Anabolic androgenic steroids and violence

• Published in: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Vol. 106; no. s412; pp. 125 - 128
• Main Authors: Thiblin, I., Pärlklo, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 2002
• Subjects: Adult; Anabolic Agents - adverse effects; anabolic androgenic steroids; Crime; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Prospective Studies; Social Behavior Disorders - chemically induced; violence; Violence - psychology
• ISSN: 0001-690X; 0065-1591; 1600-0447
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.106.s412.27.x

Objective:  To scrutinize the criminal career among users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) with focus on a possible relationship between use of AAS and violent offences. Method:  Prospective longitudinal follow‐up of police records concerning known users of AAS. Results:  The present study describes five young men who started to use AAS with the primary motive of gaining muscle mass and strength and who subsequently got involved in criminal activities, including violent offences. One person showed deviant behaviour suggestive of conduct disorder at an early age. The other persons appeared to have low self‐confidence, but had not been acting out during early adolescence. Conclusion:  Use of AAS may constitute an increased risk of developing an antisocial life style with involvement in criminal violence.