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Steroids and Psychology

Steroids should only be taken under close supervision of a doctor. The information provided here should not be taken as medical advice.

The mental implications of ASS use are becoming ever more prevalent as the effects ASS move further into the spotlight with cases of “roid rage” occurring in the media.

Many psychological effects of ASS use have been reported such as increased hostility, changes in mood, increased sexual drive, muscle dysmorphia (MD), increased aggression, depression and schizophrenia. Specifically, they occur among individuals consuming more than 1 g of testosterone weekly and become more common and severe as the dose increases (Papazisis et.,al (2007).

A study by Bahrke et.,al (1992) evaluated psychological states of weightlifters on ASS. They found that although users and previous users had reported increased enthusiasm, aggression, and irritability. Their results suggested however that even though psychological changes may occur they are too subtle to be detected by conventional methods (Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, Buss-Durke Hostility Inventory and the Rosenweig Picture Frustration Test). Accordingly much of the data on ASS and behaviour must come from the subjects themselves. A study comparing 3 male strength athletes using ASS against 3 non-steroid using strength athletes was conducted by Choi et.,al (1990). They found a significant increase in hostile and aggressive behaviour in the users compared to the non-users. Self-rated aggression increased significantly in the steroid group during their acknowledged on-drug periods while multiple drug use or 'stacking' in particular caused severe hostility/aggression; one ASS user also admitted to attempted murder during a previous steroid-taking phase (Choi et.,al (1990). Once again self reporting is not the most accurate way of measuring especially when reporting behaviour. It’s worth mentioning that 3 subjects are not the idea number for investigation which is a considerable weakness in this study.

An investigation by Lumia et al., (1994) reported that long-term exposure (10 weeks) of gonadally intact Long-Evans rats to testosterone propionate (1 mg/rat 3 times per week) did not alter sexual behaviour but did increase the display of dominance postures and threats, and reduced the number of submissive postures, compared to controls. On the other hand increased aggression could be seen by athletes to be a positive thing. They may actively desire increased aggression to enhance their training and reinforce their competitive appetite.

A positive link between aggression and levels of plasma testosterone has been found in animals and in humans (Korkia 1998). When comparing 88 athletes on AAS against 68 non-users Pope and Katz (1994) reported that 23% of AAS users reported major mood syndromes-mania, hypomania, or major depression-in association with AAS use. Their results showed that ASS users displayed mood disorders during AAS exposure significantly more frequently than in the absence of ASS exposure (P<.001) and significantly more frequently than nonusers (P<0.01) (Pope and Katz (1994).
Despite the nature of various reports on mood changes with AAS administration, many users feel AAS elicit an antidepressant-like feeling (Kutscher et al., 2002). Similarly Seidman et.,al (2001) found that anti-depressant effects of testosterone replacement couldn’t be distinguished between subjects on a placebo. However it’s worth noting that AAS are usually taken in conjuncture with an intense training regime and strict diet.

In consequence it’s hard to make any decisive conclusions on the involvement of AAS in behavioural changes when other variables are present. No significant changes in mood or behavior were reported by the men on the Mood Inventory or by their live-in partners, spouses, or parents on the Observer Mood Inventory (Bhasin et al. (1996).

End of steroids and psychology