Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Psychiatric Patients in Central India: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Psychiatric illnesses are generally considered different from other medical disorders simply because of social stigma. Certain neurological disorders are present with psychiatric symptoms. As psychiatric illnesses are treatable, neuroimaging can help to identify the underlying pathology and timely intervention will have positive impact on patient’s outcome. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice for neuroimaging of psychiatric illnesses. Aim: To identify the underlying treatable cause of disease and to discuss the MRI features of different psychiatric disorders. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was done in the department in which 209 psychiatric patients were referred from the department of psychiatry which underwent MRI Brain after taking informed consent. Patient age ranges from 8 to 82 years with mean age of 38 years. All were referred to rule out any organic cause. Results: Out of 209 patients, 99 (47 %) were normal and 110 (53%) showed abnormal MRI findings. In the present study commonest primary psychiatric diagnosis was schizophrenia (n=41) followed by brief psychotic episode (n=34). Out of abnormal scans, 35 showed atrophy, 31 showed infarct and 28 showed white matter pallor. The present study showed that neuroimaging results were helpful in supporting diagnosis in 19/209 (8%) Newun anticipated finding requiring intervention in 7/209 (3%) and Impact on initiating the management in 12/209 (5%) patients. Conclusion: Neuroimaging in psychiatric patient not only rules out underlying organic cause but also helps in predicting prognosis of particular disease. MRI is the modality of choice in neuroimaging in psychiatric patients.

Keywords

• neurological disorders
• neuroimaging
• psychiatric disorders