RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 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
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 965
OP 969
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091340
VO 47
IS 15
A1 A S Lindqvist
A1 T Moberg
A1 B O Eriksson
A1 C Ehrnborg
A1 T Rosén
A1 C Fahlke
YR 2013
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/15/965.abstract
AB Background The knowledge concerning the long-term effect of former anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS)-use on mental health is sparse. Aim 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.