Neuropsychiatric and Behavioral Involvement in AAS Abusers. A Literature Review

Bertozzi, Giuseppe; Salerno, Monica; Pomara, Cristoforo; Sessa, Francesco

doi:10.3390/medicina55070396

Cited by 38 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 99 publications

(122 reference statements)

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“…Aggressiveness is a common finding in AAS abusers, among other psychiatric disorders [ 87 ], and this has been confirmed by several studies on animals [ 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

et al. 2020

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Background and Objectives: Androgens play a significant role in the development of male reproductive organs. The clinical use of synthetic testosterone derivatives, such as nandrolone, is focused on maximizing the anabolic effects and minimizing the androgenic ones. Class II anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including nandrolone, are rapidly becoming a widespread group of drugs used both clinically and illicitly. The illicit use of AAS is diffused among adolescent and bodybuilders because of their anabolic proprieties and their capacity to increase tolerance to exercise. This systematic review aims to focus on side effects related to illicit AAS abuse, evaluating the scientific literature in order to underline the most frequent side effects on AAS abusers’ bodies. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature was performed using the PubMed database and the keywords “nandrolone decanoate”. The inclusion criteria for articles or abstracts were English language and the presence of the following words: “abuse” or “adverse effects”. After applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria, from a total of 766 articles, only 148 were considered eligible for the study. Results: The most reported adverse effects (found in more than 5% of the studies) were endocrine effects (18 studies, 42%), such as virilization, gynecomastia, hormonal disorders, dyslipidemia, genital alterations, and infertility; cardiovascular dysfunctions (six studies, 14%) such as vascular damage, coagulation disorders, and arteriosus hypertension; skin disorders (five studies, 12%) such as pricking, acne, and skin spots; psychiatric and mood disorders (four studies, 9%) such as aggressiveness, sleep disorders and anxiety; musculoskeletal disorders (two studies, 5%), excretory disorders (two studies, 5%), and gastrointestinal disorders (two studies, 5%). Conclusions: Based on the result of our study, the most common adverse effects secondary to the abuse of nandrolone decanoate (ND) involve the endocrine, cardiovascular, skin, and psychiatric systems. These data could prove useful to healthcare professionals in both sports and clinical settings.

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“…Aggressiveness is a common finding in AAS abusers, among other psychiatric disorders [ 87 ], and this has been confirmed by several studies on animals [ 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

et al. 2020

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“…Moreover, other drugs such as fibrates can increase systemic adiponectin levels by enhancing PPAR-γ activity [56,57]. Another way to improve adiponectin levels is the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [58][59][60]. Furthermore, it is possible to stimulate adipocyte differentiation [61] and the activation of PPAR [62].…”

Section: Adiponectin Function In Lung Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Role of Dietary Intervention to Improve the Outcome of COVID-19: A Hypothesis of Work

Messina

Polito

Monda

et al. 2020

IJMS

Self Cite

158

150

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Background: On the 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The infection spread first in China and then in the rest of the world, and on the 11th of March, the WHO declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. Taking into consideration the mortality rate of COVID-19, about 5-7%, and the percentage of positive patients admitted to intensive care units being 9-11%, it should be mandatory to consider and take all necessary measures to contain the COVID-19 infection. Moreover, given the recent evidence in different hospitals suggesting IL-6 and TNF-α inhibitor drugs as a possible therapy for COVID-19, we aimed to highlight that a dietary intervention could be useful to prevent the infection and/or to ameliorate the outcomes during therapy. Considering that the COVID-19 infection can generate a mild or highly acute respiratory syndrome with a consequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, a dietary regimen modification in order to improve the levels of adiponectin could be very useful both to prevent the infection and to take care of patients, improving their outcomes.

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“…There are reports that sleeplessness, increased irritability, depression disorders as well as melancholy and anxiety may persist for many years in AAS users and former users 75 . Speculations exist that such processes have a morphological substrate in form of a lower connectivity between amygdala and frontal, striatal, limbic, hippocampal and visual cortical areas 76 …”

Section: Effect Of Anabolic Steroids On Mood and Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testosterone, mood, behaviour and quality of life

Zitzmann

2020

Andrology

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Testosterone plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance within the multi‐dimensional psychological network of mood, behaviour, self‐perception and perceived quality of life in men of any age. Apart from classical forms of hypogonadism, low testosterone concentrations can also be seen in older men, described as an age‐ and comorbidity‐driven functional hypogonadism and might relate to depressive symptoms exhibiting a wide array of clinical pictures ranging from dysthymia and fatigue over inertia, listlessness to hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Also, various traits of anxiety, from unfocussed fear to phobic anxiousness and open panic syndromes, are influenced by testosterone. Correspondingly, anxiolysis is likely to be modulated by testosterone via stress resilience, threat vigilance and reward processing. The steroid modulates pro‐active and re‐active dimensions of aggression, which has to be seen within the context of gaining or maintaining status. This may also include other strategies impacting the social position: heroic or parochial altruism and non‐aggressive paths of assertiveness, such as posture and social vigilance. Independent rather than relationship‐associated self‐construal and self‐esteem influence risk‐taking traits under the modulation of testosterone. In addition, the genetic setting of the androgen receptor modulates the role of testosterone in aspects regarding mood and personality. Dimensions of sexuality are rather important in this context, but are not target of this article and covered in another part of this special edition. Overall, the quality of life in older hypogonadal men can be positively influenced by testosterone substitution, as has been demonstrated in large placebo‐controlled trials.

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Neuropsychiatric and Behavioral Involvement in AAS Abusers. A Literature Review

Cited by 38 publications

References 99 publications

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

Functional Role of Dietary Intervention to Improve the Outcome of COVID-19: A Hypothesis of Work

Testosterone, mood, behaviour and quality of life

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