental health makes sense because brain health is mental health. The connection between brain activity and mental health symptoms has been well-established through research as well as over 250,000 brain scans performed at Amen Clinics over the decades.

Furthermore, traditional psychiatric diagnoses may fall short without the benefit of brain imaging techniques. Without a clear picture of how the brain is functioning, it can take years for individuals to be properly diagnosed and receive effective treatment.

That’s because traditional psychiatry too often looks only at the patient’s symptoms clusters. Mental health conditions are complex and nuanced, and every individual is unique. Therefore, cutting-edge mental health tools like brain scans enable the most effective diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.

In a 2012 study, seven psychiatrists were asked to evaluate 109 medical charts, both with and without brain SPECT scans. In eight times out of 10, adding the scan to the process changed the diagnosis and/or treatment.

In more than one in five cases, the scan revealed a previously unknown brain injury. In another one in five cases, unexpected toxicity was found. And 60% of the time, the SPECT findings changed the medications or supplements recommended as part of treatment.

3. How Does a SPECT Scan Work?

Unlike the MRI process, which can provoke anxiety for some clients, SPECT scans are fast and easy to perform. They don’t require entering small, enclosed spaces or enduring noisy environments.

The clinician simply hooks up the client to a small IV containing an iodine-free imaging solution with a very small amount of a radioactive tracer. This tracer travels to the brain cells within just a few minutes of the injection and produces a “snapshot” of brain activity.

About 30 minutes later, the client enters a camera room and lies down on an imaging table for 20 minutes. The camera’s detectors rotate around the head, gathering data from the “snapshot” of brain activity.

A full evaluation at Amen Clinics includes two brain SPECT imaging studies. One study is done while at rest; the second is performed after the client completes a concentration task.

Images are then processed for reading by a trained and skilled physician, who writes a full report detailing the client’s brain function. An Amen Clinics doctor then evaluates these results alongside other information, such as neuropsychological tests and clinical history. The client is then provided with a personalized treatment plan.

4. What Mental Health Conditions Can SPECT Scans Help Address?

When used as part of a complete psychological evaluation, SPECT scans can help in the diagnosis and treatment of many mental health conditions, including:

• Depression and anxiety
• ADHD and its subtypes
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Addiction and its effects on the brain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

However, mental health conditions are never a simple or single disorder. Each manifests differently for different individuals, and numerous disorders share similar symptoms.

For example, utilizing SPECT scans, Amen Clinics has found that there are:

• Seven types of anxiety and depression
• Seven types of ADD
• Six types of addicts
• Five types of overeaters

Many people struggle with more than one mental health condition, which complicates both diagnosis and treatment. For example, a person who has been given a stimulant-type medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can experience unwanted side effects if they also have anxiety. The ADD medication may help them focus, but feeling more anxiety will detract from their ability to concentrate.

In addition, each symptom or condition can have multiple possible causes. Depression, for example, may indicate a hidden concussion or other undiagnosed head injury, exposure to toxins (such as black mold or chemotherapy), inflammation, or an infection like Lyme disease.

Alternatively, depression can be caused by overactivity in the deep limbic system or underactivity in the prefrontal cortex. A SPECT scan helps pinpoint which of these many potential causes of depression are present, which guides treatment.

Functional brain imaging also helps evaluate memory issues. Evidence of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, for example, can be detected years before symptoms appear. Conversely, SPECT can rule out dementia when there is another culprit to blame for issues like memory loss and other cognitive challenges.

5. What Are SPECT Scan Benefits?

Amen Clinics is a pioneer in creating personalized mental health treatment with the help of SPECT. Too many traditional psychiatrists merely guess at possible treatments based on reported symptoms. They may then prescribe medications that are ineffective or even harmful to the patient. Without SPECT scans, diagnosis and treatment are not as accurate as they could be.

Identifying the root causes of mental health challenges is crucial. With improper treatment, a symptom or condition can persist or worsen. And a trial-and-error approach to medications can expose clients to a roller coaster of side effects, leading to additional or increased mental health symptoms.

Clients can also feel demoralized when the supposed “correct” treatment isn’t working. Many people experience treatment-resistant depression because the root causes are misunderstood. Or perhaps they could benefit more from natural treatments like neurofeedback, diet, and exercise.

Tailoring treatment plans based on brain activity patterns facilitates a more precise plan of recovery. Brain SPECT imaging has many benefits, including:

• Identifying affected brain systems and previous brain trauma
• Showing brain blood flow deficits
• Highlighting co-occurring conditions that might need their own treatment
• Showing visual results to better inform clients, loved ones, legal experts, and others
• Increasing treatment compliance
• Informing follow-up appointments to determine the effectiveness of treatments
• Reducing stigma and shame associated with mental health conditions

Using advanced mental health diagnostics like SPECT has created thousands of success stories among clients at Amen Clinics. From pop stars battling depression to high-performing executives who want a better relationship with their brains, they have reported transformative outcomes and improved quality of life.

6. What Are Some Common Myths and Misconceptions About SPECT Scans?

As with any medical technology, some people have raised concerns about the efficacy of SPECT scans. Fortunately, over the past 35-plus years, Amen Clinics has amassed the world’s largest database of brain scans that relate to emotional, learning, and behavioral problems. These scans have been performed on patients from 9 months to 105 years old, and from more than 155 countries.

To back up its results, Amen Clinics has also led extensive scientific research on SPECT, with more than 80 peer-reviewed studies published in respected medical journals.

In terms of safety, other studies confirm that radiation exposure risk during SPECT scans is minimal, for both patients and clinicians. The procedure typically exposes patients to less radiation than a CT scan.

It’s also important to note that SPECT is best used as one aspect of a comprehensive mental health evaluation. SPECT provides invaluable insights to mental health professionals and helps them ask better questions to get to the root causes of mental health symptoms.

Ultimately, SPECT helps significantly improve patient outcomes. At the end of six months of treatment at Amen Clinics, 85% of patients indicate better quality of life.

THE FUTURE OF MENTAL HEALTH NOW

Although brain imaging for mental health may seem like a futuristic technology, it is currently available. If you (or a loved one) are struggling with mental health issues or aren’t responding to traditional treatment, you may find the answers you want with brain scans.

In addition, physicians and mental health professionals often partner with Amen Clinics in patient care. Sending patients for brain scanning helps medical professionals better diagnose patients with complex cases and develop more effective treatment plans.

As a growing number of individuals and mental health professionals understand the value of brain imaging, the use of SPECT will continue to expand. And a greater number of people will benefit by accelerating their healing journey.