Patient Reward Deficiency Syndrome Webinar

Recorded Presentation - Dr Jess Armine's part Patient Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) Webinar 1st October 2025 Reward deficiency syndrome (RDS) is a behavioural condition that links addictive, compulsive, and impulsive behaviours to a breakdown in the brain's reward neurotransmission. It's caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including:  Genetic variants: Dysfunction of dopamine receptors, which are responsible for controlling feelings of well-being  Environmental influences: Epigenetic changes that can impact the brain's reward circuitry  Symptoms Low levels of dopaminergic functioning, which can lead to a lack of satisfaction with natural rewards Behaviours Addictive behaviours, compulsive eating, gambling, drug addiction, alcohol use disorder, sex addiction, smoking etcOther associations Major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder etcThe concept of RDS was developed through extensive research on animals