Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T17:13:29.494Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Two-year study of the use of neuroimaging in a psychiatric inpatients unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Tolulope Alugo ,
Johnson Badejo  and
Peter Whitty
Tolulope Alugo*
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin 8
Johnson Badejo
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, AMNCH, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Peter Whitty
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, AMNCH, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: Neuroimaging is being used increasingly in the investigation of psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have found abnormalities in about two-thirds of all scans done in psychiatry. The aim of our study was to investigate the use of CT and MRI in the management of inpatients in psychiatry department Adelaide & Meath hospital, Tallaght and to examine the relationship between diagnosis and abnormalities seen on scans.

Method: We did a two-year retrospective study of all inpatient referrals for CT scans/MRI scans. A case note review of bio-demographic data, diagnosis, relevant medical history, substance misuse history, indication for tests and results of scans was done. We found that 66 CTs and MRI scans were done over the study period.

Results: Fourteen (21%) of the scans had abnormal results which were mostly atrophic changes. Of the 14 abnormal scans, seven had abnormal findings on neurological examination. We found a lower number of abnormal scans compared to previous studies.

Conclusions: Radiological abnormalities were not disease specific. We wish to propose guidelines on the indications for using neuroimaging in psychiatric patients.

Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 151 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Shento, ME, Dickey, CC, Frumin, M, McCarley, RW. A review of MRI findings in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res, 2001 Apr 15; 49(1-2):1–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Frodl, T, Meisenzahl, E, Zetzsche, T, Born, C, Groll, C, Jager, Met alHippocapal changes in patients with a first episode of major depression. Am J Psychiatry 2002; 159: 1112–1118CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Teodorczuk, A., Firbank M., J., Pantoni, L., Poggesi, A., Erkinjuntti, T., Wallin, A., Wahlund, L., Scheltens, P., Waldemar, G., Schrotter, G., et al.: Relationship between baseline whitematter changes and development of late-life depressive symptoms: 3-year results from the LADIS study. Psychol Med 2009 Aug 12:1–8Google Scholar
4.Gupta, A, Maufaq, E, Kalpana, P, Mobinulla, S ct scanning in psychiatry Progress in neurology and psychiatry sep 2007 24–31.Google Scholar
5.Owens, DGC, Johnstone, EC, Bydder, GM, et alUnsuspected organic disease in chronic schizophrenia demonstrated by CT. j Neurol Neurosurg psychiatry 1980; 43 1065–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Larsen, EB, Mack, LA, Watts, BCT in patients with psychiatric illness: advantage of a rule in approach. Ann Intern Med 1981; 95:360–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Davoren, M, Doherty, A, Breen, E, Sheehan, J, Kelly, B.D. The need for brain imaging in clinical psychiatry. Psychiatr Bull 2009; 33:291–292CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Hollister, LE, Boutros, N. Clinical use of CT and MR scans in psychiatric patients. J Psychiatry Neurosci 1991 Nov; 16(4):194–8.Google Scholar
9.Hollister, LE, Shah, NN. Structural brain scanning in psychiatric patients: a further look. J Clin Psychiatry 1996 Jun; 57(6):241–4Google ScholarPubMed
10.Moles, JK, Franchina, JJ, Sforza, PP. Increasing the clinical yield of computerized tomography for psychiatric patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1998 Sep; 20(5):282–91CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed