Precision Genomics: A Reality Having Universal Impact in a New Era of Psychiatry – Lessons Learned, Past and Present

Addiction neuroscience explores the complex interplay between genetic, neurobiological, environmental, and socio-spiritual factors underlying substance and behavioral addictions. Over the past three decades, research in this domain has identified critical molecular and epigenetic mechanisms-particularly those affecting dopaminergic signaling and reward pathways-that contribute to both vulnerability and resilience to addictive behaviors. Central to this understanding is the concept of reward deficiency syndrome (RDS), first introduced by Kenneth Blum, which posits that hypodopaminergic functioning predisposes individuals to seek maladaptive rewards. Advances in neurogenetics, including the identification of key polymorphisms such as the DRD2 A1 allele, have paved the way for precision tools like the genetic addiction risk severity (GARS<sup>®</sup>) test. This test, alongside pro-dopaminergic nutraceutical interventions like KB220, demonstrates the potential for early detection and individualized treatment of "pre-addiction" risk states. Despite ongoing reliance on opioids for opioid use disorder (OUD), emerging paradigms advocate for dopamine homeostasis through non-addictive, integrative approaches. Furthermore, the integration of whole genome sequencing data can be used for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), multi-omics, and machine learning into clinical practice holds promise for advancing personalized medicine in addiction treatment. As the field progresses, addressing health equity and improving genomic representation across populations remain critical goals. This evolving framework underscores the importance of leveraging genomic insights to prevent, predict, and personalize interventions for addiction and mental illness at scale.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Addiction Psychiatry
Published
2025-08-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17756/jap.2025-050
Primary Topic
Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Precision Genomics: A Reality Having Universal Impact in a New Era of Psychiatry – Lessons Learned, Past and Present

Rossano Kepler Alvim Fiorelli, Mauro Ceccanti, Paul R. Carney, Daniel Gastelu et al.
Journal of Addiction Psychiatry
Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
article

Precision Genomics: A Reality Having Universal Impact in a New Era of Psychiatry – Lessons Learned, Past and Present

Rossano Kepler Alvim Fiorelli, Mauro Ceccanti, Paul R. Carney, Daniel Gastelu, Debasis Bagchi, Chynna Levin, Foojan Zeine, Edward J. Modestino, Eliot L. Gardner, Colin Hanna, Alireza Sharafshah, David Baron, Jag Khalsa, Morgan P. Lorio, Anand Swaroop, Daniel Sipple, Nicole Jafari, Rene Cortese, Abdalla Bowirrat, Igor Elman, Mark S. Gold, Albert Pinhasov, Keerthy Sunder, Kai‐Uwe Lewandrowski, Milan Makale, Catherine A. Dennen, Kavya Mohankumar, Panayotis K. Thanos, Margaret Madigan, Shaurya Mahajan, Rajendra D Badgaiyan, Kenneth Blum, Sérgio Luís Schimidt, Joseph J. Morgan, Yatharth Mahajan, Alexander P. L. Lewandrowski, Marco Lindenau, Fuehrlein Brian, Gianni Matare
article en

Abstract

Addiction neuroscience explores the complex interplay between genetic, neurobiological, environmental, and socio-spiritual factors underlying substance and behavioral addictions. Over the past three decades, research in this domain has identified critical molecular and epigenetic mechanisms-particularly those affecting dopaminergic signaling and reward pathways-that contribute to both vulnerability and resilience to addictive behaviors. Central to this understanding is the concept of reward deficiency syndrome (RDS), first introduced by Kenneth Blum, which posits that hypodopaminergic functioning predisposes individuals to seek maladaptive rewards. Advances in neurogenetics, including the identification of key polymorphisms such as the DRD2 A1 allele, have paved the way for precision tools like the genetic addiction risk severity (GARS<sup>®</sup>) test. This test, alongside pro-dopaminergic nutraceutical interventions like KB220, demonstrates the potential for early detection and individualized treatment of "pre-addiction" risk states. Despite ongoing reliance on opioids for opioid use disorder (OUD), emerging paradigms advocate for dopamine homeostasis through non-addictive, integrative approaches. Furthermore, the integration of whole genome sequencing data can be used for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), multi-omics, and machine learning into clinical practice holds promise for advancing personalized medicine in addiction treatment. As the field progresses, addressing health equity and improving genomic representation across populations remain critical goals. This evolving framework underscores the importance of leveraging genomic insights to prevent, predict, and personalize interventions for addiction and mental illness at scale.

Journal of Addiction PsychiatryVol. 9(1)
University of Southern California (US), University of Maryland, Baltimore (US), Fairview Health Services (US), St. John's University (US), Johns Hopkins University (US), Guilan University of Medical Sciences (IR), Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (US), Johns Hopkins Medicine (US), Yale University (US), University of California San Diego (US), Northeast Health (US), University of Minnesota Medical Center (US), Curry College (US), Ariel University (IL), Sapienza University of Rome (IT), Stanford University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.