Single photon emission tomography with 99m Tc-HMPAO in Arab patients with depression.
BACKGROUND
This study investigates the rate of cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in Arab patients wth depression.


METHODS
Forty-four patients with DSM-III-R major depressive disorders were studied at rest using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) with 99m Tc-HMPAO in comparison with 20 normal controls. All patients were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD).


RESULTS
The depressed group showed greater rCBF in left and right posterior frontal and parietal cortical regions than normal controls. Within the depressed group, patients with the least severe illness (HRSD < 20) had significantly lower rCBF than normal controls, whilst those with moderately severe (HRSD 20-29) and severe (HRSD > 30) had significantly greater rCBF in most cortical regions than normal controls. Symptom scores, derived from the HRSD were predicted by rCBF principally increased rCBF in the left frontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a generalized cerebral activation principally in the frontal cortex which is in contrast to the results of most previous studies but more in line with the results of studies of induced affect and some studies of depression subsyndromes.
Abou-Saleh
M T
MT
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain.
Al Suhaili
A R
AR
Karim
L
L
Prais
V
V
Hamdi
E
E
D000328:Adult; D018643:Arab World; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime