Cue reactivity is associated with duration and severity of alcohol dependence: an FMRI study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

With the progression of substance dependence, drug cue-related brain activation is thought to shift from motivational towards habit pathways. However, a direct association between cue-induced brain activation and dependence duration has not yet been shown. We therefore examined the relationship between alcohol cue-reactivity in the brain, cue-induced subjective craving and alcohol dependence duration and severity. Since alcohol dependence is highly comorbid with depression/anxiety, which may modulate brain responses to alcohol cues, we also examined the relation between comorbid depression/anxiety and cue-reactivity.

Methods

We compared 30 alcohol dependent patients with 15 healthy controls and 15 depression/anxiety patients during a visual alcohol cue-reactivit

SUBMITTER: Sjoerds Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3882248 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature