Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-11T09:36:29.821Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Steroids, psychosis and poly-substance abuse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2014

R. M. Duffy  and
B. D. Kelly
R. M. Duffy*
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
B. D. Kelly
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: R. M. Duffy, Department of Adult Psychiatry, University College Dublin, 63 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. (Email: duffyrm@gmail.com)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

To review consequences of the changing demographic profile of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use.

Method

Case report and review of key papers.

Results

We report here a case of a 19-year-old Irish male presenting with both medical and psychiatric side effects of methandrostenolone use. The man had a long-standing history of harmful cannabis use, but had not experienced previous psychotic symptoms. Following use of methandrostenolone, he developed rhabdomyolysis and a psychotic episode with homicidal ideation.

Discussion

Non-medical AAS use is a growing problem associated with medical, psychiatric and forensic risks. The population using these drugs has changed with the result of more frequent poly-substance misuse, potentially exacerbating these risks.

Conclusion

A higher index of suspicion is needed for AAS use. Medical personnel need to be aware of the potential side effects of their use, including the risk of violence. Research is needed to establish the magnitude of the problem in Ireland.

Keywords

Affective disordersanabolic-androgenic steroidsanabolic steroidspsychosesrhabdomyolysis
Type
Case Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 227 - 230
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2014 

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.)

References

Achar, S, Rostamian, A, Narayan, SM (2010). Cardiac and metabolic effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse on lipids, blood pressure, left ventricular dimensions, and rhythm. American Journal of Cardiology 106, 893–901.Google Scholar
Andrade, AG, Duarte Pdo, C, Barroso, LP, Nishimura, R, Alberghini, DG, Oliveira, LG (2012). Use of alcohol and other drugs among Brazilian college students: effects of gender and age. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria 34, 294–305.Google Scholar
Burnett, KF, Kleiman, ME (1994). Psychological characteristics of adolescent steroid users. Adolescence 29, 81–89.Google Scholar
Celotti, F, Negri Cesi, P (1992). Anabolic steroids: a review of their effects on the muscles, of their possible mechanisms of action and of their use in athletics. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 43, 469–477.Google Scholar
de Siqueira Nogueira, FR, de Freitas Brito, A, de Oliveira, CV, Vieira, TI, Beniz Gouveia, RL (2014). Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among Brazilian bodybuilders. Substance Use and Misuse 49, 1138–1145.Google Scholar
Dodge, T, Hoagland, MF (2011). The use of anabolic androgenic steroids and polypharmacy: a review of the literature. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 114, 100–109.Google Scholar
Dotson, JL, Brown, RT (2007). The history of the development of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Pediatric Clinics of North America 54, 761–769.Google Scholar
Friedman, RA (2006). Violence and mental illness – how strong is the link? New England Journal of Medicine 355, 2064–2066.Google Scholar
Gårevik, N, Rane, A (2010). Dual use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and narcotics in Sweden. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 109, 144–146.Google Scholar
Hakansson, A, Mickelsson, K, Wallin, C, Berglund, M (2012). Anabolic androgenic steroids in the general population: user characteristics and associations with substance use. European Addiction Research 18, 83–90.Google Scholar
Hartgens, F, Kuipers, H (2004). Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports Medicine 34, 513–554.Google Scholar
Ip, EJ, Barnett, MJ, Tenerowicz, MJ, Perry, PJ (2011). The anabolic 500 survey: characteristics of male users versus nonusers of anabolic-androgenic steroids for strength training. Pharmacotherapy 31, 757–766.Google Scholar
Kanayama, G, Pope, HG Jr (2012). Illicit use of androgens and other hormones: recent advances. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity 19, 211–219.Google Scholar
Klötz, F, Garle, M, Granath, F, Thiblin, I (2006). Criminality among individuals testing positive for the presence of anabolic androgenic steroids. Archives of General Psychiatry 63, 1274–1279.Google Scholar
Kokkevi, A, Fotiou, A, Chileva, A, Nociar, A, Miller, P (2008). Daily exercise and anabolic steroids use in adolescents: a cross-national European study. Substance Use and Misuse 43, 2053–2065.Google Scholar
Kuhn, CM (2002). Anabolic steroids. Recent Progress in Hormone Research 57, 411–434.Google Scholar
Leifman, H, Rehnman, C, Sjöblom, E, Holgersson, S (2011). Anabolic androgenic steroids – use and correlates among gym users – an assessment study using questionnaires and observations at gyms in the Stockholm region. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 8, 2656–2674.Google Scholar
Lundholm, L, Käll, K, Wallin, S, Thiblin, I (2010). Use of anabolic androgenic steroids in substance abusers arrested for crime. Drug Alcohol Dependence 111, 222–226.Google Scholar
Petersson, A, Bengtsson, J, Voltaire-Carlsson, A, Thiblin, I (2010). Substance abusers’ motives for using anabolic androgenic steroids. Drug Alcohol Dependence 111, 170–172.Google Scholar
Pope, HG Jr, Katz, DL (1990). Homicide and near-homicide by anabolic steroid users. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 51, 28–31.Google Scholar
Pope, HG Jr, Katz, DL (1994). Psychiatric and medical effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid use. A controlled study of 160 athletes. Archives of General Psychiatry 51, 375–382.Google Scholar
Pope, HG Jr, Katz, DL (1998). Affective and psychotic symptoms associated with anabolic steroid use. American Journal of Psychiatry 145, 487–490.Google Scholar
Razavi, Z, Moeini, B, Shafiei, Y, Bazmamoun, H (2014). Prevalence of anabolic steroid use and associated factors among body-builders in Hamadan, West Province of Iran. Journal of Research in Health Sciences 14, 163–166.Google Scholar
Scaccianoce, S, Caruso, A, Miele, J, Nistico, R, Nicoletti, F (2013). Potential neurodegenerative effect of anabolic androgenic steroid abuse. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents 27, s107–s114.Google Scholar
Skårberg, K, Nyberg, F, Engström, I (2010). Is there an association between the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and criminality? European Addiction Research 16, 213–219.Google Scholar
Tahtamouni, LH, Mustafa, NH, Alfaouri, AA, Hassan, IM, Abdalla, MY, Yasin, SR (2008). Prevalence and risk factors for anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse among Jordanian collegiate students and athletes. European Journal of Public Health 18, 661–665.Google Scholar