Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) is defined as a breakdown of reward neurotransmission that results in a wide range of addictive, compulsive, and impulsive behaviors. RDS is caused by a combination of environmental (epigenetic) influences and DNA-based (genetic) neurotransmission deficits that interfere with the normal satisfaction of human physiological drives (i.e., food, water, and sex). An essential feature of RDS is the lack of integration between perception, cognition, and emotions that occurs because of (1) significant dopaminergic surges in motivation, reward, and learning centers causing neuroplasticity in the striato-thalamic-frontal cortical loop; (2) hypo-functionality of the excitatory glutamatergic afferents from the amygdala–hippocampus complex. A large volume of literature regarding the known neurogenetic and psychological underpinnings of RDS has revealed a significant risk of dopaminergic gene polymorphic allele overlap between cohorts of depression and subsets of ...

The United States are amid an opioid overdose epidemic; we are challenged to provide non-addicting/non-pharmacological alternatives to assist in pain attenuation. There are proven strategies available to manage chronic pain effectively without opioids. Utilization review providers for insurance companies often ignore medicine based scientific peer-reviewed studies that warn against the chronic use of opioid medications, as well as the lack of evidence to support long-term use of opioids for pain. This paradigm must change if we are to indeed change the drug-embracing culture in American chronic pain management. A barrier to treatment is pushback on the part of insurance companies especially as it relates to fighting against pain relief alternatives compared to classical analgesic agents. Pain specialists in the U.S., are compelled to find alternative solutions to help pain victims without promoting unwanted tolerance to analgesics and subsequent biological induction of the "add...

It is a reality that globally opioid deaths have soared for men and women of all social, economic status and age from heroin and fentanyl overdoses. Specifically, in the United States, deaths from narcotic overdoses have reached alarming metrics since 2010. In fact, the Fentanyl rise is driven by drug dealers who sell it as heroin or who use it to lace cocaine or to make illegal counterfeit prescription opioids. The President's Commission on the crisis has linked the death toll as equivalent to "September 11th every three weeks." In fact, The U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) released data showing that opioid-related overdoses were up 15% in the first three quarters of 2016 compared to 2015. Various governmental organizations including NIDA, are actively seeking solutions. However, we argue that unless the scientific community embraces genetic addiction risk coupled with potential precision or personalized medicine to induce "dopamine homeostasis" it will...

IntroductionThere is a need to classify patients at genetic risk for drug seeking behavior prior to or upon entry to chemical dependency programs.MethodsThe prevalence of seven risk alleles (DRD2 = A1; SLC6A3 (DAT) = 10R; DRD4 = 3R or 7R; 5HTTLPR = L or LA; MAO = 3R; COMT = G) and corresponding severity risk score (Low (LS) = 1–36%, moderate (MS) = 37–50%, and high (HS) = 51–100%) were calculated. Group 1 consisted of 16 Caucasian male psycho-stimulant addicts, and Group 2 consisted of 10 Chinese male heroin addicts (9 were genotyped). qEEG and fMRI visualized the impact of Neuroadaptagen Amino-Acid Therapy complex on mesolimbic system activation.Results[Findings by Group]74% of the combined groups had a moderate to high genetic addiction risk score (GARS). One acute dose of KB220-IV variant in heroin addicts having brain abnormalities was found to normalize qEEG. Additionally, a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study involving oral KB220-Z variant established qEEG normali...

Scientific studies have provided evidence that there is a relationship between violent and aggressive behaviors and addictions. Genes involved with the reward system, specifically the brain reward cascade (BRC), appear to be associated with various addictions and impulsive, aggressive, and violent behaviors. In our previous research, we examined the Taq A1 allele (variant D2 dopamine receptor gene) and the DAT-40 base repeat (a variant of the dopamine transporter gene) in 11 Caucasian boys at the Brown School in San Marcus, Texas, diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. Thirty supernormal controls were screened to exclude several reward–deficit behaviors, including pathological violence, and genotyped for the DRD2 gene. Additionally, 91 controls were screened to exclude ADHD, pathological violence, alcoholism, drug dependence, and tobacco abuse, and their results were compared with DAT1 genotype results. In the schoolboys vs. supercontrols, there was a significant associatio...

The reinforcing properties of mesolimbic dopamine release caused by cocaine use disorder (CUD) are well known [1] and carriers of the DRD2 A1 allele due to hypodopaminergia (30-40 percent less DRD2 receptors) have significant psychostimulant risk [2,3]. The Adenosine a system; important in regulating the neuronal activity associated with the sleepwake cycle is another mechanism that may be involved in regulating DA release [4]. One animal study set out to examine the role of adenosine in cocaine-induced DA release. In order to denote a response curve increasing doses of caffeine, cocaine, and their combination, and an adenosine A1 antagonist 8-cyclopentyl theophylline (CPT), were used alone and in combination. Real-time images of the drug-induced surge of DA release in vivo, in a freely moving animal, were captured by the Broderick Probe biosensor, to denote a response curve of the combinations. Caffeine and cocaine were shown after administration of the low dose (2.5 mg/kg cocaine and 12.5 mg/kg caffeine) to moderately block the increased release of DA and after administration of the high dose (10 mg/kg cocaine and 50 mg/kg caffeine), dramatically, suggesting neuroprotection [5]. When administered in combination CPT and cocaine showed a decreased DA surge. Thus, protection against the cocaine-induced DA release was shown to occur with low and high *

has seen a record-setting number of deaths and overdoses (1-13). According to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), there were approximately 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States (US) during a 12-month period that ended in April 2021, which is a 28.5% increase when compared to the 78,056 deaths that occurred during the same period the year before (3). This trend is particularly disturbing given the new drug czar's projection of the annual number of overdose deaths to reach 165,000 by 2025. Approximately 9.5 million Americans, aged 12 or older, misused opioids in 2020 (13). In addition, in 2020, approximately 2.5 million Americans, aged 12 or older, suffered from opioid use disorder (OUD), but only about 11% (278,000 individuals) received medication-assisted treatment (13). Untreated individuals are more likely to experience increased criminal activity, HIV infection, and mortality (14). Additionally, it is estimated that these individuals will cost society more than $500 billion annually (15). Hence, there is a need to revisit our pathophysiological conceptualizations and ensuing therapeutic approaches (16).

شیاتس ولنادم )لوئسم هدنسیون( سانشراک ی ،دشرا هدکشناد مولع برت ی ت ی و سانشناور ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . یمشاه جروت رتکد ،داتسا هدکشناد سانشناور ی و مولع برت ی ت ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . روپ یشخب سابع رتکد داتسا ، هدکشناد سانشناور ی و مولع برت ی ت ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . Setayesh Modanloo* M.A., Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. setayesh.modanlou@gmail.com Dr. Touraj Hashemi Professor, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Dr. Abbas Bakhshipour Professor, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Background-Lucid Dreams are a form of dream life, during which the dreamer may be aware that he/she is dreaming, can stop/re-start the dreams, depending on the pleasantness or unpleasant nature of the dream, and experiences the dream as if he/she were fully awake. Depending on their content, they may be pleasant, unpleasant or terrifying, at least in the context of patients, who also exhibit characteristics of Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Case Series-We present eight clinical cases, with known substance abuse, childhood abuse and diagnosed PTSD/RDS. The administration of a putative dopamine agonist, KB200Z™, was associated with the elimination of unpleasant and/or terrifying, lucid dreams in 87.5% of the cases presented, whereas one very heavy cocaine abuser showed a minimal response. These results required the continuous use of this nutraceutical. The lucid dreams themselves were distinguishable from typical, PTSD nightmares insofar as their content did not appear to reflect a symbolic rendition of an originally-experienced, historical trauma. Each of the cases was diagnosed with a form of RDS, i.e., ADHD, ADD, and/or Tourette's syndrome. They all also suffered from some form of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric diagnoses as well. Conclusion-The reduction or elimination of terrifying Lucid Dreams seemed to be dependent on KB220Z, whereby voluntary stopping of the agent results in reinstatement of the terrifying non-pleasant nature of the dreams. Following more required research on a much larger population we anticipate confirmation of these seemingly interesting observations. If these results in a small number of patients are indeed confirmed we may have found a frontline solution to a very perplexing and complicated symptom known as lucid dreams.

Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) is an umbrella term encompassing a wide array of addictive behaviors that affect individuals across diverse spectra of society. Our research group has conducted a plethora of studies investigating the utilization of KB220 and its various iterations for addressing Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS), including: dopamine homeostasis, brain areas associated with dopamine, functional connectivity, qEEG, reductions of cravings, relapse prevention and detoxification, opioid-seeking and attenuation of intake, binge-drinking and withdrawal, DUIs, shopping and hoarding behaviors, memory decline, nightmares, paraphilias, ADHD, eating disorders and weight loss, anger and stress reduction, and genetically customized compounds. In this review, we compare studies using KB220 (and variants) for these things with GLP-1 analogs. We suggest that KB220 (and its variants) demonstrate superiority over GLP-1 analogs for addressing all these issues, as evidenced by various reasons outlined herein, particularly their impact on the brain’s reward cascade and dopamine homeostasis, all while avoiding antagonism of the reward system.

The dopaminergic system, and in particular the dopamine O 2 receptor, has been profoundly implicated in reward mechanisms in the brain. Dysfunction of the O 2 dopamine receptors leads to aberrant substance seeking behaviour (alcohol, drug, tobacco, and food) and other related behaviours (pathological gambling, Tourette's syndrome, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We propose that variants of the O 2 dopamine receptor gene are important common genetic determinants of the 'reward deficiency syndrome'. J The dopaminergic system plays a major role in the brainreward mechanisms, in that deficits in dopamine function result in abnormal drug and alcohol seeking behaviour!". OA receptors are profoundly involvcdl/. The 02 dopamine receptor gene, localized in the q22-q23 segment of chromosome 11, has multiple allelic forms (Table 1)1316

Scientific studies have provided evidence that there is a relationship between violent and aggressive behaviors and addictions. Genes involved with the reward system, specifically the brain reward cascade (BRC), appear to be associated with various addictions and impulsive, aggressive, and violent behaviors. In our previous research, we examined the Taq A1 allele (variant D2 dopamine receptor gene) and the DAT-40 base repeat (a variant of the dopamine transporter gene) in 11 Caucasian boys at the Brown School in San Marcus, Texas, diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. Thirty supernormal controls were screened to exclude several reward–deficit behaviors, including pathological violence, and genotyped for the DRD2 gene. Additionally, 91 controls were screened to exclude ADHD, pathological violence, alcoholism, drug dependence, and tobacco abuse, and their results were compared with DAT1 genotype results. In the schoolboys vs. supercontrols, there was a significant associatio...

Despite progress that has been made in the treatment of obesity, the epidemic continues to rise worldwide. While pharmacological treatment of obesity may be effective, medications may have significant side effects and can be potentially fatal. This review will provide significant evidence to substantiate the existence of Reward Deficiency Syndrome in Obesity and the role of catecholaminergic pathways in aberrant substance seeking behavior, in particular cravings for carbohydrates. The genetic basis for generalized craving behavior will be established. Evidence to support the augmentation of precursor amino acid therapy and enkephalinase, MOA and COMT inhibition leading to enhanced levels of neurotransmitters: serotonin, enkephalins, GABA and dopamine/norepinephrine as well increasing insulin sensitivity (affecting dopamine neuronal synthesis regulation) through the use of certain neurometabolic optimizers will also be provided. This review article cites many published studies to sup...

The purpose of this editorial is to inform the entire scientific community, but more importantly the clinicians and professional on the front-line of caring for the victims of individuals with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and a remarkable array of addictive, impulsive and compulsive behaviors. Over the last two decades, changes in the nomenclature of addictions suggest a significant shift in the conceptualization of addictions, where non-substance related behaviors can also be classified as addictions. A large amount of data provides empirical evidence that there are overlaps of different types of addictive behaviors in etiology, phenomenology, and in the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms. Recent results suggest a large overlap between the existence of these addictions and behaviors and underlies the importance of analyzing the possible common psychological, genetic and neural pathways. Most importantly, exhaustive data to date, further support concepts such as ...

During Lucid Dreams, the dreamer is aware, experiences the dream as if fully awake, and may control the dream content. The dreamer can start, stop, and restart dreaming, depending on the nature and pleasantness of the dream. For patients with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) behaviors, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette's-Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the dream content may be pleasant, unpleasant, or terrifying. A sample of psychiatric center patients identified as having RDS reported the effectiveness of a neuronutrient, dopamine agonist, KB200Z, in combating terrifying, lucid dreaming. These reports motivated the study of eight clinical cases with known histories of substance abuse, childhood abuse, and PTSD. The administration of KB200Z, associated with eliminating unpleasant or terrifying lucid dreams in 87.5% of the cases. Subsequently, other published cases have further established the possibility of the long-term eliminati...

The United States are amid an opioid overdose epidemic; we are challenged to provide non-addicting/non-pharmacological alternatives to assist in pain attenuation. There are proven strategies available to manage chronic pain effectively without opioids. Utilization review providers for insurance companies often ignore medicine based scientific peer-reviewed studies that warn against the chronic use of opioid medications, as well as the lack of evidence to support long-term use of opioids for pain. This paradigm must change if we are to indeed change the drug-embracing culture in American chronic pain management. A barrier to treatment is pushback on the part of insurance companies especially as it relates to fighting against pain relief alternatives compared to classical analgesic agents. Pain specialists in the U.S., are compelled to find alternative solutions to help pain victims without promoting unwanted tolerance to analgesics and subsequent biological induction of the "add...

The brain regions tied to pleasure can be triggered by engaging in sex, eating tasty food, watching a movie, accomplishments at school and athletics, consuming drugs, and noble efforts to help the community, the country, and the world. It is noteworthy that research suggests that the latter type of satisfaction, supporting the community, may result in the most substantial positive effects on our immune system. However, these pathways for these effects are not understood. Berridge and Kringelbach have suggested that pleasure is mediated by well-developed mesocorticolimbic circuitry and serves adaptive functions. In affective disorders, anhedonia (lack of pleasure) or dysphoria (negative affect) can result from a breakdown of that hedonic system. Most importantly, human neuroimaging investigations indicate that surprisingly similar circuitry is activated by quite diverse pleasures, suggesting a common neural pathway shared by all rewarding stimuli and behaviors. Over many years the controversy of dopamine involvement in pleasure/reward has led to confusion in terms, such as trying to separate motivation from pure pleasure (i.e., wanting versus liking). We take the position that animal studies cannot provide real clinical information that is described by self-reports in humans. On November 23 rd , 2017, evidence for our concerns was revealed. A brain system involved in everything from addiction to autism appears to have evolved differently in humans than in apes, as reported by a large research team in the journal Science. To reiterate, the new findings by Sousa et al., also suggest the importance of not overrelying on rodent and even non-human primate studies. Extrapolations, when it comes to the concept of pleasure, dopamine, and reinforcement, are not supported by these data. Human experience and study are now much more critical and important. Extrapolations from non-humans to humans may be more fiction than fact. While this statement is bold it should not at all suggest that animal date is unimportant, that is not the case. It is extremely valuable in many aspects and we must encourage the development of animal models for disease. However, we must be cautious in our interpretation of results without leaping to conclusions that may be explained by follow-up human experiments and subsequent data. We are further proposing that in terms of overcoming a never-ending battle related to the current drug epidemic, the scientific community should realize that disturbing dopamine homeostasis by taking drugs or having a system compromised by genes or other epigenetic experiences, should be treated by alternative therapeutic modalities, expressed in this article as a realistic key goal. Application of genetic addiction risk (GARS) testing and pro-dopamine regulation (KB220) should be considered along with other promising technologies including cognitive behavioral therapy, mind fullness, brain spotting and trauma therapy. Basic scientists have worked very hard to disentangle pleasure from incentive salience and learning signals in brain reward circuitry, but this work may be limited to animal models and rodents. A different consideration regarding the human reward systems is required.

Background: The search for an accurate, gene-based test to identify heritable risk factors for Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) was conducted based on hundreds of published studies about the role of dopamine in addictive behaviors, including risk for drug dependence and compulsive/impulsive behavior disorders. The term RDS was first coined by Blum’s group in 1995 to identify a group of behaviors with a common neurobiological mechanism associated with a polymorphic allelic propensity for hypodopaminergia. Objectives: To outline the process used to select risk alleles of reward genes for the Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS) test. Consequently, to address the limitations caused by inconsistent results that occur in many case-control behavioral association studies. These limitations are perhaps due to the failure of investigators to adequately screen controls for drug and alcohol use disorder, and any of the many RDS behaviors, including nicotine dependence, obesity, pathological gam...

We are currently in a genomics era with important implications for the field of psychiatry. An understanding of DNA, as well as polymorphic changes affecting the brain's reward circuitry, has provided a new way of approaching and thinking about addictive behaviors. Our current goal is to provide a foundation for more accurate genetic diagnoses as well, as the application of dopamine agonist therapy (pro-dopamine regulation), in order to balance dopaminergic activation. Based upon our extensive research, we are proposing a novel approach which challenges the Addiction recovery field to utilize these tools by introducing them into inpatient/outpatient addiction treatment programs The following tools, we hope, will change the recovery landscape: The Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS™) for Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) diagnoses; the Comprehensive Analysis Of Reported Drugs (CARD™) to establish compliance of prescribed medications and abstinence during treatment; natural Dopamine agonistic therapy (KB220™); mRNA (patent pending) to resolve pre-and postcandidate gene expressions in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). As a result, we have dubbed this paradigm shift as: "The Reward Deficiency Solutions System (RDSS™)."

Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject as a poison"-This has been said even in our scriptures. Addictions have been found to be common state observed in all age groups particularly young adults. I. Introduction: Addiction is very common state which can be observed in our surrounding in day to day basis. People are usually found to be addicted to substances, people, Things like internet, money, popularity, etc. The American Society of Addiction Medicine states that,-Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease.‖ Three C's:- COMPULSION-Differs from craving in that it is subconscious.  Loss of CONTROL  Continued use despite negative CONSEQUENCES Anxiety is also very commonly occupying the states of mind in teenage 1 Addictive drugs chemically change our behavior, our values, and even our concept of the-self‖.Addictive drugs offer a portal to the-mind‖ Addictions starts with Experimental /Circumstantial drug use Casual drug use leading to Intensive drug use Compulsive drug use finally leads to Addiction.

The focus of this paper is treatment of obesity in relation to the management of hedonic appetite. Obesity is a complex condition which may be potentiated by excessive reward seeking in combination with executive functioning deficits that impair cognitive control of behavior. Stimulant medications address both reward deficiency and enhance motivation, as well as suppressing appetite. They have long been recognized to be effective for treating obesity. However, stimulants can be abused for their euphoric effect. They induce euphoria via the same neural pathway that underlies their therapeutic effect in obesity. For this reason they have generally not been endorsed for use in obesity. Among the stimulants, only phentermine (either alone or in combination with topiramate) and bupropion (which has stimulant-like properties and is used in combination with naltrexone), are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for obesity, although dexamphetamine and methylpenidate are approved and widely used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. Experience gained over many years in the treatment of ADHD demonstrates that with careful dose titration, stimulants can be used safely. In obesity, improvement in mood and executive functioning could assist with the lifestyle changes necessary for weight control, acting synergistically with appetite suppression. The obesity crisis has reached the stage that strong consideration should be given to adequate utilization of this effective and inexpensive class of drug.

Addictions to smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs, and certain behaviors like gambling, overeating, and sex, are prevalent worldwide. These behaviors are highly destructive and costly to individuals and society due to health consequences, criminality and lost productivity. The genetic vulnerability, environmental exposures, and individual behaviors that contribute to the brain dysfunction and compulsive tendencies that mark addiction make it one of the most complicated diseases to study and treat. Although much has been learned about the genetic basis of and biochemical imbalances associated with the addictions, research leading to effective treatments has been slow. Addictions are often accompanied by an inner sense of disintegration, enslavement and meaninglessness that can be viewed in terms of a spiritual craving for wholeness, freedom, and transformation. Arguably, progress towards effective treatment has been retarded by insufficient attention being paid to understanding the role ...

This brief commentary aims to provide an overview of the available and relatively new precision management of reward deficiencies manifested as substance and behavioral disorders. Current and future advances, concepts, and the substantial evidential basis of this potential therapeutic and prophylactic treatment modality are presented. Precision Behavioral Management (PBM), conceptualized initially as Precision Addiction Management (PAM), certainly deserves consideration as an important modality for the treatment of impaired cognitive control in reward processing as manifested in people with neurobiologically expressed Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS).

Since 1990, when our laboratory published the association of the DRD2 Taq A1 allele and severe alcoholism in JAMA, there has been an explosion of genetic candidate association studies, including GWAS. To develop an accurate test to help identify those at risk for at least Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Blum’s group developed the Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) test, consisting of ten genes and eleven associated risk alleles. In order to statistically validate the selection of these risk alleles measured by GARS, we applied strict analysis to studies that investigated the association of each polymorphism with AUD or AUD-related conditions published from 1990 until 2021. This analysis calculated the Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium of each polymorphism in cases and controls. If available, the Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test was applied to comparisons of the gender, genotype, and allele distribution. The statistical analyses found the OR, 95% CI for OR, and a post-risk for 8% es...

Excessive alcohol intake, e.g., binge drinking, is a serious and mounting public health problem in the United States and throughout the world. Hence the need for novel insights into the underlying neurobiology that may help improve prevention and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, our group employed a darkness-induced alcohol intake protocol to define the reward deficiency domains of alcohol and other substance use disorders in terms of reward pathways’ reduced dopamine signaling and its restoration via specifically-designed therapeutic compounds. It has been determined that KCNK13 and RASGRF2 genes, respectively, code for potassium two pore domain channel subfamily K member 13 and Ras-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 2, and both genes have important dopamine-related functions pertaining to alcohol binge drinking. We present a hypothesis that identification of KCNK13 and RASGRF2 genes’ risk polymorphism, coupled with genetic addiction risk score (GARS)-guided precision p...

Despite progress that has been made in the treatment of obesity, the epidemic continues to rise worldwide. While pharmacological treatment of obesity may be effective, medications may have significant side effects and can be potentially fatal. This review will provide significant evidence to substantiate the existence of Reward Deficiency Syndrome in Obesity and the role of catecholaminergic pathways in aberrant substance seeking behavior, in particular cravings for carbohydrates. The genetic basis for generalized craving behavior will be established. Evidence to support the augmentation of precursor amino acid therapy and enkephalinase, MOA and COMT inhibition leading to enhanced levels of neurotransmitters: serotonin, enkephalins, GABA and dopamine/norepinephrine as well increasing insulin sensitivity (affecting dopamine neuronal synthesis regulation) through the use of certain neurometabolic optimizers will also be provided. This review article cites many published studies to sup...

The slaughters in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs demand explanation, in the face of the ineffable. An understanding of the shooters' motives could restore our trust in our mutually cooperative existence. In this short communication we provide post-hoc rationale of both Stephen Paddock (Las Vegas mass shooting) and Devin Kelley (Southerland Springs mass shooting) and hypothesize that these shooters had genetically induced "Reward Deficiency Syndrome" (RDS) and a hypodopaminergia trait/state. In this particular case we are in pursuit of trying to obtain postmortem samples of mass shooters for subsequent epigenetic and neurogenetic analyses. It is our contention that early genetic identification of RDS and its pathological behaviors including hyper - sexuality, violence, a love for guns, even in children, could be a giant step forward in potentially saving lives.

et al. Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) of changed Brain Function Provoked by Pro-Dopamine Regulator (KB220z) in one Adult ADHD case. Open J of Clin. Med. Case Rep. 2;(11) 2016 Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often continues into adulthood. Recent neuroimaging studies found lowered baseline dopamine tone in the brains of affected individuals that may place them at risk for Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This is an observational case study of the potential for novel management of Adult ADHD with a non-addictive glutaminergicdopaminergic optimization complex KB200z. Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) was used to evaluate the effects of KB220z on a 72-year-old male with ADHD, at baseline and one hour following administration. The resultant z-scores, averaged across Eyes Closed, Eyes Open and Working Memory conditions, increased for each frequency band, in the anterior, dorsal and posterior cingulate regions, as well as the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during Working Memory, with KB220z. These scores are consistent with other human and animal neuroimaging studies that demonstrated increased connectivity volumes in reward circuitry and may offer a new approach to ADHD treatment. However, larger randomized trials to confirm these results are required.

We are currently in a genomics era with important implications for the field of psychiatry. An understanding of DNA, as well as polymorphic changes affecting the brain's reward circuitry, has provided a new way of approaching and thinking about addictive behaviors. Our current goal is to provide a foundation for more accurate genetic diagnoses as well, as the application of dopamine agonist therapy (pro-dopamine regulation), in order to balance dopaminergic activation. Based upon our extensive research, we are proposing a novel approach which challenges the Addiction recovery field to utilize these tools by introducing them into inpatient/outpatient addiction treatment programs The following tools, we hope, will change the recovery landscape: The Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS™) for Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) diagnoses; the Comprehensive Analysis Of Reported Drugs (CARD™) to establish compliance of prescribed medications and abstinence during treatment; natural Dopamine agonistic therapy (KB220™); mRNA (patent pending) to resolve pre-and postcandidate gene expressions in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). As a result, we have dubbed this paradigm shift as: "The Reward Deficiency Solutions System (RDSS™)."

Many US states now embrace the medical and recreational use of Cannabis. Changes in the laws have heightened interest and encouraged research into both cannabinoid products and the potential harms of Cannabis use, addiction, and intoxication. Some research into those harms will be reviewed here and misgivings about the use of Pregnenolone, to treat cannabis addiction and intoxication explained. Pregnenolone considered the inactive precursor of all steroid hormones, has recently been shown to protect the brain from Cannabis intoxication. The major active

Alcohol and other substance use disorders share comorbidity with other RDS disorders, i.e., a reduction in dopamine signaling within the reward pathway. RDS is a term that connects addictive, obsessive, compulsive, and impulsive behavioral disorders. An estimated 2 million individuals in the United States have opioid use disorder related to prescription opioids. It is estimated that the overall cost of the illegal and legally prescribed opioid crisis exceeds one trillion dollars. Opioid Replacement Therapy is the most common treatment for addictions and other RDS disorders. Even after repeated relapses, patients are repeatedly prescribed the same opioid replacement treatments. A recent JAMA report indicates that non-opioid treatments fare better than chronic opioid treatments. Research demonstrates that over 50 percent of all suicides are related to alcohol or other drug use. In addition to effective fellowship programs and spirituality acceptance, nutrigenomic therapies (e.g., KB22...

et al. Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) of changed Brain Function Provoked by Pro-Dopamine Regulator (KB220z) in one Adult ADHD case. Open J of Clin. Med. Case Rep. 2;(11) 2016 Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often continues into adulthood. Recent neuroimaging studies found lowered baseline dopamine tone in the brains of affected individuals that may place them at risk for Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This is an observational case study of the potential for novel management of Adult ADHD with a non-addictive glutaminergicdopaminergic optimization complex KB200z. Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) was used to evaluate the effects of KB220z on a 72-year-old male with ADHD, at baseline and one hour following administration. The resultant z-scores, averaged across Eyes Closed, Eyes Open and Working Memory conditions, increased for each frequency band, in the anterior, dorsal and posterior cingulate regions, as well as the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during Working Memory, with KB220z. These scores are consistent with other human and animal neuroimaging studies that demonstrated increased connectivity volumes in reward circuitry and may offer a new approach to ADHD treatment. However, larger randomized trials to confirm these results are required.

The United States are amid an opioid overdose epidemic; we are challenged to provide non-addicting/non-pharmacological alternatives to assist in pain attenuation. There are proven strategies available to manage chronic pain effectively without opioids. Utilization review providers for insurance companies often ignore medicine based scientific peer-reviewed studies that warn against the chronic use of opioid medications, as well as the lack of evidence to support long-term use of opioids for pain. This paradigm must change if we are to indeed change the drug-embracing culture in American chronic pain management. A barrier to treatment is pushback on the part of insurance companies especially as it relates to fighting against pain relief alternatives compared to classical analgesic agents. Pain specialists in the U.S., are compelled to find alternative solutions to help pain victims without promoting unwanted tolerance to analgesics and subsequent biological induction of the "addictive brain." It is noteworthy that reward center of the brain plays a crucial role in the modulation of nociception, and that adaptations in dopaminergic circuitry may affect several sensory and affective components of chronic pain syndromes. Possibly knowing a patient's genetic addiction risk score (GARS™) could eliminate guessing as it relates to becoming addicted.

It is well-known that Native Americans (NA) clinically present with a very high rate of alcoholism and other drugs of abuse. It is also known that NA also display a very high rate of suicide compared to other ethnic groups. Furthermore, individuals with various psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression) also have higher rates of suicide that are frequently alcohol related. Males are as much as four times more likely to die from suicide than females. Studies comparing Native to other populations within the same geographic regions in North America divulged, almost universally, that alcohol involvement is higher among Native suicides than among the local, non-Native people. Unfortunately, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is the third cause

Many individuals in the United States are plagued by addiction, and the rate at which it is affecting people in the United States only seems to be increasing. Research shows that addiction is a preventable disorder rather than a flaw in one's moral fiber. It is driven by the imbalance of dopamine and the brain's reward system. Although medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the most common treatment for addiction, are effective in reducing harm, they provide minimal aid in addressing the root cause of this preventable disorder. The authors aim to convey that the proper treatment should help restore dopamine balance so the quality of life can be improved in the recovering community. Osteopathic principles emphasize the importance of homeostasis and allostasis in allowing the body to heal itself. Viewing reward deficiency syndrome (RDS) through this osteopathic lens can bring about treatments that aim to restore the dopamine homeostasis. The article discusses various potential therapeutic modalities that can provide dopamine homeostasis via activation of dopaminergic pathways.

Scientific studies have provided evidence that there is a relationship between violent and aggressive behaviors and addictions. Genes involved with the reward system, specifically the brain reward cascade (BRC), appear to be associated with various addictions and impulsive, aggressive, and violent behaviors. In our previous research, we examined the Taq A1 allele (variant D2 dopamine receptor gene) and the DAT-40 base repeat (a variant of the dopamine transporter gene) in 11 Caucasian boys at the Brown School in San Marcus, Texas, diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. Thirty supernormal controls were screened to exclude several reward–deficit behaviors, including pathological violence, and genotyped for the DRD2 gene. Additionally, 91 controls were screened to exclude ADHD, pathological violence, alcoholism, drug dependence, and tobacco abuse, and their results were compared with DAT1 genotype results. In the schoolboys vs. supercontrols, there was a significant associatio...

During Lucid Dreams, the dreamer is aware, experiences the dream as if fully awake, and may control the dream content. The dreamer can start, stop, and restart dreaming, depending on the nature and pleasantness of the dream. For patients with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) behaviors, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Tourette's-Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the dream content may be pleasant, unpleasant, or terrifying. A sample of psychiatric center patients identified as having RDS reported the effectiveness of a neuronutrient, dopamine agonist, KB200Z, in combating terrifying, lucid dreaming. These reports motivated the study of eight clinical cases with known histories of substance abuse, childhood abuse, and PTSD. The administration of KB200Z, associated with eliminating unpleasant or terrifying lucid dreams in 87.5% of the cases. Subsequently, other published cases have further established the possibility of the long-term eliminati...

Blum’s laboratory has dedicated work to develop an accurate genetic test to predict true liability/risk for addiction and Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) behaviours [1,2]. Genius Health LLC., scientists, in conjunction with their Genomic Testing Centre GTC), have successfully developed the first Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARSTM). The actual association to determine risk using a clinical outcome, termed the Addiction Severity IndexMedia Version (ASI-MV), was accomplished with the Institute of Behavioural Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder [3-8] and Dominion Diagnostics. The commercial test has just received a Notice of Allowance (application number 14/796.989) on 7-26-18 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The purpose of this editorial is to inform the entire scientific community, but more importantly the clinicians and professional on the front-line of caring for the victims of individuals with Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and a remarkable array of addictive, impulsive and compulsive behaviors. Over the last two decades, changes in the nomenclature of addictions suggest a significant shift in the conceptualization of addictions, where non-substance related behaviors can also be classified as addictions. A large amount of data provides empirical evidence that there are overlaps of different types of addictive behaviors in etiology, phenomenology, and in the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms. Recent results suggest a large overlap between the existence of these addictions and behaviors and underlies the importance of analyzing the possible common psychological, genetic and neural pathways. Most importantly, exhaustive data to date, further support concepts such as ...

On June 18th the world lost a fabulous 17-year-old violinist prodigy a Carnegie Hall sensation, Katya Tsukanova, due to a fatal overdose of the designer drug named Calvin Klein (CK). The CK drug is so named because it contains a combination of both cocaine and ketamine. It is therefore appropriately categorized as a “polydrug.” CK (sometimes called CK1 or cable) has become a real party drug not only in England but also in other parts of the world including New York’s nightclub scenes. The feeling experienced from using CK is akin to that induced by the famous sex-inked, Molly, in the 60s and 70s. People taking this drug, mostly by snorting it, suggest that the mixture of the two-produce powerful euphoric highs coupled with a hallucinogenic feeling caused by ecstasy.

Dopamine along with other chemical messengers like serotonin, cannabinoids, endorphins and glutamine, play significant roles in brain reward processing. There is a devastating opiate/opioid epidemicin the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 127 people, young and old, are dying every day due to narcotic overdose and alarmingly heroin overdose is on the rise. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some Medication-Assisted Treatments (MATs) for alcoholism, opiate and nicotine dependence, but nothing for psychostimulant and cannabis abuse. While these pharmaceuticals are essential for the short-term induction of "psychological extinction," in the long-term caution is necessary because their use favors blocking dopaminergic function indispensable for achieving normal satisfaction in life. The two institutions devoted to alcoholism and drug dependence (NIAAA & NIDA) realize that MATs are not optimal and continue...

Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject as a poison"-This has been said even in our scriptures. Addictions have been found to be common state observed in all age groups particularly young adults. I. Introduction: Addiction is very common state which can be observed in our surrounding in day to day basis. People are usually found to be addicted to substances, people, Things like internet, money, popularity, etc. The American Society of Addiction Medicine states that,-Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease.‖ Three C's:- COMPULSION-Differs from craving in that it is subconscious.  Loss of CONTROL  Continued use despite negative CONSEQUENCES Anxiety is also very commonly occupying the states of mind in teenage 1 Addictive drugs chemically change our behavior, our values, and even our concept of the-self‖.Addictive drugs offer a portal to the-mind‖ Addictions starts with Experimental /Circumstantial drug use Casual drug use leading to Intensive drug use Compulsive drug use finally leads to Addiction.

In the face of the global pandemic of COVID 19, approaching 1.75 Million infected worldwide (4/12/2020) and associated mortality (over 108, 000 as of 4/12/2020) as well-as other catastrophic events including the opioid crisis, a focus on brain health seems prudent [1] (https://www.coronavirus.gov). This manuscript reports on the systemic benefits of restoring and achieving dopamine homeostasis to reverse and normalize thoughts and behaviors of Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) dysfunctional conditions and their effects on behavioral physiology; function of reward genes; and focuses on digestive, immune, eye health, and the constellation of symptomatic behaviors. The role of nutrigenomic interventions on restoring normal brain functions and its benefits on these systems will be discussed. We demonstrate that modulation of dopamine homeostasis using nutrigenomic dopamine agonists, instead of pharmaceutical interventions, is achievable. The allied interlinking with diverse chronic diseases and disorders, roles of free radicals and incidence of anaerobic events have been extensively highlighted. In conjunction, the role of dopamine in aspects of sleep, rapid eye movement and waking are extensively discussed. The integral aspects of food indulgence, the influence of taste sensations, and gut-brain signaling are also discussed along with a special emphasis on ocular health. The detailed mechanistic insight of dopamine, immune competence and the allied aspects of autoimmune disorders are also highlighted. Finally, the integration of dopamine homeostasis utilizing a patented gene test and a research-validated nutrigenomic intervention are presented. Overall, a cutting-edge nutrigenomic intervention could prove to be a technological paradigm shift in our understanding of the extent to which achieving dopamine homeostasis will benefit overall health.

Any historical assessment of the public health legacy of the Obama administration will have to look favorably at the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA; Pub L No. 111-148) on the US response to the opioid epidemic, and its ability to incentivize and assist states in taking action to fight against the epidemic. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health issue in the United States, particularly in light of the nation's growing opioid epidemic. In 2015, more than 12 million Americans reported misusing opioid pain relievers, and nearly one million Americans reported using heroin. 1 The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths has increased more than 200% over the past 15 years, and overdose deaths related to heroin more than tripled from 2011 to 2014. 2 The costs associated with prescription opioid use, abuse, and overdose are high, estimated at $78.5 billion in 2013 alone. 3

شیاتس ولنادم )لوئسم هدنسیون( سانشراک ی ،دشرا هدکشناد مولع برت ی ت ی و سانشناور ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . یمشاه جروت رتکد ،داتسا هدکشناد سانشناور ی و مولع برت ی ت ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . روپ یشخب سابع رتکد داتسا ، هدکشناد سانشناور ی و مولع برت ی ت ی ، هاگشناد ربت ی ،ز ربت ی ،ز ا ی نار . Setayesh Modanloo* M.A., Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. setayesh.modanlou@gmail.com Dr. Touraj Hashemi Professor, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. Dr. Abbas Bakhshipour Professor, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.