Indications for computed tomographic brain scanning in psychiatric inpatients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Radiology

Background:

• Computed tomographic (CT) scanning is increasingly utilized in psychiatric evaluations.
• Understanding the clinical utility and diagnostic yield of CT scans in psychiatric patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utilization rate of CT scans in psychiatric patients.
• To compare clinical parameters between psychiatric patients who underwent CT scans and those who did not.
• To examine the correlation between CT scan abnormalities and clinical, electro-encephalographic (EEG), and neurological findings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of psychiatric admissions.
• Comparison between a group of patients who received CT scans and a control group.
• Correlation analysis of CT scan findings with clinical diagnoses (DSM III-R), EEG data, and neurological examinations.

Main Results:

• CT scanning was performed in 13.5% of admissions.
• The CT scan group showed a higher incidence of delirium, dementia (Axis I), and medical illnesses (Axis III).
• CT scan abnormalities were detected in 45.2% of scanned patients, associated with dementia, organic mental status abnormalities, and neurological deficits.
• Focally abnormal CT scans correlated significantly with focally abnormal EEGs (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• CT scanning reveals significant abnormalities in nearly half of psychiatric patients, particularly those with dementia or organic mental status issues.
• Abnormal CT findings correlate with specific clinical diagnoses and neurological examination results.
• The study highlights the diagnostic value of CT scans in identifying organic causes for psychiatric symptoms.