Origins of Addiction Predictably Embedded in Childhood Trauma: A Neurobiological Review

Abstract

The seeds of addiction are typically sown years prior to the onset of addictive substance use or engagement in addictive behaviors, due to the priming of the reward pathway (RewP) by alterations in the mechanism of stress-signaling from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and related pathways. Excessive stress from a single-event and/or cumulative life experiences during childhood, such as those documented in the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, is translated into neurobiological toxicity that alters the set-point of the HPA axis and limbic system homeostasis [suggested new term: regulation pathway (RegP)]. The resultant alteration of the RegP not only increases the risk for psychiatric and physical illness, but also that for early onset and chronic addictions by dysregulating the RewP. This paper reviews the interface of these symbiotic pathways that result in the phenotypic pathology of emotional dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and compulsive behaviors, as well as morbidity and shorter life expectancy when dysregulated by chronic stress.

Clinical correlates of craving among patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder

“…Past studies have found emotional reactivity/dysregulation and negative affect, such as anxiety and stress, to be correlated with craving and SUD (2,5,29,30). Excessive stress signaling is thought to prime the brain's reward system for addictive behaviors (29). Given the role of the reward system in mediating craving and the known negative effects of adverse childhood experiences on emotional regulation, we suspected ACE scores would be associated with increased reports of craving (31).…”

“…This study is the rst known to evaluate the relationship between ACE score and craving. Past studies have found emotional reactivity/dysregulation and negative affect, such as anxiety and stress, to be correlated with craving and SUD (2,5,29,30). Excessive stress signaling is thought to prime the brain's reward system for addictive behaviors (29).…”

Craving among patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder

“…Polymorphisms found in other genes, such as those in the dopamine reward pathway and those encoding for protein alpha-synclein, are associated with increased craving amongst those with SUD (28-30). These genetic variations are suspected to be speci c to craving and distinct from other genetic pathways underlying the SUD phenotype (29). With that in mind, one study found that there was no difference in alcohol craving between patients in Mexico, Argentina, Poland, and the USA (31).…”

Swiss Spaghetti Harvest and JKACAP SCIE

“…Seok Hyun Nam, Juhyun Park, and Tae Won Park's study "Clinical aspects of premonitory urges in patients with Tourette's disorder" is a review article that attempted to determine typical symptoms of Tourette's disorder. In JKACAP Vol 28, No 1 published on January 1, 2017, Corwin [2] and scholars from the Academy on Violence and Abuse [3][4][5] published articles concerning childhood trauma and maltreatment. Studies concerning abuse and violence investigate the social phenomenon, rather than specific diseases with definite pathogens or etiologies.…”