Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-k8lnt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-30T05:44:19.681Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychiatric and hostility factors related to use of anabolic steroids in monozygotic twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

Thomas A. Pagonis ,
Nikiforos V. Angelopoulos ,
George N. Koukoulis ,
Christos S. Hadjichristodoulou  and
Paraskevi N. Toli
Thomas A. Pagonis*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Thessaly University Medical School, Panagouli 12, 41222Larissa, Greece
Nikiforos V. Angelopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Thessaly University Medical School, Panagouli 12, 41222Larissa, Greece
George N. Koukoulis
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Thessaly University Medical School, Larissa, Greece
Christos S. Hadjichristodoulou
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Thessaly University Medical School, Larissa, Greece
Paraskevi N. Toli
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Thessaly University Medical School, Larissa, Greece
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: tpsportmed@the.forthnet.gr (T.A. Pagonis).
Get access

Abstract

Introduction

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are derived by chemical manipulation of the testosterone molecule. The specified category of drugs produces anabolic, androgenic and psycho-active effects including elevated aggressive, hostile, violent and anti social behavior.

Objective

The objective of this case report observational study was to evaluate the possible psychological consequences of AS use in the twin user of each pair, compared with the non-user twin.

Methodology

We studied two pairs of male monozygotic twins: one pair 24 years old and the other 31 years old, with absolute genome and phenotype similarity. One of the twins of each pair used AAS while the other did not. Both pairs lived in Hellenic provincial towns and followed a common training and nutrition regime. The psychometric instruments used were the Symptoms Check List-90 (SCL-90) and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ). The psychometric evaluations took place within a time interval of 6 months.

Results

The study found high levels of aggressiveness, hostility, anxiety and paranoid ideation in the twins who used AS. The non-user twins showed no deviation from their initial status.

Conclusion

The use of AAS induced several important psychiatric changes in monozygotic twins which were not present in the twin who did not use AAS.

Keywords

Anabolic steroidsAbuse correlationPsychopathologyPsychiatric side effects

Information

Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 21 , Issue 8 , December 2006 , pp. 563 - 569
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Millman, R.B., Ross, E.J.Steroid and nutritional supplement use in professional athletes Am. J. Addict. 2003; 12:548–554. (Suppl 2)CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kicman, A.T., Gower, D.B.Anabolic steroids in sport: biochemical, clinical and analytical perspectives Ann. Clin. Biochem. 2003; 40:321–356. (Pt 4)CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuhn, C.M.Anabolic steroids Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 2002; 57:411–434.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Griggs, R.C., Kingston, W., Jozefowicz, R.F., Herr, B.F., Forbes, G., Halliday, D.Effects of testosterone on muscle mass and protein synthesis J. Appl. Physiol. 1989; 66:498–503.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shahidi, N.T.A review of the chemistry, biological action, and clinical applications of anabolic–androgenic steroids Clin. Ther. 23(9)2001 1355–1390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gomez, J.E.Performance-enhancing substances in adolescent athletes Tex. Med. 98(2)2002 41–46.Google ScholarPubMed
Tamaki, T., Uchiyama, S., Uchiyama, Y., Akatsuka, A., Roy, R.R., Edgerton, V.R.Anabolic steroids increase exercise tolerance Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 280(6)2001 E973–E981.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feller, A.A., Mylonakis, E., Rich, J.D.Medical complications of anabolic steroids Med. Health R. I. 85(11)2002 338–340.Google ScholarPubMed
Clark, A.S., Henderson, L.P.Behavioural and physiological responses to anabolic–androgenic steroids Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 27(5)2003 413–436.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perry, P.J., Kutscher, E.C., Lund, B.C., Yates, W.R., Holman, T.L., Demers, L.Measures of aggression and mood changes in male weightlifters with and without androgenic anabolic steroid use J. Forensic Sci. 48(3)2003 646–651.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper, C.J., Noakes, T.D., Dunne, T.et al.A high prevalence of abnormal personality traits in chronic users of anabolic–androgenic steroids Br. J. Sports Med. 1996; 30:246–250.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Su, T., Pagliaro, M., Schmidt, P.J., Pickar, D., Wolkowitz, O., Rubinow, D.R.Neuropsychiatric effects of anabolic steroids in male normal volunteers JAMA 1993; 269:2760–2764.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pope, H.G., Kouri, E.M., Hudson, J.I.Effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on mood and aggression in normal men Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 2000; 57:133–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tricker, R., Casaburi, R., Storer, T.W., Clevenger, B., Berman, N., Shirazi, A.et al.The effects of supraphysiological doses of testosterone on angry behavior in healthy eugonadal men: a clinical research center study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1996; 16:3754–3758.Google Scholar
Thiblin, I., Parlklo, T.Anabolic androgenic steroids and violence Acta Psychiatr Scand 2002; 412:125–128. (Suppl)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bahrke, M.S., Wright, J.E., Strauss, R.H., Catlin, D.H.Psychological moods and subjectively perceived behavioral and somatic changes accompanying anabolic–androgenic steroid use Am. J. Sports Med. 1992; 20:717–724.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wichstrom, L., Pedersen, W.Use of anabolic–androgenic steroids in adolescence: winning, looking good or being bad? J. Stud. Alcohol 62(1)2001 5–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, N.A.Current concepts in anabolic–androgenic steroids Am. J. Sports Med. 32(2)2004 534–542.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Inigo, M.A., Arrimadas, E., Arroyo, D.43 cycles of anabolic steroid treatment studied in athletes: the uses and secondary effects Rev. Clin. Esp. 200(3)2000 133–138.Google ScholarPubMed
Hartgens, F., van Straaten, H., Fideldij, S., Rietjens, G., Keizer, M.A., Kvipers, M.Misuse of androgenic–anabolic steroids and human deltoid muscle fibers: differences between polydrug regimens and single drug administration Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 86(3)2002 233–239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paul, G.L.Dietary protein requirements of physically active individuals Sports Med. 8(3)1989 154–176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ziegler, P., Nelson, J.A., Barratt-Fornell, A.et al.Energy and macronutrient intakes of elite figure skaters J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 101(3)2001 319–325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marcos, J., Pascual, J.A., de la Torre, X., Segura, J.Fast screening of anabolic steroids and other banned doping substances in human urine by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry J. Mass Spectrom. 37(10)2002 1059–1073.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walters, M.J., Ayers, R.J., Brown, D.J.Analysis of illegally distributed anabolic steroid products by liquid chromotography with identity confirmation by mass spectrometry or infrared spectrophotometry J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 73(6)1990 904–926.Google ScholarPubMed
Derogatis, L.R., Lipman, R.S., Covi, L.The SCL-90: an out-patients psychiatric rating scale Psychopharmacol. Bull. 1973; 9:13–28.Google Scholar
Caine, T.M., Foulds, G.A., Hope, K.Manual of the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire. London: University of London Press; 1967.Google Scholar
Kanayama, G., Cohane, G.H., Weiss, R.D., Pope, M.G.Past anabolic–androgenic steroid use among men admitted for substance abuse treatment: an underrecognized problem? J. Clin. Psychiatry 64(2)2003 156–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laure, P.Doping: epidemiological studies Presse Med, 8-15 29(24)2000 1365–1372.Google ScholarPubMed
Thiblin, I., Petersson, A.Pharmacoepidemiology of anabolic androgenic steroids: a review Fundam. Clin. Pharmacol. 19(1)2005 27–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hartgens, F., Kuipers, H.Effects of androgenic–anabolic steroids in athletes Sports Med. 34(8)2004 513–554.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Choi, P.Y., Pope, H.G. Jr.Violence toward women and illicit anabolic androgenic steroid abuse Ann. Clin. Psychiatry 1994; 6:21–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, R.C.W., Hall, R.C.W., Chapman, M.J.Psychiatric complications of anabolic steroid abuse Psychosomatics 2005; 46:285–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pope, H.G. Jr., Katz, D.L.Homicide and near homicide in anabolic steroid users J. Clin. Psychiatry 1990; 51:28–31.Google ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.