title: Molecular Genetic Testing in Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS): Facts and Fiction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Brain Reward Cascade (BRC) is an interaction of neurotransmitters and their respective genes to control the amount of dopamine released within the brain. Any variations within this pathway, whether genetic or environmental (epigenetic), may result in addictive behaviors or RDS, which was coined to define addictive behaviors and their genetic components.
  
  
  METHODS
  To carry out this review we searched a number of important databases including: Filtered: Cochrane Systematic reviews; DARE; Pubmed Central Clinical Quaries; National Guideline Clearinghouse and unfiltered resources: PsychINFO; ACP PIER; PsychSage; Pubmed/Medline. The major search terms included: dopamine agonist therapy for Addiction; dopamine agonist therapy for Reward dependence; dopamine antagonistic therapy for addiction; dopamine antagonistic therapy for reward dependence and neurogenetics of RDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While there are many studies claiming a genetic association with RDS behavior, not all are scientifically accurate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Albeit our bias, this Clinical Pearl discusses the facts and fictions behind molecular genetic testing in RDS and the significance behind the development of the Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARSPREDX™), the first test to accurately predict one's genetic risk for RDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA ; Department of Addiction Research & Therapy, Malibu Beach Recovery Center, Malibu Beach, CA, USA ; Divisions of Addiction Services, and Applied Clinical Research, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA ; Department of Psychiatry, Human Integrated Services Unit University of Vermont Center for Clinical & Translational Science, College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Division of Neuroimaging, University of Minnesota College of Medicine, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Rajendra D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Badgaiyan
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Addiction Services, and Applied Clinical Research, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Gozde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agan
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Addiction Services, and Applied Clinical Research, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, RI, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fratantonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Human Integrated Services Unit University of Vermont Center for Clinical & Translational Science, College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simpatico
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Febo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Brett C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Haberstick
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smolen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Keck, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, CA, USA ; Director of Research, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Educational Foundation, Washington, D.C, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gold
keywords: Brain Reward Cascade; DRD2; Gene variations; Genetic Addiction Risk Score; Reward Deficiency Syndrome