Abstract
Background and objectives: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are mainly used for aesthetic and performance-enhancing reasons. Their use is a growing public health problem and concern for society because of their adverse effects. The primary aim of this study was to identify psychiatric and personality disorders and to measure anxiety and depression in AAS users. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six males who actively contacted the Anti-Doping Hot-Line and wished to stop using AAS were included. Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II were used to diagnose psychiatric and personality disorders. The Brief Scale for Anxiety and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (subscales from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale) were used to measure changes in anxiety and depression. Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II were performed at one time point. Anxiety and depression were measured at inclusion and after six months. Urine samples were collected for an analysis of AAS and drugs of abuse. Results: All participants reported some adverse effects that they associated with AAS use. In total, 56% and 52% of the cohort fulfilled the criteria for Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II diagnoses, respectively. A significantly increased risk of reporting aggressive feelings/behaviors (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.9; Confidence Interval (CI) 0.99–25, p = 0.04), suicidal thoughts/attempts (OR = 4.6, CI 95; 0.99–21, p = 0.04) and criminality (OR = 6.5, CI 1–39, p = 0.03) was found among individuals with AAS use fulfilling the criteria for personality disorders compared with those without such AAS use. The Brief Scale for Anxiety score decreased from the median of 15 at inclusion to 10 at the follow-up visit six months later (p = 0.01, n = 19). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that among individuals with AAS use, those with a personality disorder report more aggressive behaviors, suicidal thoughts/suicidal attempts, and criminality than those without a personality disorder.
Highlights
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely used in non-medical conditions to gain muscle mass [1]
In studies using Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis (SCID), psychiatric symptoms associated with AAS use have been reported [10,11] and the incidence of SCID I and II diagnoses has been seen to be higher in users of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs compared to non-users [12]
It has been suggested that the prevalence of personality disorders (PD) is high among AAS users and that it may be a risk factor for psychiatric symptoms often associated with AAS [13]
Summary
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely used in non-medical conditions to gain muscle mass [1]. Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis (SCID)-I and -II are used to diagnose psychiatric and personality disorders (PD), respectively [9]. In studies using SCID, psychiatric symptoms associated with AAS use have been reported [10,11] and the incidence of SCID I and II diagnoses has been seen to be higher in users of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs compared to non-users [12]. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are mainly used for aesthetic and performance-enhancing reasons Their use is a growing public health problem and concern for society because of their adverse effects. The primary aim of this study was to identify psychiatric and personality disorders and to measure anxiety and depression in AAS users. Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II were used to diagnose psychiatric and personality disorders. 56% and 52% of the cohort fulfilled the criteria for Structured Clinical Interviews Diagnosis-I and -II diagnoses, respectively
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