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Discovery of "Pain Gene" Paves Way to Personalized Pain Treatment

In a genomewide association study of some 1,800 subjects, Japanese scientists have identified a gene on chromosome 2 that appears to influence both pain sensitivity and susceptibility to substance dependence. In fact, as the scientists write in Molecular Psychiatry, it appears to be the most potent gene associated with human opioid sensitivity that has been identified.

The scientists are also attempting to harness their discovery to create personalized treatment for pain. As the lead scientist, Kazutaka Ikeda, Ph.D., of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, explained to Psychiatric News, "We predict...

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Published By: Psychiatric News - 7 days ago