Magnetic resonance spectroscopy: neurochemistry and treatment effects in affective disorders

Recent developments in the clinical capabilities of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) have provided researchers with considerable insight into potential neurochemical alterations associated with the pathology and treatment of affective disorders. This review focuses on the clinical application of MRS to the study of affective disorders, discusses the major MRS visible neurochemicals, and addresses some essential principles of MRS methodology, such as pulse sequences and neurochemical quantitation. Additionally, some of the more recent key findings in the area of mood disorders and their treatment are highlighted, including pharmacological effects and mechanisms. For example, several independent groups have reported alterations in levels of choline, myoinositol, N-acetylaspartate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the central nervous systems of patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Finally, the current direction of advances and areas of further investigation are discussed. This review will afford the reader a fundamental foundation in the applications of MRS in mood disorders and an update on some of the current findings in this rapidly developing discipline.