SPECT BRAIN IMAGING ABNORMALITIES IN ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

SPECT using N-Isopropyl I-123 IMP was performed, as part of a neuropsy chiatric evaluation, on 10 patients with the DSM III-R diagnosis of At tention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 6 patients from a no n-ADHD mixed psychiatric group used as controls for comparison. Mean r egional I-123 IMP SPECT region of interest (ROI) count ratios (left to right) demonstrated that the ADHD patients had greater overall hemisp heric I-123 IMP uptake asymmetry with less activity in the left fronta l and left parietal regions in comparison to control patients. Both gr oups demonstrated similar I-123 IMP uptake asymmetry in the temporal r egions. These findings are consistent with previous studies of brain p hysiology in ADHD implicating regional cortical perfusion and metaboli sm abnormalities in areas which are involved in the control of attenti onal processes.