Neuromarkers in addiction: definitions, development strategies, and recent advances.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review outlining frameworks and summarizing existing literature without systematic review or meta-analysis.
PubMed 38630190 · doi:10.1007/s00702-024-02766-2
What was done
This narrative review outlined methodological criteria and developmental guidelines for brain-based neuromarkers in substance use disorders (SUDs). The authors reviewed recent advances in addiction neuroscience, focusing specifically on craving neuromarkers and examining the development and validation principles behind the Neurobiological Craving Signature (NCS).
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative results, empirical effect sizes, or participant numbers. The authors proposed that valid neuromarkers must demonstrate sensitivity and specificity, rely on predictive modeling, and show generalizability via internal cross-validation and external testing. They categorized SUD neuromarker utilities into susceptibility, diagnostic, prognostic, monitoring, treatment response, and predictive categories.
Why it matters
Brain-based neuromarkers could bridge basic neuroscience and clinical practice by providing objective metrics for SUD diagnosis, craving assessment, and treatment outcome prediction.
Limits
The abstract provides no empirical data, sample sizes, effect sizes, or performance metrics for the cited neuromarkers. As a narrative review rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis, the synthesis is subject to selection bias and reflects theoretical guidelines rather than clinical efficacy testing.
Cited by
- supports There are no biological measurements, brain scans, or blood tests to clinically diagnose addiction.