ENLARGED CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SPACES IN OPIATE-DEPENDENT MALE-PATIENTS- A STEREOLOGICAL CT STUDY

Computed tomography was performed in 9 male patients with a diagnosis of opiate dependence and in 9 age-matched psychiatric controls (neurot ic depression). Patients with a history or diagnosis of another substa nce dependence (alcohol, cocaine, cannabis) were excluded from the stu dy. The volumes of internal and external components of cerebrospinal f luid (CSF) were measured with a point-counting stereological method. A nalysis of variance with age as a covariate revealed a significant enl argement of external and external CSF spaces in male patients with opi ate dependence. There was no significant correlation between the lengt h of opiate dependence and the volumes of internal and external CSF sp aces. The present results suggest that opiate dependence is associated with structural brain alterations. However, the relationship between opiate dependence and structural brain changes is complex and still no t well understood.