title: Visual imaging in psychiatry.
abstract: Although they have not yet profoundly affected the clinical practice of psychiatry, five new imaging techniques--computed tomography, brain electrical activity mapping, cerebral blood flow techniques, positron emission tomography, and nuclear magnetic resonance--show promise for furthering knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric patients. Through a survey of the literature, the authors discuss the applicability of each technique to the study of certain mental disorders, such as schizophrenia; the latest research findings produced by studies using the techniques; the advantages and disadvantages, if any, of each technique; and the potential role for each technique in the field of psychiatry.
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed