Brain structural magnetic resonance imaging predictors of brief intervention response in individuals with alcohol use disorder.

This study investigated whether cortical surface area and thickness measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predict response to a brief intervention in community-based adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Sixty-five non-treatment-seeking adults with AUD underwent MRI and received a brief intervention involving personalized feedback and motivational interviewing, with follow-up 6–8 weeks later to assess changes in alcohol consumption. Results showed that thinner cortical thickness in eight bilateral regions—primarily in the frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes, including the medial orbitofrontal, rostral middle frontal, and middle temporal gyri—predicted poorer reductions in drinks per week and drinking frequency. These cortical thickness measures were also associated with impulsivity, executive function, anxiety, and stress, suggesting potential neurobiological markers of intervention response. The findings highlight the relevance of frontal and temporal brain regions in AUD treatment outcomes and underscore the need for further research to clarify whether these structural differences are premorbid or consequences of alcohol use.