# Towards molecular diagnostics of parental alienation

## TL;DR

This paper proposes using molecular biomarkers to objectively diagnose parental alienation in children, aiming to improve legal decisions and child welfare.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is suggesting a panel of molecular biomarkers specific to chronic stress indicators for diagnosing parental alienation.

## Key findings

- A panel of molecular biomarkers is proposed to detect chronic stress associated with parental alienation.
- The panel includes markers for HPA axis activation, neurotransmitter dysregulation, inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to validate and implement the biomarker panel.

## Abstract

High-conflict parental divorce can result in parental alienation (PA), leading to chronic psychological stress in children that adversely affects their mental and physical health. This stress may manifest as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, immune dysfunction, and cardiovascular, neurological, endocrine, or gastrointestinal issues. The inconsistent legal recognition of PA highlights the need for objective diagnostic tools to inform judicial decisions. We propose a panel of molecular biomarkers, derived from well-established indicators of chronic stress, to address the limited data specific to PA. This panel targets hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, neurotransmitter dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, epigenetic modifications, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, general practitioners, and legal professionals is crucial to validate and implement this panel, ultimately enhancing child welfare through early intervention.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-025-05895-3.