Menninger Clinic Using MRI and PET to Assess Mental Illness

On Aug. 9 the Menninger Clinic, one of American's leading psychiatric hospitals in Houston, Texas, announced in a press release that mental health professionals are now able to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) as aids in determining the causes of behavioral and psychiatric problems in adult patients.

Named the Menninger Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment Service, it was begun in April as a one-stop assessment service for adults. The assessment is for those who are not making adequate progress in other treatment settings, want a second opinion as to their situation, need a thorough psychiatric work-up to help them decide what treatment plan will best meet their needs, or who are referred by another professional. The assessment takes two to three weeks and includes extensive neuropsychiatric testing, including the use of MRI and PET.

When a patient enters the program, they undergo a complete psychiatric evaluation, extensive neuropsychological testing, psychological testing, psychosocial evaluation, a family system study and a neurological consult. In the event of brain disorders or damage (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury), patients also have access to Baylor College of Medicine's consultants in neuropsychology and neurology. When the assessment is complete, the evaluation has looked at every aspect of a patient's life and has a clear clinical picture of the patient's situation before making treatment recommendations.

In the event a patient doesn't respond well to psychiatric medications, the Assessment Service includes a blood test to see if the patient is metabolizing a drug too quickly, which provides the patient with little benefit, or is metabolizing the drug too slowly, which can increase the drug's build up in the body, resulting in unpleasant and even dangerous side effects.