What is SPECT Imaging? Why Should Mental Health Professionals Be Aware of This?

Diagnostic overshadowing, where one condition obscures the accurate identification of another, has become a common concern for mental health professionals. In fact, according to a study, 29% of adults who were diagnosed with a major depressive episode (MDE) had different conditions. In fact, for half of these cases, an anxiety disorder was a more appropriate diagnosis.

For medical professionals, ensuring precise diagnoses and effective treatment plans is highly important. However, the brain’s complexity presents unique challenges, making it difficult to identify mental health disorders with absolute certainty.

But advances in medical technology have brought a glimmer of hope. One such innovative tool that has gained prominence is SPECT imaging, a technique that holds immense potential in reshaping mental health diagnostics and is also a critical part of the Amen Method.

So, follow along to know what SPECT imaging is, and how it can help you in providing better treatment to your patients.

What is a SPECT Scan?

A Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scan is a type of neuroimaging test that measures the blood flow (perfusion) and activities in the different areas of the body. During SPECT imaging, radiotracers (radioactive substances) and nuclear medicine cameras are used to produce 3D images of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body.

SPECT imaging can serve as a tool for deep learning about brain function and affected areas for brain health and mental health treatment. It can tell you which areas of your patient’s brain are most active and least active. Additionally, it shows how well the blood is flowing through arteries and veins in the patient’s organs and tissues.

What Happens During a SPECT Scan?

During SPECT imaging, the patient is injected with a radiotracer to highlight the specific areas in the body during the scan. For brain scans, the patient is asked to relax for 10 minutes before injecting the tracer. Following injection, there is a waiting period of 90 minutes for cerebral studies (brain scans) and approx 15 minutes for cardiac stress tests (heart scans).

The patient is moved into a scanner after the waiting period. The scanner moves around the patient and produces 3D images of the specific areas with different angles.

Additionally, although SPECT imaging provides detailed information on the tissues, it might have limitations in showing small problems. A combined SPECT/CT scan protocol is followed to solve this limitation. A SPECT scan can help find functional abnormalities, while a CT scan can help with detailed anatomy for better results.

Who can Conduct the SPECT Study?

The American College of Radiology offers technical standards for the roles and responsibilities of personnel for conducting safe and effective SPECT imaging studies. They generally include:

1. Nuclear medicine technologist

2. Clinician

3. Nuclear pharmacist

4. Medical physicist

5. Radiation safety officer

What are The Advantages of a Spect Scan?

Spect scans can serve as a great tool for precise diagnosis and targeted treatment for patients. Some advantages of SPECT imaging are:

Functional Imaging

SPECT scan 3D images provide detailed information about the functioning of organs and tissues. The deep insights are valuable for diagnosis and targeted treatment of conditions related to heart, brain, and bones.

Early Detection of Diseases

SPECT imaging offers insights into how well the organs and tissues are working, which can help in the early detection of diseases. Neurological disorders, cancer, or heart disease can be detected before their structural abnormalities occur.

Versatility

SPECT scans have applications in various fields, including neurology, cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics. It can help monitor brain functions, assess blood flow, identify bone disorders, and locate tumors.

Treatment Progress

SPECT scans allow precise localization of functional abnormalities in the body. Scans of the affected areas at different stages can help measure the progress and effectiveness of the treatment.

Are there any Risks?

Usually, SPECT scans are safe for most people, but they can have the following risks:

• Injection and infusion of radiotracer can cause bleeding, pain, and swelling in the area where the injection was inserted in the arm.

• More severe risks may include hypotension, arrhythmias, chest discomfort, or AV blockade.

• Very rarely, radioactive tracers can cause an allergic reaction.

• The level of radiation is low, but women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should consult their healthcare provider before going through the SPECT scan.

Why is a Brain SPECT Scan done?

A SPECT scan of the brain can be done for various reasons. Some of them are:

Measuring blood flow

SPECT imaging can help measure brain activity and the flow of blood in different regions of the brain. It can help in understanding and evaluating mental health conditions like depression, ADHD, anxiety, and PTSD by analyzing the overactive and underactive regions of the brain.

Detecting injuries

SPECT imaging can help in detecting damage to the brain from trauma, which can cause concussion and brain disorders. It can help in diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions like stroke, seizure, dementia, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), etc.

Toxic exposure

SPECT imaging can help in evaluating and identifying damage from substances like alcohol, drugs, or other environmental toxins such as carbon monoxide poisoning. It can help identify reduced perfusion in certain areas of the brain due to trauma or exposure to toxins.

How Brain SPECT Imaging Can Transform Mental Health Care?

SPECT imaging has already created a strong evidence-based foundation for decades. It is a paradigm-shifting method that can transform treatment approaches towards mental health care.

There are various traditional psychiatry methods that clinicians use to group and observe symptoms in patients to provide treatment. However, sometimes, those methods can lead to wrong or incomplete diagnoses. SPECT imaging can help in bridging that gap for diagnostic accuracy. Deep insights into the functions and affected areas of the brain can help clinicians understand the root cause of the problems.

Let’s Understand With an Example

A couple came to Amen Clinic for evaluation after their marriage therapist asked them to consider divorce. They were under therapy for 3 years and spent almost $20,000. The husband was diagnosed with mixed personality disorder, including narcissistic and anti-social behavior. The couple was then advised to get brain SPECT imaging for more clarity. The wife already confirmed that her husband never drank alcohol or used any drugs.

The SPECT scans showed completely decreased perfusion in the brain, which is often seen in cases of drug abusers. This made the clinician approach the treatment beyond personality disorder.

The husband actually worked in a furniture factory. The toxin inhalant found in finishing products may have been the real reason that was seen as toxic patterns on his brain scan. SPECT scans helped the clinician find a better approach for planning treatment and were instrumental in helping the couple save their marriage life. This is just one of many examples where SPECT imaging helped in changing the course of treatment by providing detailed insights into the root cause of the issues. How do you know unless you look?

Although this transformative tool has been available for nearly three decades, only a small fraction of psychiatrists and clinicians worldwide have adopted it yet. Adding neuroimaging tools like SPECT imaging in day-to-day clinical practices can help in shifting focus from just mental health to holistic brain health.

Wrapping Up

While SPECT imaging has numerous applications, its most impactful use lies in understanding the complexities of the brain. This innovative tool equips mental health professionals with the ability to ask targeted questions and design personalized treatment plans that go beyond traditional methods like the DSM.

Moreover, staying informed about methodologies like SPECT imaging is no longer optional for mental health professionals. It is an essential step toward minimizing misdiagnosis and improving patient outcomes.

So, if you are a mental health professional seeking to enhance your brain health knowledge, consider enrolling in the Clinical Elite Brain Health Certification Course by Amen University. This 8-month program is backed by over 40 years of expertise and insights from 300,000+ SPECT scans. Enrolling in this course can help you transform countless lives and set a new standard of care for your patients.