A case of senile depression diagnosed by N-isopropyl-P-[¹²³I]-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

Authors: KOIKE, Shinske¹; OSHIMA, Norihito; DOI, Nagafumi²; KATO, Nobumasa²

Source: Psychogeriatrics, Volume 8, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 101-103(3)

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Abstract:

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between dementia with depressive mood and depressive pseudodementia (DPD). However, it is important that a differential diagnosis between them is made because cognition and memory disorder in DPD patients are treatable. Herein, we describe a case of senile depression in a woman with memory and cognition problems. Her diagnosis was based on low blood flow and low metabolism in her frontal lobe, detected by N-isopropyl-P-[¹²³I]-iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET). After antidepressant therapy, the patient's depressive mood diminished and blood flow and metabolism in the frontal lobe recovered. These findings suggest that SPECT and PET can be used to make a differential diagnosis between senile depression and dementia, as well as for following recovery from a depressive mood.

Keywords: positron emission tomography (PET); pseudodementia; senile depression; single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8301.2008.00228.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, 2: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo and

Publication date: 2008-06-01