Mood symptoms in steroid users: the unexamined role of concurrent stimulant use

Abstract

Research indicates that negative mood effects associated with anabolic-androgenic steroids (referred to as “steroids” here) are likely idiosyncratic, however, little is known about what factors might lead to higher risk for these effects. Research is lacking on the possible contribution of thermogenic/ergogenic drugs to this risk. As thermogenic/ergogenic drugs are stimulants with mood effects similar to those attributed to steroids, this study aimed to build on past research by disentangling the effects on mood from each drug class. An internet survey on current mood as well as steroid and stimulant use was completed by 122 male weightlifters aged 19–57. Current steroid users reported significantly less vigor (ES = 0.025, p = 0.021) than steroid abstainers. Current stimulant users reported significantly greater tension/anxiety (ES = 0.023, p = 0.019) than stimulant abstainers. Results support the theory that mood effects may be associated with stimulant use. There was no support for any mood effects of steroids. The appearance- and performance-enhancing drug using subsample had slightly less psychological distress on average than normative samples. Stimulant use may be a substantial risk for idiosyncratic negative effects of appearance and performance enhancing drugs on mood.