Biochemical Diagnosis in Substance and Non-substance Addiction.

An optimal biochemical marker for addiction would be some easily traced molecules in body specimens, which indicate indulgent addictive behaviors or susceptibility to certain addictive stimuli. In this chapter, we discussed existing literature about possible biomarkers, and classified them into three categories: the substance molecules and their metabolites, markers from biochemical responses to certain addiction, and genetic markers suggesting susceptibility to addiction. In every category, we examined studies concerning a certain type of addiction one by one, with focus mainly on opiates, psychostimulants, and pathological gambling. Several promising molecules were highlighted, including those of neurotrophic factors, inflammatory factors, and indicators of vascular injury.