Suicidal tendencies and psychiatric symptoms as consequence of anabolic androgenic steroid usage among athletes in District Rawalpindi

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the possible association between suicidal tendencies and psychiatric symptoms associated with anabolic androgenic steroid usage among athletes. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to July 2017 in Rawalpini and Wah Canttonment, Pakistan, after approval from the International Islamic University, Islamabad, and comprised male athletes aged >18 years. Those using androgenic anabolic steroid formed group A, while the non-users were in group B. In addition to demographis, data was collected using Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation and the Symptoms Checklist-90. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. ---Continue

Fearful Attachment and Suicide Probability: The Mediating Role of Psychological Symptoms on Medical School Students

“…Moreover, in a study on the suicide tendency of young athletes, the youth were divided into two groups: high suicidality and low suicidality. The adolescents in the group with high suicidality were also found to have significantly higher scores of depression, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, problems in interpersonal relationships, and hostility than those in the group with low suicidality (Hussain et al, 2022).…”

Athletes are not at greater risk for death by suicide: A review

“…AAS usage during professional career years was linked to suicidal ideation and suicide in several reports depicted by violent, impulsive, aggressive, and disinhibited behavior. 28,[96][97][98][99][100] Among AAS abusers, the proportion of suicide from all deaths varied from 21% 99 to 37.5%, 28 which was almost three times higher compared to the general population. 28,98 Importantly, female athletes can also abuse AAS.…”

“…According to one previous report, 6% of professional soccer players in England know other players are taking performance‐enhancing drugs, 87 among which AAS represent the most prominent group. AAS usage during professional career years was linked to suicidal ideation and suicide in several reports depicted by violent, impulsive, aggressive, and disinhibited behavior 28,96–100 . Among AAS abusers, the proportion of suicide from all deaths varied from 21% 99 to 37.5%, 28 which was almost three times higher compared to the general population 28,98 .…”

“…A small study of 75 bodybuilders and weightlifting athletes found that a third of participants used it in the past or were using it at the time of evaluation 101 . Concomitant use of other substances, which is not an infrequent scenario among AAS users, may also enhance the risk of suicide in athletes, 99 whereas low income and unemployment (common risk factors for suicide) 102 may become a risk for AAS misuse among athletes 100 …”

“…Depressive disorders 35,37,48,[51][52][53][54][55][56][57] Anabolic-androgenic steroids abuse 28,[96][97][98][99][100] Illicit drug abuse 87,88,90,91,95 Traumatic brain injury 106 Retirement from athletic activity 16,17,20,35 Physical injury necessitating surgical intervention 36,37,69 Chronic pain 52,67,90 Life stressors (related to family, finance, society, business) 16,17,20,21 Physical or mental illness 36 Anxiety disorders 35,37,51,60,[72][73][74][75][76] Sport-specific environmental stressors 124 Lack of support, feeling hopelessness 55 Current evidence shows increased risk...…”