Childhood maltreatment related effects on brain structure in alcohol use disorder

Background Childhood maltreatment is linked to structural brain alterations, particularly in frontal and limbic regions, among healthy individuals and psychiatric populations. It is also highly prevalent in alcohol use disorder (AUD) and represents a risk factor for its development and persistence. However, few studies examined the neuro-structural correlates of childhood maltreatment within AUD. Objective This study investigated the effects of childhood maltreatment on brain structure in AUD by examining three complementary morphometric markers: gray matter volume (GMV), cortical thickness, and gyrification. Participants and Setting 84 participants with AUD (DSM-5) and 83 healthy controls were included. Data were pooled from the ANONYMOUS and the ANONYMOUS institute. Methods Childhood maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). 3D T1-weighted MRI scans were analyzed using mixed linear models to test CTQ effects on GMV, cortical thickness, and gyrification in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), amygdala, and hippocampus. Results A significant Group × CTQ × ROI interaction emerged for GMV in the left IFG and for gyrification in the right IFG. In healthy controls, higher CTQ scores were associated with reduced GMV and increased gyrification. In exploratory within-group analyses for AUD patients, higher CTQ scores related to reduced cortical thickness in the left IFG after controlling for AUD severity. Conclusions Childhood maltreatment affects brain structure, particularly in the IFG. This region may undergo neurodevelopmental changes reflecting both vulnerability and resilience. Chronic alcohol exposure may obscure or reshape these effects, underscoring the interplay between early adversity and addiction-related brain alterations.