[Anabolic steroid abuse and mental disorder].

Abstract

The literature on the psychiatric aspects of anabolic steroids (AS) abuse in the United States is reviewed. Since the 1980s the use of AS has become prevalent among adults and adolescents who are concerned with muscle size and strength, and the abuse of these agents is regarded as a serious drug problem. Researchers noticed that illicit, high-dose use of AS may produce not only somatic adverse effects but behavioral changes. Several studies using psychometry and questionnaires suggested that characteristic psychological phenomena such as increased aggression and irritability may be observed in AS abusers. Although the evidence determining the addictive potential of AS is limited, some authors provide evidence that the long-term use of AS may lead to a mental disorder which meets the DSM-III-R criteria of psychoactive substance abuse. Detailed case reports of AS-induced mental disorders are scarce, but characteristic symptoms, particularly major mood disturbances, have been recognized. Violent crimes committed by abusers taking large doses of AS have also been highlighted. In these cases the dangerous behavior appears to have been induced by aggression, grandiosity, and rage. This review indicates that empirical data specifying psychiatric effects of AS are not sufficient at present, and more attention needs to be paid to trends in AS abuse in Japan.