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

Kenneth Blum^{1

2

3}, Alireza Sharafshah⁴, Jag Khalsa⁵, Kai Uwe-Lewandrowski^{6

7

8

9}, Kavya Mohankumar³, Panayotis K Thanos¹⁰, Albert Pinhasov¹, David Baron^{2

11}, Catherine A Dennen¹², Joseph J Morgan¹³, Marco Lindenau³, Igor Elman¹⁴, Eliot L Gardner¹⁵, Mark S Gold¹⁶, Edward J Modestino¹⁷, Fuehrlein Brian¹⁸, Paul R Carney¹⁹, Rene Cortese²⁰, Abdalla Bowirrat¹, Margaret A Madigan³, Keerthy Sunder^{21

22}, Morgan P Lorio²³, Foojan Zeine^{24

25}, Nicole Jafari^{26

27}, Milan T Makale²⁸, Debasis Bagchi²⁹, Mauro Ceccanti³⁰, Rossano K A Fiorelli³¹, Sérgio Luís Schimidt³², Daniel Sipple³³, Alexander P L Lewandrowski³⁴, Gianni Matare³, Shaurya Mahajan³, Yatharth Mahajan³, Colin Hanna³⁵, Daniel Gastelu³, Anand Swaroop^{3

36}, Chynna Fliegelman^{3

37}, Rajendra D Badgaiyan^{38

39}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
² Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, USA.
³ Division of Clinical Neurology, The Blum Institute of Neurogenetics & Behavior, Austin, USA.
⁴ Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
⁵ Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
⁶ Division of Personalized Pain Therapy Research & Education, Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, USA.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedics, Sanitas University Foundation Bogotá, Colombia.
⁸ Department of Orthopaedics, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Arizona University School of Medicine, Tucson, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, USA.
¹² Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, USA.
¹³ Substance Use Disorders Institute University of Sciences, Philadelphia, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
¹⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Psychology, Curry College, Milton, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
¹⁹ Division Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
²⁰ Department of Child Health, Child Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
²¹ Department of Medicine, Riverside School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA.
²² Karma Doctors & Karma TMS and Suder Foundation, Palm Springs, USA.
²³ Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), Orlando, USA.
²⁴ Awareness Integration Institute, San Clemente, USA.
²⁵ Department of Health & Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, USA.
²⁶ Division of Personalized Medicine, Global Growth Institute, Inc., San Clemente, USA.
²⁷ Department of Applied Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, USA.
²⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
²⁹ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy, Houston, USA.
³⁰ Alcohol Addiction Program, Latium Region Referral Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy.
³¹ Department of General and Specialized Surgery, Gaffrée e Guinle Universitary Hospital (EBSERH), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³² Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³³ M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, USA.
³⁴ Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
³⁵ Department of Psychology, University South Dakota, Vermillion, USA.
³⁶ Cepham Inc., Summerset, New Jersey, USA.
³⁷ Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Queens, USA.
³⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, USA.
³⁹ Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai University, School of Medicine, New York, USA.

PMID: 40933508
PMCID: PMC12419148
DOI: 10.17756/jap.2025-050

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

Kenneth Blum et al. J Addict Psychiatry. 2025.

. 2025;9(1):8-13.

doi: 10.17756/jap.2025-050. Epub 2025 Aug 29.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
² Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise, and Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, USA.
³ Division of Clinical Neurology, The Blum Institute of Neurogenetics & Behavior, Austin, USA.
⁴ Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
⁵ Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
⁶ Division of Personalized Pain Therapy Research & Education, Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, USA.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedics, Sanitas University Foundation Bogotá, Colombia.
⁸ Department of Orthopaedics, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁹ Department of Surgery, Arizona University School of Medicine, Tucson, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, USA.
¹² Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, USA.
¹³ Substance Use Disorders Institute University of Sciences, Philadelphia, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, USA.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
¹⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Psychology, Curry College, Milton, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, USA.
¹⁹ Division Pediatric Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
²⁰ Department of Child Health, Child Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
²¹ Department of Medicine, Riverside School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, USA.
²² Karma Doctors & Karma TMS and Suder Foundation, Palm Springs, USA.
²³ Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), Orlando, USA.
²⁴ Awareness Integration Institute, San Clemente, USA.
²⁵ Department of Health & Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, USA.
²⁶ Division of Personalized Medicine, Global Growth Institute, Inc., San Clemente, USA.
²⁷ Department of Applied Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, USA.
²⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
²⁹ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy, Houston, USA.
³⁰ Alcohol Addiction Program, Latium Region Referral Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy.
³¹ Department of General and Specialized Surgery, Gaffrée e Guinle Universitary Hospital (EBSERH), Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³² Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³³ M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, USA.
³⁴ Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
³⁵ Department of Psychology, University South Dakota, Vermillion, USA.
³⁶ Cepham Inc., Summerset, New Jersey, USA.
³⁷ Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Queens, USA.
³⁸ Department of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, USA.
³⁹ Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai University, School of Medicine, New York, USA.

PMID: 40933508
PMCID: PMC12419148
DOI: 10.17756/jap.2025-050

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^®) 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.

Keywords: Disorder; Genomics; Psychiatry; Syndrome.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest KB owns through his various companies’ patents issued and pending both domestic and foreign related to KB220 and GARS. There are no other conflicts of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1:**
A graphical abstract illustrates what we have termed: hand of lessons learned for precision medicine in the new era of psychiatry.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Research Materials

Miscellaneous