Essay Sample on Diagnostic Procedures Used in Psychiatric Disorders

There are various procedures used to test changes in the functioning of one’s brain include electroencephalography, computerized EEG mapping, computerized tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and single-photon emission computed tomography. Electroencephalography is a physiological monitoring procedure that records electrical activity in the brain. An electroencephalogram will test the brain’s electrical signal using electrodes that are attached to one’s scalp to let the brain cells communicate by use of electrical impulses. The examinations determine brain tumors, stroke, inflammation of the brain, sleep diapers, seizure disorders like epilepsy. This procedure can also determine the amount of anesthesia to be issued to a patient in a coma or determine if a patient in a coma is dead (Sinha et al., 2016). The electroencephalogram will show a series of wavy lines after the test, which looks different depending on whether the patient was awake or asleep. If the normal pattern has been interrupted, the patient might have a brain disorder.

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Computerized EEG mapping is a procedure that processes a record of multi-electrodes activities shown on the electroencephalogram using a computer. The information is processed using various algorithms like Wavelet analysis or Fourier. The data is analyzed statistically and compared with normative data references from the database. The EEGs processed are turned into color maps of the brain’s functioning (Grossi et al., 2017). This information can be used as a clinical tool to analyze the functioning of the brain and track changes in functioning due to interventions like medication. The results will show which areas of the brain are engaged and are efficient.

The computerized tomographic scan uses X-ray machines and computers to make cross-sectional images of various parts of the body and provide more detailed data than normal X-ray images. One lies in a machine which rotates while taking X-rays from all angles. The images are transferred to a computer and combined to form images of the cross-section of the body or provide a 3D image of a particular part of the body (Kumar et al., 2017). This is used in the diagnosis of injuries and tumors and can also assess the effectiveness of the medication. If there are no fractures, tumors, blood clots, or any other abnormalities, then the patient is normal.

Magnetic resonance imaging uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to develop more detailed images of the tissues and organs in one’s body. The scanner resembles a large tube with a table in the middle, which allows the patient to slide in and get a cross-section of the internal structures and organs without using ionizing radiation. MRI can be used to provide detailed information on anomalies of the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body (Morris & Slesnick, 2018). After the scan, the radiologist asks the patient to come back later and discuss the findings with the doctor.

Positron emission tomography uses PET scanners to help medical experts determine how functional organs and tissues are in one’s body. The procedure uses a special dye that contains radioactive tracers. The tracers can either be inhaled, swallowed, or injected on a vein in one’s arm and absorbed by certain tissues and organs (Stern et al., 2019). It depends on the part of the body being tested. This scan can be ordered to check a patient’s oxygen intake, blood flow, or metabolism of the patient’s organs and tissues. A specialist works on the findings within two days and gives the results to the doctor to discuss with the patient.

Single-photon emission computed tomography is an imaging test that shows how blood flows to tissues and organs by the use of gamma rays. A radiolabeled tracer is injected into the patient’s bloodstream, emitting gamma rays that can be detected by the CT scanner. The information is collected by the computer and displayed on the CT cross-sections, which can be added to form a 3D image of the patient’s brain (Dorbala et al., 2018). The test helps diagnose infections, stress fractures, seizures, stroke, and tumors in the spine. The results will show the abnormalities in the patient’s organs, and tissues and the doctor is expected to give directives and medication after that.

References

Dorbala, S., Ananthasubramaniam, K., Armstrong, I. S., Chareonthaitawee, P., DePuey, E. G., Einstein, A. J., & Polk, D. M. (2018). Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging guidelines: instrumentation, acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, 25(5), 1784-1846. doi: 10.1007/s12350-018-1283-y

Grossi, E., Olivieri, C., & Buscema, M. (2017). Diagnosis of autism through EEG processed by advanced computational algorithms: A pilot study. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine, 142, 73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2017.02.002

Kumar, S., Rattan, V., & Sharma, P. (2017). Role of Intraoperative Computerized Tomographic Scan in the Management of Zygomatico-Orbital Complex Fractures. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 75(10), e410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2017.07.141. e410

Morris, S. A., & Slesnick, T. C. (2018). Magnetic resonance imaging. Visual Guide to Neonatal Cardiology, 104-108. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118635520.ch16

Sinha, S. R., Sullivan, L. R., Sabau, D., Orta, D. S. J., Dombrowski, K. E., Halford, J. J., ... & Stecker, M. M. (2016). American clinical neurophysiology society guideline 1: minimum technical requirements for performing clinical electroencephalography. The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 56(4), 235-244. doi: 10.1080/21646821.2016.1245527

Stern, R. A., Adler, C. H., Chen, K., Navitsky, M., Luo, J., Dodick, D. W., ... & Mastroeni, D. (2019). Tau positron-emission tomography in former national football league players. New England journal of medicine, 380(18), 1716-1725. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1900757