Because neuropsychiatric disorders involve functional and neurochemical cerebral
abnormalities, positron emission tomography (PET) is ideally suited for their investigation.
The use of tracers to measure regional brain glucose metabolism and/or blood flow has
allowed the evaluation of brain function in psychiatric patients. The use of radioligands to
assess receptor concentration has enabled an evaluation of the extent to which specific
neurotransmitter systems are involved in the pathogenesis of mental illness. This article …