Brain Imaging Handbook [Paperback]

J. Douglas Bremner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0393704149 | ISBN-13: 978-0393704143 | Edition: 1

The past 10 years have seen an explosion in the use of brain imaging technologies to aid treatment of medical as well as mental health conditions.

MRI, CT ("CAT") scans, and PET scans are now common. This will be the first quick reference to these technologies, rich in illustrations and including discussions of which techniques are best used in particular instances of care. Written in a clear and accessible style, Bremner's Brain Imaging Handbook is the place to start in order to obtain an understanding of the field of brain imaging. The initial chapters explain principles and techniques of brain imaging-including MRI, CT, PET, and spectroscopy-with easy-to-understand diagrams and four-color images throughout. The use of imaging in psychiatric practice is carefully explained and emphasized. Bremner outlines the current status of knowledge about brain correlates of normal cognition as well as changes in brain function and structure with brain development and aging. Later chapters summarize the most important information regarding brain imaging as it applies to the areas of schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, childhood onset disorders, and personality disorders. The book ends with a summary of neurological disorders most relevant to the psychiatrist, including helpful descriptions of the application of brain imaging to the differential diagnosis of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Brain Imaging Handbook is an essential text for the library of every mental health care provider, as well as students of neuroscience and neuroimaging.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology and Director of the Emory Center for Positron Emission Tomography at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and Director of Mental Health Research at the Atlanta VAMC in Decatur, Georgia. He has authored over 150 publications, and written or edited three books, most recently Does Stress Damage the Brain? Understanding Trauma-Related Disorders from a Mind-Body Perspective.

Product Details

• Paperback: 195 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (April 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393704149
• ISBN-13: 978-0393704143
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J Douglas Bremner is a Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology in Atlanta, GA. He is a researcher, physician, and writer. He blogs on healthcare and medication related topics and twitters @dougbremner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A primer on brain imaging for a college-level course or basic understanding which is needed, August 7, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brain Imaging Handbook (Paperback)

If it's a primer on brain imaging for a college-level course or basic understanding which is needed, there's no better place to start than with Dr. Bremner's Brain Imaging Handbook. From the basics of film imaging and different kinds of brain imaging devices to the use of imaging in both psychiatry and physical health, Brain Imaging Handbook provides an in-depth review of the techniques and application of the science to diagnostic processes of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mental health care providers and students alike will benefit from Dr. Bremner's background in radiology and psychiatry, and from a clear discussion packed with color brain imaging results.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Introductory Text, December 30, 2009

By 

Alan E. Mushen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brain Imaging Handbook (Paperback)

Whether the reader is searching for a primer on brain imaging for a college-level course or basic understanding which is needed, there's no better place to start than with Dr. Bremner's Brain Imaging Handbook. From the basics of film imaging and different kinds of brain imaging devices to the use of imaging in both psychiatry and physical health, Brain Imaging Handbook provides an in-depth review of the techniques and application of the science to diagnostic processes of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mental health care providers and students alike will benefit from Dr. Bremner's background in radiology and psychiatry, and from a clear discussion packed with color brain imaging results. I would highly recommend this book as essential readng for the professional as well as those interested in the subject of brain imaging.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely produced; great illustrations, January 23, 2009

By 

Gina Pera "Is It You, Me, or Adult A.D.D.?, a... (San Francisco Bay Area, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Brain Imaging Handbook (Paperback)

There's much to like in this richly produced guide, even for a layperson like me, who has slim odds of understanding even a quarter of the concepts explained therein. For professionals in the field, Brain Imaging Handbook provides an excellent, in-depth, practical introduction to neuroimaging.

First, I applaud Dr. Bremner's goal in writing the book, as stated in the preface:

"Neutrons, photons, relaxation times, and Fourier transforms - you can't open a journal in the field of psychology and psychiatry these days without being swamped with these types of terms. We in the mental health field have been trying to put our heads in the sand wince the time of Freud, but now it is time to face the facts: If you don't have a basic concept of neurobiology of mental disorders, you don't have a comprehensive handle on mental disorders. And how do we learn about the neurobiology of mental disorders? With brain imaging. That is why the field of brain imaging has invaded and taken the leading edge of our profession. This even took most of us by surprise but, now that it has occurred, we need to catch up."

As a physician double-trained in psychiatry and nuclear medicine, Dr. Bremner offers rare insight to help mental healthcare providers understand these new concepts that will, we hope, inform their practices. The layperson, too, will gain new appreciation for the conditions that affect their loved ones or themselves. (When it comes to those reluctant to accept the actual, brain-based challenges of psychiatric conditions, sometimes a picture does speak a thousand words.) And all readers will be fascinated to learn more about such things as the "functional correlates of normal learning and cognition" - for example, the brain areas associated with our visual, auditory, sensory, and olfactory senses.

Second, I admire the high production values in this book, which gently lure even the most neuroscience-skittish reader. Specifically,

* beautiful, coated stock
* ample illustrations (four-color brain images, nicely detailed drawings, charts, etc.)
* informative captions for the illustrations
* well-chosen typography
* manageable size - 6 x 9-inch, 193 pages, with airy margins and gutter

Third, the chapters are tightly focused, with plenty of subheads. For example, Chapter 4 is titled Childhood Onset Disorders (with subheads Autism, ADHD, Childhood-onset Schizophrenia, Dyslexia, Anorexia Nervosa, OCD, Anxiety and Mood Disorders)

Clear, concise, and accessible, this is a valuable contribution to the libraries of researchers, clinicians, and students as well as laypersons who are interested in this burgeoning field of study.

Gina Pera