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Functional Neuroimaging in Child Psychiatry.

Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: This multi-authored textbook provides a comprehensive view of functional neuroimaging and its role in the investigation of pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, the book covers much of the background information necessary for understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different imaging modalities, particularly as this applies to children. The textbook should be of interest to neuroscientists, psychologists, child psychiatrists, pediatricians and residents alike, who are looking for an all-in one book on this rapidly growing line of investigation. Overall, the book succeeds in its attempt to provide a well written and comprehensive reference text. The book is divided into 5 sections: (1) the techniques of functional imaging; (2) ethical foundations; (3) normal development; (4) psychiatric disorders and (5) future directions. The introductory section is focused on basic principles behind the more frequently used imaging modalities including Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Magneto-Encephalography. These different modalities assess different aspects of brain function. The basic principals are described in a clear and concise fashion and well illustrated with the use of diagrams and images. The relative advantages and disadvantages of these different modalities in general and how this applies to children and adolescents, in particular, are described. The section on development includes a description of normal and abnormal brain development and the impact of genetic and environmental factors on cognitive development over time. Given that cognitive and behavioural probes form an integral part of functional imaging, it is important to know whether these tasks are within a child’s capabilities. A thorough understanding of the developmental trajectories of emotion, behavior and cognition and their impact on brain function are essential to the interpretation of findings from functional imaging studies. A section on neuropsychiatric disorders provides an up-to-date review of imaging findings in Autism, Childhood Schizophrenia, Pediatric Mood Disorders, Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Tourette’s Disorder, Dyslexia, Eating Disorders and Attention Deficit Disorder. These descriptions are an overview of the state of the art at this time. This section includes contributions from many individuals who have been at the forefront of this exciting new field of investigation. In so doing, they reflect on difficulties and mistakes of the past and point to strategies for overcoming these challenges in the future. The last section devotes itself to the future of functional imaging in psychiatry. Given that many psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence are behaviorally heterogeneous and genetically complex, it is difficult to identify genetic factors related to these different and complex disorders. By focusing on specific clinical, biological, and psychological traits, it may be possible to identify more homogeneous subgroups of individuals. This will define specific subtypes or subgroups of a disorder, which may aid in refining genetic searches in the future. Given this scenario, the book includes a broad overview of molecular genetics and the optimal use of these methods in the study of complex genetic disorders. Ultimately, the integration of imaging, neuropsychological and genetic methods offers the potential to unravel the mysteries of developmental psychopathology. Given the imminent completion the Human Brain Project, brain imaging will become an important tool for mapping out potential links between the genotype and the different biological and behavioural endophenotypes. This book provides interested clinicians and scientists alike, a concise, clear and up-to-date overview of the role of functional neuroimaging in child and adolescent psychiatry. Overall, this book is an excellent and much-needed attempt to fill a gap in the rapidly growing literature on functional neuroimaging.
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W329561904
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