title: Amygdala volume associated with alcohol abuse relapse and craving.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Amygdala volume has been associated with drug craving in cocaine addicts, and amygdala volume reduction is observed in some alcohol-dependent subjects. This study sought an association in alcohol-dependent subjects between volumes of reward-related brain regions, alcohol craving, and the risk of relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Besides alcohol craving, the authors assessed amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral striatum volumes in 51 alcohol-dependent subjects and 52 age- and education-matched healthy comparison subjects after detoxification. After imaging and clinical assessment, patients were followed for 6 months and alcohol intake was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol-dependent subjects showed reduced amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral striatum volumes and reported stronger craving in relation to healthy comparison subjects. However, only amygdala volume and craving differentiated between subsequent relapsers and abstainers. A significant decrease of amygdala volume in alcohol-dependent subjects was associated with increased alcohol craving before imaging and an increased alcohol intake during the 6-month follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a relationship between amygdala volume reduction, alcohol craving, and prospective relapse into alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wrase
authors.forename: Nicos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Dieter F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Braus
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Verne S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Caviness
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albaugh
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Orin C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kissling
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Breiter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index