9. Neurochemical brain imaging findings in mood disorders

Abstract

Linked to developments in the methodologies for in vivo neurochemical brain imaging studies, important new possibilities for investigations on the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders have become available. These methodologies have in recent years been applied to studies in mood disorders. This workshop will include leading investigators in this area, who will review recent advances in this field, and perspectives for future developments. Dr. Renshaw will discuss new magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies that examine brain adenosine metabolism in affective disorder patients. Dr. Soares will present results from ongoing studies that utilize 1H MRS and 7Li MRS to study in vivo brain neurochemistry and the pharmacokinetics of lithium as related to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, and the mechanisms of action of lithium. Dr. Anand will review his most recent findings from investigations that examine the role of the dopaminergic system in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Dr. Drevets will discuss his findings from ongoing PET studies of the 5HT1A system in unipolars and bipolar disorder individuals. Last, Dr. Innis will moderate a discussion centered on the specific presentations, on related methodological issues, and on possibilities for future developments. Overall, the workshop should provide invaluable new information regarding in vivo applications of neurochemical brain imaging methods to investigate the pathophysiology of mood disorders. It should be a very useful source of new information in this area for researchers working on this field and related ones.