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[Routine skull CT in psychiatric diagnosis]
D Pickuth1, S H Heywang-Köbrunner, R P Spielmann
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Martin-Luther-Universität, Medizinische Fakultät, Halle/Saale.
Der Radiologe
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Brain CT scans revealed significant findings in 78% of psychiatric patients, including vascular issues and atrophy. This highlights the value of CT scans in diagnosing underlying causes for psychiatric symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Routine brain CT scans are increasingly utilized in psychiatric evaluations.
- Understanding the spectrum of findings is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate brain CT findings in psychiatric patients.
- To identify the prevalence of underlying organic causes for psychiatric symptoms.
Main Methods:
- 142 psychiatric patients underwent CT brain scans over six months.
- Scans were reviewed for ischaemia, infarction, atrophy, tumours, and haematomas.
- Clinical information guided the assessment for vascular events or space-occupying lesions.
Main Results:
- 78% of patients exhibited pathological findings, primarily ischaemia, infarction, and atrophy.
- 4.9% had space-occupying lesions (gliomas, meningiomas).
- Other findings included subdural haematomas and arteriovenous malformations.
Conclusions:
- Pathologic findings are common in routine brain CTs of psychiatric patients (78%).
- The incidence of brain tumors in this cohort (4.9%) is significantly higher than in the general population.
- CT scanning is cost-effective for psychiatric patients, especially with atypical presentations or poor treatment response.