title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its applications in psychiatry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper briefly describes neuroimaging using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and provides a systematic review of its application to psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review (Index Medicus/Medline) was carried out, as well as a review of other relevant papers and data known to the authors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a complex and sophisticated neuroimaging technique that allows reliable and reproducible quantification of brain neurochemistry provided its limitations are respected. In some branches of medicine it is already used clinically, for instance, to diagnose tumours and in psychiatry its applications are gradually extending beyond research. Neurochemical changes have been found in a variety of brain regions in dementia, schizophrenia and affective disorders and promising discoveries have also been made in anxiety disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a non-invasive investigative technique that has provided useful insights into the biochemical basis of many neuropsychiatric disorders. It allows direct measurement, in vivo, of medication levels within the brain and has made it possible to track the neurochemical changes that occur as a consequence of disease and ageing or in response to treatment. It is an extremely useful advance in neuroimaging technology and one that will undoubtedly have many clinical uses in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Unit, The Villa, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick NSW 2031, Sydney, Australia. g.malhi@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Gin S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Malhi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Perminder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sachdev
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*