SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTERIZED-TOMOGRAPHY IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Patterns of cerebral perfusion in patients with obsessive compulsive d isorder were evaluated using single photon emission computerized tomog raphy. Eleven patients, who satisfied the DSM-III-R criteria and Resea rch Diagnostic Criteria for the disorder, were evaluated using the dis tribution of 99m-Tc-HMPAO as a radiotracer. The Yale-Brown Obsessive C ompulsive Scale was administered to each patient to assess the severit y of their symptoms. The images obtained were evaluated qualitatively and semi-quantitatively by a physician in nuclear medicine who was bli nd to the patients' diagnoses. Eight of the 11 patients demonstrated a symmetric perfusion of the basal ganglia; the left side showed impaire d perfusion in six patients.