Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a novel noninvasive approach to
measuring important metabolites in living tissue. Its application to
psychiatry is just beginning. In vivo MRS with 31P provides important
information on brain phospholipid metabolism and energy production. In vivo
13C and 1H MRS can reveal information about carbohydrate, protein, and
amino acid metabolism. In vivo 7Li and 19F MRS can be used to study the
pharmacology of lithium and fluorinated psychopharmacological agents. MRS
with 23Na can yield information about electrolyte balance. The limitations
of in vivo MRS include poor sensitivity, poor resolution, and the fact that
only highly mobile atomic nuclei can be detected. Future clinical
application of MRS will benefit from improvements in the technology of
localization, use of spectroscopy contrast agents, stronger magnets, and
the merging of MRS and imaging technology.
Abstract Teaser