The Effect of Past Abuse on PFC Recovery from an Alcohol Use Disorder

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of trauma on Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) and recovery, specifically through examining associations between past trauma and prefrontal cortex activation in response to alcohol cues. This study utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) to evaluate activation of the PFC in individuals in recovery for an AUD when presented with positive, negative, neutral, and alcohol related images. Results showed that a history of trauma and length of recovery are associated with PFC responses to affective images for individuals in recovery. These findings suggest that the PFC of individuals in recovery from AUD who have been physically abused exhibit a more hyperactive response to surroundings, but this hyperactivity may decrease over time as recovery length increases. Those in recovery from AUD who do not report a history of physical abuse demonstrate reduced PFC activation in response to affective images, however, this activity increases as recovery progresses. Additionally, the results showed a significant but opposite pattern with respect to reporting a history of emotional abuse. Authors recommend that clinicians working with those seeking recovery from AUD provide psychotherapy that addresses the complex relationship between PFC functioning, trauma, and AUD and provides an individualized recovery process.