title: Surface-Based Parameters of Brain Imaging in Male Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The structural alteration of brain shown in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can originate from both alcohol effects and genetic or developmental processes. We compared surface-based parameters of patients with AUD with healthy controls to prove the applicability of surface-based morphometry with head size correction and to determine the areas that were sensitive to brain alteration related to AUD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six abstinent male patients with AUD (alcohol group, mean abstinence=13.2 months) and twenty-eight age-matched healthy participants (control group) were recruited from an inpatient mental hospital and community. All participants underwent a 3T MRI scan. Surface-based parameters were determined by using FreeSurfer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Every surface-based parameter of the alcohol group was lower than the corresponding control group parameter. There were large group differences in the whole brain, grey and white matter volume, and the differences were more prominent after head size correction. Significant group differences were shown in cortical thicknesses in entire brain regions, especially in parietal, temporal and frontal areas. There were no significant group differences in surface areas, but group difference trends in surface areas of the frontal and parietal cortices were shown after head size correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the surface-based parameters in alcohol group were altered because of incomplete recovery from chronic alcohol exposure and possibly genetic or developmental factors underlying the risk of AUD. Surface-based morphometry with controlling for head size is useful in comparing the volumetric parameters and the surface area to a lesser extent in alcohol-related brain alteration.
authors.affiliation: Yemidam Hospital, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.; Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sungjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Yesarang Hospital, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Gu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeonghwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Siekyeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gawon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Ick
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Alcohol use disorder; Cortical thickness; Freesurfer; MRI; Surface area; Surface-based analysis