The probability that a given patient might be a “responder” rather than a “nonresponder” based on objective measurement of brain structure or function

would be a valuable adjunct to the choice and direction of treatment. In order to make these new methods available on a wide basis, a number of groups are also actively- developing toolboxes with user-friendly interfaces. Also, in order to avoid repetition of already time-consuming image processing, these toolboxes are often being designed Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to accept data from widely used preprocessing streams in packages such as SPM. Conclusion Seventeen years ago, it was felt that fMRI might revolutionize the study of human brain activity.1,24 Arguably, this has proved to be the case. It was also felt by many that fMRI might prove to be an invaluable clinical for the investigation and treatment of mental illness. There are many who would Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical argue that has not proved to be the case. Kosslyn in 19995 asked “If fMRI is the Torin 1 manufacturer answer – what is the question?” With machine learning, perhaps fMRI may be able to answer more of the questions that we wish to ask.? Selected abbreviations

and acronyms fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging ROI region of interest sMRI structural magnetic resonance imaging SPM statistical par am etric mapping SVM support vector machine
The current complexity of treatments Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and outcomes in modern medicine presents a fundamental dilemma. Few medical treatment decisions involve a clear best choice; Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the typical medical decision involves tradeoffs among multiple partially effective interventions with

different risks. Consider the case of surgical interventions. Placing a pin in a fractured hip represents a rare case of a consensual best treatment for almost Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical every patient. In many other common surgical situations, the evidence is considerably more complicated. For example, surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy produces better urine flow at the risk of incontinence and impotence. When men understand the tradeoffs accurately, next many prefer medications or watchful waiting.1 Similarly, for early breast cancer, spinal disk injury, prostate cancer, rotator cuff injuries, uterine fibroids, coronary artery disease, and many other surgical conditions, choice among different interventions with complex outcomes and adverse effects is the rule.2 This fundamental dilemma gives rise to the belief that patients should be involved in making medical decisions generally, and to the paradigm of shared decision making more specifically. Shared decision making assumes that two experts (or teams of experts) should collaborate in making complex medical decisions.3 The health care provider (often a team of professionals) brings expertise in understanding the medical problem, the possible interventions, and the potential benefits and risks of alternatives.