Prefrontal and temporal gray matter density decreases in opiate dependence.
BACKGROUND
There have been only a few structural brain-imaging studies, with varied findings, of opiate-dependent subjects. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is suitable for studying whole brain-wise structural brain changes in opiate-dependent subjects.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the current study is to explore gray matter density in opiate-dependent subjects.


METHODS
Gray matter density in 63 opiate-dependent subjects and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects was compared using VBM.


RESULTS
Relative to healthy comparison subjects, opiate-dependent subjects exhibited decreased gray matter density in bilateral prefrontal cortex [Brodmann areas (BA) 8, 9, 10, 11, and 47], bilateral insula (BA 13), bilateral superior temporal cortex (BA 21 and 38), left fusiform cortex (BA 37), and right uncus (BA 28).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports that opiate-dependent subjects have gray matter density decreases in prefrontal and temporal cortex, which may be associated with behavioral and neuropsychological dysfunction in opiate-dependent subjects.
Lyoo
In Kyoon
IK
McLean Hospital Brain Imaging Center and Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA. inkylyoo@yahoo.com
Pollack
Mark H
MH
Silveri
Marisa M
MM
Ahn
Kyung Heup
KH
Diaz
Claudia I
CI
Hwang
Jaeuk
J
Kim
Seog Ju
SJ
Yurgelun-Todd
Deborah A
DA
Kaufman
Marc J
MJ
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*