Abstract
Background: Abnormal patterns of metabolite levels have been detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in frontostriatal regions of individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, but less is known about the effects of drug abstinence on metabolite levels. Objective: To assess the effects of long-term methamphetamine use and drug abstinence on brain metabolite levels. Design: To assess regional specific metabolite levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging techniques in 2 groups of currently abstinent methamphetamine users: methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence and methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study. Setting: Participants were recruited from outpatient substance abuse treatment centers. Participants: Eight methamphetamine users with sustained abstinence (1 year to 5 years) and 16 recently abstinent methamphetamine users (1 month to 6 months) were compared with 13 healthy, non-substance-using controls. Main Outcome Measures: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of N-acetylaspartate-creatine and phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr), choline-creatine and phosphocreatine (Cho/Cr), and choline-N-acetylaspartate (Cho/ NAA) ratios were obtained in the anterior cingulate cortex as well as in the primary visual cortex, which served as a control region. Results: The absolute values of Cr did not differ between controls and methamphetamine users. Methamphetamine users had abnormally low NAA/Cr levels within the anterior cingulate cortex, regardless of the time spent abstinent (F2,34=12.61; P<.001). No NAA/Cr group differences were observed in the primary visual cortex (F 2,33=0.29; P=.75). The Cho/NAA values for the anterior cingulate cortex were abnormally high in the methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence but followed a normal pattern in the methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study (F2,34=7.31; P=.002). Conclusions: The relative choline normalization across periods of abstinence suggests that following cessation of methamphetamine use, adaptive changes occur, which might contribute to some degree of normalization of neuronal structure and function in the anterior cingulum. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these adaptive changes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 444-452 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Archives of General Psychiatry |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2005 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Methamphetamine users in sustained abstinence : A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. / Nordahl, Thomas E; Salo, Ruth; Natsuaki, Yutaka; Galloway, Gantt P.; Waters, Christy; Moore, Charles D.; Kile, Shawn; Buonocore, Michael H.
In: Archives of General Psychiatry, Vol. 62, No. 4, 04.2005, p. 444-452.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Methamphetamine users in sustained abstinence
T2 - A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
AU - Nordahl, Thomas E
AU - Salo, Ruth
AU - Natsuaki, Yutaka
AU - Galloway, Gantt P.
AU - Waters, Christy
AU - Moore, Charles D.
AU - Kile, Shawn
AU - Buonocore, Michael H.
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - Background: Abnormal patterns of metabolite levels have been detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in frontostriatal regions of individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, but less is known about the effects of drug abstinence on metabolite levels. Objective: To assess the effects of long-term methamphetamine use and drug abstinence on brain metabolite levels. Design: To assess regional specific metabolite levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging techniques in 2 groups of currently abstinent methamphetamine users: methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence and methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study. Setting: Participants were recruited from outpatient substance abuse treatment centers. Participants: Eight methamphetamine users with sustained abstinence (1 year to 5 years) and 16 recently abstinent methamphetamine users (1 month to 6 months) were compared with 13 healthy, non-substance-using controls. Main Outcome Measures: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of N-acetylaspartate-creatine and phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr), choline-creatine and phosphocreatine (Cho/Cr), and choline-N-acetylaspartate (Cho/ NAA) ratios were obtained in the anterior cingulate cortex as well as in the primary visual cortex, which served as a control region. Results: The absolute values of Cr did not differ between controls and methamphetamine users. Methamphetamine users had abnormally low NAA/Cr levels within the anterior cingulate cortex, regardless of the time spent abstinent (F2,34=12.61; P<.001). No NAA/Cr group differences were observed in the primary visual cortex (F 2,33=0.29; P=.75). The Cho/NAA values for the anterior cingulate cortex were abnormally high in the methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence but followed a normal pattern in the methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study (F2,34=7.31; P=.002). Conclusions: The relative choline normalization across periods of abstinence suggests that following cessation of methamphetamine use, adaptive changes occur, which might contribute to some degree of normalization of neuronal structure and function in the anterior cingulum. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these adaptive changes.
AB - Background: Abnormal patterns of metabolite levels have been detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in frontostriatal regions of individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for methamphetamine dependence, but less is known about the effects of drug abstinence on metabolite levels. Objective: To assess the effects of long-term methamphetamine use and drug abstinence on brain metabolite levels. Design: To assess regional specific metabolite levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging techniques in 2 groups of currently abstinent methamphetamine users: methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence and methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study. Setting: Participants were recruited from outpatient substance abuse treatment centers. Participants: Eight methamphetamine users with sustained abstinence (1 year to 5 years) and 16 recently abstinent methamphetamine users (1 month to 6 months) were compared with 13 healthy, non-substance-using controls. Main Outcome Measures: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of N-acetylaspartate-creatine and phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr), choline-creatine and phosphocreatine (Cho/Cr), and choline-N-acetylaspartate (Cho/ NAA) ratios were obtained in the anterior cingulate cortex as well as in the primary visual cortex, which served as a control region. Results: The absolute values of Cr did not differ between controls and methamphetamine users. Methamphetamine users had abnormally low NAA/Cr levels within the anterior cingulate cortex, regardless of the time spent abstinent (F2,34=12.61; P<.001). No NAA/Cr group differences were observed in the primary visual cortex (F 2,33=0.29; P=.75). The Cho/NAA values for the anterior cingulate cortex were abnormally high in the methamphetamine users who recently initiated abstinence but followed a normal pattern in the methamphetamine users who had initiated abstinence more than 1 year prior to study (F2,34=7.31; P=.002). Conclusions: The relative choline normalization across periods of abstinence suggests that following cessation of methamphetamine use, adaptive changes occur, which might contribute to some degree of normalization of neuronal structure and function in the anterior cingulum. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these adaptive changes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=16344364487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=16344364487&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/archpsyc.62.4.444
DO - 10.1001/archpsyc.62.4.444
M3 - Article
C2 - 15809412
AN - SCOPUS:16344364487
VL - 62
SP - 444
EP - 452
JO - JAMA Psychiatry
JF - JAMA Psychiatry
SN - 2168-622X
IS - 4
ER -