Reduced frontal brain volume in non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals: exploring the role of impulsivity, depression, and smoking.
In cocaine-dependent patients, gray matter (GM) volume reductions have been observed in the frontal lobes that are associated with the duration of cocaine use. Studies are mostly restricted to treatment-seekers and studies in non-treatment-seeking cocaine abusers are sparse. Here, we assessed GM volume differences between 30 non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals and 33 non-drug using controls using voxel-based morphometry. Additionally, within the group of non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals, we explored the role of frequently co-occurring features such as trait impulsivity (Barratt Impulsivity Scale, BIS), smoking, and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), as well as the role of cocaine use duration, on frontal GM volume. Smaller GM volumes in non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals were observed in the left middle frontal gyrus. Moreover, within the group of cocaine users, trait impulsivity was associated with reduced GM volume in the right orbitofrontal cortex, the left precentral gyrus, and the right superior frontal gyrus, whereas no effect of smoking severity, depressive symptoms, or duration of cocaine use was observed on regional GM volumes. Our data show an important association between trait impulsivity and frontal GM volumes in cocaine-dependent individuals. In contrast to previous studies with treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent patients, no significant effects of smoking severity, depressive symptoms, or duration of cocaine use on frontal GM volume were observed. Reduced frontal GM volumes in non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent subjects are associated with trait impulsivity and are not associated with co-occurring nicotine dependence or depression.
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands ; Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium ; Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
Cleo L
CL
Crunelle
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
Anne Marije
AM
Kaag
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
Guido
G
van Wingen
Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.
Hanna E
HE
van den Munkhof
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center , Nijmegen , Netherlands.
Judith R
JR
Homberg
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
Liesbeth
L
Reneman
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
Wim
W
van den Brink
cocaine dependence; depression; drug abuse; frontal; nicotine; voxel-based morphometry