Frequency of Use, Awareness, and Attitudes Toward Side Effects of Anabolic–Androgenic Steroids Consumption Among Male Medical Students in Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the frequency of anabolic–androgenic steroids consumption in male students studying at the university and their awareness, attitude, and role of sports activities; the present descriptive study was conducted on 271 volunteers in 2008. The data collected by self-report questionnaires was analyzed by descriptive inferential statistics. The prevalence of consumption was 3.3%, and it was significantly higher in those with a history of bodybuilding or athletic performance. The overall awareness rate was low, and the attitude was too optimistic. It seems that unawareness, incorrect attitude, and history of athletic performance increases the risk of consumption.

Keywords :

• anabolic–androgenic steroids
• attitude
• bodybuilding
• knowledge
• prevalence

THE AUTHORS

Dr Mohammad Reza Fayyazi Bordbar is an associate professor of Psychiatry at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. He has been working on the science of addiction, mood disorders, psychotherapy, and mental health for 12 years. He has published his findings in several international publications in his field. Address: Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Hor-e-Ameli Blvd., Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Ebrahim Abdollahian is professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. His main areas of interest are attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychopharmacology, and addiction. He graduated in general psychiatry from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 1977 and in child and adolescent psychiatry from The Ohio State University in 1995. He has many publications in international journals and has also authored and translated a number of books in the field of psychiatry. He has done oral and poster presentations at local and international congresses. Address: Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Hor-e-Ameli Blvd., Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr Roya Samadi graduated in psychiatry from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013. She has authored and published articles in the field of psychogeriatrics, psychopharmacology, and psychosomatics besides her work on addiction. Address: Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Hor-e-Ameli Blvd., Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Dr Hamid Dolatabadi. General physician. The present article is based on his thesis as a requirement for his degree of medicine. Address: Ibn-e-Sina Hospital, Hor-e-Ameli Blvd., Mashhad, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]

GLOSSARY

• Anabolic–androgenic steroids: Synthetic derivatives of testosterone that have anabolic and androgenic effects simultaneously.

• Attitude: A person's perspective toward a specified target and way of saying and doing things.

• Bodybuilding: The use of progressive resistance exercises to control and develop one's musculature.

• Knowledge: Familiarity with something, acquired through experience or education.

• Prevalence: The proportion of a population found to have a condition.