SPET in psychopharmacology
Moresco, R.M.; Fazio, F.
Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Official Publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and the International Association of Radiopharmacology and Section of the Society Of. 49(2): 205-214
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1824-4785 PMID: 16010255 Document Number: 591427
Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission tomography (SPET) permit the in vivo assessment of human biological processes with methods originally developed for preclinical studies. This opportunity is of primary interest in biological psychiatry and in psychoactive drugs development. Most of research efforts have focused on the use of PET field, and several biological finding on central nervous system (CNS) diseases have been published. Despite methodological limitations, the feasibility and usefulness of SPET for research, including full quantification, kinetic modeling and tracer validation, has been clearly demonstrated. The aim of this paper is to review advantages, limitations and results of SPET in psychopharmacology.