Anabolic-androgenic Steroid use and Psychopathology in Athletes : A Systematic Review / Daria Piacentino, Georgios D. Kotzalidis, Antonio del Casale, Maria Rosaria Aromatario, Cristoforo Pomara, Paolo Girardi, Gabriele Sani. – (Current Neuropharmacology 13 (2015) 1 (January) : p. 101-121).
- PMID: 26074746
- PMCID: PMC4462035
- DOI: 10.2174/1570159X13666141210222725
Content:
- Introduction
- Methods
• Eligibility Criteria
• Search Criteria and Critical Appraisal
- Results
• Search Results and Included Studies
• Study Characteristics
• Risk of Bias
• AASs and Mood Disorders
• AASs and Suicide
• AASs and Anxiety Disorders
• AASs, Somatoform and Eating Disorders
• AASs and Behavioral Disorders
• AASs and Psychosis
- Discussion
- Conclusions
Abstract
The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) by professional and recreational athletes is increasing worldwide. The underlying motivations are mainly performance enhancement and body image improvement. AAS abuse and dependence, which are specifically classified and coded by the DSM-5, are not uncommon. AAS-using athletes are frequently present with psychiatric symptoms and disorders, mainly somatoform and eating, but also mood, and schizophrenia-related disorders. Some psychiatric disorders are typical of athletes, like muscle dysmorphia. This raises the issue of whether AAS use causes these disorders in athletes, by determining neuroadaptive changes in the reward neural circuit or by exacerbating stress vulnerability, or rather these are athletes with premorbid abnormal personalities or a history of psychiatric disorders who are attracted to AAS use, prompted by the desire to improve their appearance and control their weights. This may predispose to eating disorders, but AASs also show mood destabilizing effects, with longterm use inducing depression and short-term hypomania; withdrawal/discontinuation may be accompanied by depression. The effects of AASs on anxiety behavior are unclear and studies are inconsistent. AASs are also linked to psychotic behavior. The psychological characteristics that could prompt athletes to use AASs have not been elucidated.
