Research Contributions of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Psychopathology

In recent years, within the neuroscience community, there has been a growing interest in advanced neuroimaging techniques in order to better understand psychopathologic disorders. One of the fundamental imaging techniques is called Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), which is based on the chemical shift property of the atom nuclei when a magnetic field is applied. This technique offers invaluable information about living tissues and is particularly helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases affecting the central nervous system. Numerous studies have used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to assess structural abnormalities of the brain associated with psychiatric disorders; and there has been an increased use of MR spectroscopy as it allows characterizing of the metabolic or chemical abnormalities of tissues in some of these specific entities. In this chapter, we will discuss our most relevant clinical and applied research work in the field of psychopathology using hydrogen Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, including autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, delayed psychomotor development, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, somatoform disorders, and fibromyalgia.