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The Ability of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Predict Heavy Drinking and Alcohol Problems 5 Years Later
Author(s) -
Schuckit Marc A.,
Smith Tom L.,
Paulus Martin P.,
Tapert Susan F.,
Simmons Alan N.,
Tolentino Neil J.,
Shafir Alexandra
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.12935
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , magnetic resonance imaging , alcohol dependence , alcohol , psychology , alcohol use disorder , adverse effect , medicine , audiology , radiology , neuroscience , biology , biochemistry
Background Low levels of alcohol responses (low LR s) are genetically influenced phenotypes that are identified before alcohol dependence and predict future heavy drinking and alcohol problems. A recent paper described 13 LR ‐related blood oxygen level‐dependent ( BOLD ) response contrast patterns observed during an emotional face recognition task that might reflect cognitive processes contributing to LR and that might themselves predict adverse alcohol outcomes ( P aulus et al., B iol P sychiatry 2012; 72 : 848). This paper evaluates the predictive implications of those functional magnetic resonance imaging (f MRI ) patterns. Methods Of 120 subjects from P aulus and colleagues (2012), 114 (57 low and high LR s; ~50% females) were interviewed 5 years later at age 25. Correlations between baseline f MRI patterns and alcohol‐related outcomes were evaluated, and regression analyses were used to determine if BOLD response contrasts incremented over LR in predicting outcomes. Results Baseline f MRI patterns in 5 of 13 baseline regions of interest correlated with adverse outcomes. Such patterns in insular regions, particularly the left anterior insula, and the right frontal gyrus, added to LR in predicting alcohol problems. The relationships remained robust when exact binomial procedures were used, but, reflecting the small sample size, it was not possible to adequately consider B onferroni corrections. Conclusions The data suggest that f MRI BOLD response contrasts predicted heavier drinking and alcohol problems 5 years later, even after considering baseline low LR s. Future work will focus on whether f MRI results can predict outcomes in larger samples and among young nondrinkers, as well as how the imaging results increase understanding of the processes through which LR operates.