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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of AAS induced several important psychiatric changes in monozygotic twins which were not present in the twin who did not use AAS.
Pagonis
Thomas A
TA
Department of Psychiatry, Thessaly University Medical School, Panagouli 12, 41222 Larissa, Greece. tpsportmed@the.forthnet.gr
Angelopoulos
Nikiforos V
NV
Koukoulis
George N
GN
Hadjichristodoulou
Christos S
CS
Toli
Paraskevi N
PN
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology*; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D013256:Steroids