title: A retrospective 30-year follow-up study of former Swedish-elite male athletes in power sports with a past anabolic androgenic steroids use: a focus on mental health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The knowledge concerning the long-term effect of former anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS)-use on mental health is sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate whether previous AAS-use affects mental health, present sociodemographic data, sport activity and substance abuse in a retrospective 30-year follow-up study of former elite athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swedish male-elite power sport athletes (n=683) on the top 10 national ranking lists during any of the years 1960-1979 in wrestling, Olympic lifting, powerlifting and the throwing events in track and field answered a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least 20% of the former athletes admitted previous AAS-use. They had more often sought professional expertise for mental problems and had used illicit drugs compared to those not having used AAS. The AAS-users also differed in former sport activity pattern compared to non AAS-users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is clear that a relationship exists between use of AAS and mental-health problems. Further studies need to be done in order to clarify this relationship.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health, University of Gothenburg and the Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, , Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moberg
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehrnborg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahlke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents
keywords: Anabolic steroids; Athletics; Doping; Drug use; Psychology