Resting state synchrony in long-term abstinent alcoholics: Effects of a current major depressive disorder diagnosis.

Alcoholism is characterized by a lack of control over an impulsive and compulsive drive toward excessive alcohol consumption despite significant negative consequences; our previous work demonstrated that successful abstinence is characterized by decreased resting-state synchrony (RSS) as measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), within appetitive drive networks and increased RSS in emotion regulation and inhibitory executive control networks. Our hypothesis is that LTAA (Long-Term Abstinent Alcoholics) with a current major depressive disorder (MDD) drank primarily to deal with the negative affect associated with their MDD and not because of a heightened externalizing diathesis (including heightened appetitive drive), and consequently, in achieving and maintaining abstinence, such individuals would not exhibit the RSS adaptations characteristic of pure alcoholics. We studied 69 NSAC (Non Substance Abusing Controls) and 40 LTAA (8 with current MDD, 32 without a current MDD) using resting-state fMRI and seed based connectivity analyses.

Resting-state synchrony during early alcohol abstinence can predict subsequent relapse.

Short-term abstinent alcoholics have shown increased engagement of reward regions and reduced engagement of executive control regions. There is no report yet on whether these differences can predict relapse. This is the first study that investigates whether differences in resting-state networks can predict later relapse.

Resting-state synchrony in long-term abstinent alcoholics.

Background: Alcohol dependence is a disorder with an impulsive and compulsive "drive" toward alcohol consumption and an inability to inhibit alcohol consumption. Neuroimaging studies suggest that these behavioral components correspond to an increased involvement of regions that mediate appetitive drive and reduced involvement of regions that mediate executive control within top-down networks. Little is known, however, about whether these characteristics are present after long periods of abstinence.

Brain control of normal and overactive bladder.

Purpose: Bladder control problems are common but their cause is often unclear. Many investigators have sought causes in the lower urinary tract, but fewer in the supraspinal control system. We have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine brain responses to bladder filling in subjects with normal and with poor bladder control (detrusor overactivity).