Methamphetamine dependence with and without psychotic symptoms : a multi-modal brain imaging study
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Objective: Methamphetamine dependence can lead to psychotic symptoms which may be mediated by frontal,
striatal, limbic, and thalamic regions. There are few neuroimaging data that allow comparison of individuals
with methamphetamine dependence who do, and do not, have psychosis. Two complementary imaging techniques
were employed to investigate neurocircuitry associated with methamphetamine dependence with and
without psychotic symptoms.
Methods: Three groups of participants were recruited: methamphetamine dependent (MAA) (N=11), methamphetamine
dependent with psychotic symptoms (MAP) (N=14), and controls (N=14). Resting brain
glucose metabolism was measured using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)
and cerebral perfusion was assessed using arterial spin labelling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging.
Results: Methamphetamine abusers (MAA and MAP groups) had decreased glucose metabolism compared to
healthy controls in the left insula, left precentral gyrus, and the anterior cingulate cortex. Compared to MAA
participants, MAP participants had 1) decreased glucose metabolism in the left precentral gyrus and the left
inferior frontal gyrus and 2) increased glucose metabolism in the putamen and pallidum. MAP participants also
had increased cerebral perfusion in the right putamen and right pallidum compared to MAA.
Conclusion: Findings support the involvement of frontal, striatal, and limbic regions in methamphetamine dependence.
Furthermore, they indicate that glucose metabolism and cerebral perfusion in these regions are disrupted
in methamphetamine dependent individuals with psychotic symptoms.
Description
CITATION: Vuletica, D., et al. 2018. Methamphetamine dependence with and without psychotic symptoms : a multi-modal brain imaging study. NeuroImage: Clinical, 20:1157-1162, doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2018.10.023.
The original publication is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com
The original publication is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com
Keywords
Methamphetamine abuse, Psychotropic drugs, Brain -- Imaging, Brain -- Neuroimaging, Brain -- Effect of drugs on, Neural circuity
Citation
Vuletica, D., et al. 2018. Methamphetamine dependence with and without psychotic symptoms : a multi-modal brain imaging study. NeuroImage: Clinical, 20:1157-1162, doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2018.10.023