Psychological intervention with working memory training increases basal ganglia volume: A VBM study of inpatient treatment for methamphetamine use.
Protracted methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with decreased control over drug craving and altered brain volume in the frontostriatal network. However, the nature of volumetric changes following a course of psychological intervention for MA use is not yet known.



66 males (41 MA patients, 25 healthy controls, HC) between the ages of 18-50 were recruited, the MA patients from new admissions to an in-patient drug rehabilitation centre and the HC via public advertisement, both in Cape Town, South Africa. 17 MA patients received 4 weeks of treatment as usual (TAU), and 24 MA patients completed TAU plus daily 30-minute cognitive training (CT) using an N-back working memory task. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and 4-week follow-up was acquired and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used for analysis.



TAU was associated with larger bilateral striatum (caudate/putamen) volume, whereas CT was associated with more widespread increases of the bilateral basal ganglia (incorporating the amygdala and hippocampus) and reduced bilateral cerebellum volume coinciding with improvements in impulsivity scores.



While psychological intervention is associated with larger volume in mesolimbic reward regions, the utilisation of additional working memory training as an adjunct to treatment may further normalize frontostriatal structure and function.
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, South Africa.
S J
SJ
Brooks
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, South Africa; Department of Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, UK.
K H
KH
Burch
Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
S A
SA
Maiorana
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, South Africa.
E
E
Cocolas
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Sweden.
H B
HB
Schioth
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Sweden.
E K
EK
Nilsson
Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa.
K
K
Kamaloodien
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, MRC Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, South Africa.
D J
DJ
Stein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine