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Objective: To investigate the volume change of ventral pallidum(VP) in alcohol-dependent patients(ADPs) and whether the volume of VP is related to relapse. Methods: This study was a combination of cross sectional and cohort study, which included 33 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence syndrome in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition(DSM-IV).All the ADPs received clinical questionnaires within 14-28 days of alcohol withdrawal, including a semi-structured questionnaire, the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment(CIWA) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test(AUDIT).The volumes of VP were measured by using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).A self-made follow-up questionnaire was used to assess post treatment outcome. The ADPs were divided into relapse group and abstinence group within the 6-month follow-up. The VP volume were compared between the ADPs and normal controls, and relapse group and abstinence group. Results: The VP volumes were smaller in the ADPs than in the normal controls [(1749±492) mm3 vs.(2116±189) mm³,P ＜0.05].The VP volumes were larger in the relapse group than in the abstinence group[(1956±452) mm³ vs.(1555±458) mm³,P ＜0.05]. Conclusion: It suggests that the ventral pallidum in alcohol-dependent patients may participate in pathological reward circuit function, which is related to relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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