Traumatic Brain Injury
Most people are likely to assume that traumatic brain injuries result from an accident where either the head was hit directly, or where there was a loss of consciousness. However, the brain is very soft and relatively likely to suffer trauma in situations like car accidents or a severe fall. Even minor head injuries to vulnerable parts of the brain can cause problems for years to come. After a significant brain injury there can be a high occurrence of depression, substance abuse, marital conflict and under performance in school and work.
The impact of head trauma is often overlooked in psychiatry. However, brain SPECT scans are one of the best tools for evaluating functional deficits from head trauma injuries, and can detect problems that can be missed by other technologies. Documenting and evaluating brain injuries is important because it is not uncommon for brain trauma patients to be misdiagnosed. As with many neurological disorders, the symptoms suffered after brain injury are similar to behavioral disorders. If the trauma is not properly diagnosed or documented, it's not unlikely that a treatment course for the symptoms is inaccurate and ultimately ineffective. Identifying the effects of traumatic brain injury successfully is increased by 3D SPECT technology, with the ultimate goal of personalized care.