Links between psychopathological symptoms and cortical thickness in men with severe alcohol use disorder: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging study

BackgroundAnxiety and depression are psychopathological states frequently co-occurring with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD). These symptoms generally disappear with abstinence but may persist in some patients, increasing the relapse risk.MethodsThe cerebral cortex thickness of 94 male patients with SAUD was correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, both measured at the end (2-3 weeks) of the detoxification treatment. Cortical measures were obtained using surface-based morphometry implemented with Freesurfer.ResultsDepressive symptoms were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the superior temporal gyrus of the right hemisphere. Anxiety level was correlated with lower cortical thickness in the rostral middle frontal region, inferior temporal region, and supramarginal, postcentral, superior temporal, and transverse temporal regions of the left hemisphere, as well as with a large cluster in the middle temporal region of the right hemisphere.ConclusionsAt the end of the detoxification stage, the intensity of depressive and anxiety symptoms is inversely associated with the cortical thickness of regions involved in emotions-related processes, and the persistence of the symptoms could be explained by these brain deficits.

Automated summary

After detoxification treatment, depressive symptoms in male SAUD patients were associated with reduced cortical thickness in the right superior temporal gyrus. Anxiety level was correlated with lower cortical thickness in various regions of the left hemisphere and a large cluster in the right middle temporal region. These findings suggest that the intensity of depressive and anxiety symptoms at the end of treatment is inversely associated with cortical thickness in emotion-related brain regions, explaining the persistence of symptoms.