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Single Photon Emission Computerised Tomography in Chronic Alcoholism

Antisocial Personality Disorder may be Associated with Decreased Frontal Perfusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Asli Çepik Kuruoglu ,
Zehra Arikan ,
Gülin Vural ,
Metin Karataş ,
Mehmet Araç  and
Erdal Işik
Asli Çepik Kuruoglu*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara
Zehra Arikan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara
Gülin Vural
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine
Metin Karataş
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine
Mehmet Araç
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine
Erdal Işik
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara
*
Asli Çepik Kuruoglu, 4 Cadde No: 91/3, TR-06490, Bahçelievler, Ankara, Turkey
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Abstract

Background

We examined the functional and structural cerebral changes in chronic alcoholics, analysing their association with personality features and alcohol drinking habits.

Method

Forty patients with alcohol dependency, including 15 with antisocial personality disorder (ASP) as defined in DSM–III–R and 10 age and sex matched healthy controls were studied after termination of withdrawal symptoms, using high resolution single photon emission tomography (SPECT), cranial computerised tomography (CT) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP).

Results

We found significant reductions in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements of alcoholic patients. Low flow in frontal regions encountered in 67.5% of the patients was associated with the duration of alcohol consumption, while no such relation existed with the amount of daily intake. Patients with ASP exhibited more marked frontal hypoperfusion. Significant brain atrophy detected by CT was present in 40% of the patients and did not correlate with frontal hypoperfusion.

Conclusions

Patients with ASP are more sensitive to toxic effects of alcohol. Alternatively chronic alcoholism leads to frontal lobe dysfunction recognised as ASP in the clinical setting.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 348 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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