Although we only observed FA decrements, De Bellis and colleagues (2008) found increased FA in the rostral body and isthmus of the corpus callosum among youth with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in a region-specific study. Although the current study did not include adolescents with AUD, results here are consistent with our previous study of 8 teenagers with AUD (without concomitant psychiatric issues) compared to 8 control teens (Tapert et al., 2003). This pilot investigation showed reduced FA in the splenium [F(1,16) = 4.39, p = 0.05] and marginally in the body [F(1,16) = 3.46, p = 0.08] of the corpus callosum. Conflicting findings could stem from dissimilarities in samples. While, here, groups were matched by age and free from psychiatric conditions, De Bellis and colleagues studied youths with an AUD who were slightly older than their comparison group (16.9 years vs. 15.9 years, p < 0.003), and had comorbid Axis I disorders (75% cannabis use disorder, 72% lifetime major depressive episode, 69% attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and 63% conduct disorder) whereas such diagnoses were exclusionary for controls. These comorbid disorders
