[Cerebral blood flow and depression]

Regional cerebral blood flow is an index of cerebral metabolism. We have studied with the Xenon 113 inhalation method, regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with various types of depression and in remission. A left frontal hypervascularisation and a right posterior hypovascularisation have been found in primary major depression, but not in minor depression and bipolar depression in remission. These results confirm and complete results from other authors who have studied the physiopathology of depression with other technics.