MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY IN PSYCHIATRY - BASIC PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a safe and non-invasi ve tool which can be used to study aspects of brain chemistry and meta bolism. Although a relatively recent technique in the Field of psychia tric research, it has already been used in the study of anxiety and af fective disorders, dementia, schizophrenia, and neurodevelopmental dis orders. This review outlines the basic principles of MRS and summarise s the research Findings in psychiatric disorders. Although mostly prel iminary, these findings highlight the capacity of MRS to detect subtle neurobiological abnormalities in mental disorders. They also suggest a Future role for MRS in differential diagnosis and monitoring illness progression. Initial MRS studies have also focused on the metabolic e ffects of psychiatric treatments and could provide information about t heir relationship to clinical variables.