Role of Hybrid Brain Imaging in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Amer M Burhan; Nicole M Marlatt; Lena Palaniyappan; Udunna C Anazodo; Frank S Prato

doi:10.3390/diagnostics5040577

Role of Hybrid Brain Imaging in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Diagnostics (Basel). 2015 Dec 4;5(4):577-614. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics5040577.

Authors

Amer M Burhan^{1

2}, Nicole M Marlatt³, Lena Palaniyappan⁴, Udunna C Anazodo⁵, Frank S Prato⁶

Affiliations

¹ St. Joseph's Health Care London, Parkwood Institute, 550 Wellington Road, London, ON N6C 0A7, Canada. amer.burhan@sjhc.london.on.ca.
² Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6C 2R6, Canada. amer.burhan@sjhc.london.on.ca.
³ St. Joseph's Health Care London, Parkwood Institute, 550 Wellington Road, London, ON N6C 0A7, Canada. nicole.marlatt@sjhc.london.on.ca.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6C 2R6, Canada. Lena.Palaniyappan@lhsc.on.ca.
⁵ Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada. uanazodo@lawsonimaging.ca.
⁶ Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada. prato@lawsonimaging.ca.

Abstract

This is a focused review of imaging literature to scope the utility of hybrid brain imaging in neuropsychiatric disorders. The review focuses on brain imaging modalities that utilize hybrid (fusion) techniques to characterize abnormal brain molecular signals in combination with structural and functional changes that have been observed in neuropsychiatric disorders. An overview of clinical hybrid brain imaging technologies for human use is followed by a selective review of the literature that conceptualizes the use of these technologies in understanding basic mechanisms of major neuropsychiatric disorders and their therapeutics. Neuronal network abnormalities are highlighted throughout this review to scope the utility of hybrid imaging as a potential biomarker for each disorder.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; affective disorders; brain disorders/diagnosis; humans; hybrid imaging; molecular imaging; neuroimaging; neuronal networks; neuropsychiatric disorders; schizophrenia.

Publication types

Review