Articles by James Wright

9. Discussion of Major Methodological Issues in Anabolic Steroid Research As noted previously, any attempt to evaluate and summarise the psychological and behavioural effects associated with the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is complicated by the numerous methodological shortcomings of many of the investigations, including inappropriate sampling strategies, lack of adequate control groups, use of several […]

8. Prevention and Treatment of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Abuse The use of educational intervention programmes for the prevention and treatment of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse has been examined in several studies. Hallagan et al. (1990) propose that education is the most feasible alternative for curbing steroid use by adolescents. On the otherhand, Bents et al. (1990) found […]

7. Psychological Dependence and Withdrawal Effects of Anabolic Steroids For the most part, individuals use anabolic-androgenic steroids to significantly improve appearance and/or performance beyond what would be expected from training alone. Also, individuals using anabolic-androgenic steroids appear to believe that higher doses and continued use result in greater gains, a belief that receives support from […]

6. Anabolic Steroids, Athletes and Behaviour Very few scientific studies are available of either the personality and psychological characteristics or the changes that might be incurred as a result of heavy resistance training in competitive weightlifters and bodybuilders (Harlow 1951; Henry 1941; Thune 1949). Further, there is little understanding of the extent to which resistance […]

5. Steroids and Mental Health Research and anecdotal information suggested some time ago that steroids have among their many side effects various mental disturbances including schizophrenic symptoms and manic depressive illnesses even though estrone was used successfully in both males and females in the treatment of depression and other mental disturbances occurring with menopause and […]

4. Anabolic Steroid Therapy and Moods Hermann and Beach (1976), in a review of the psychotropic effects of androgens, concluded that ‘…androgen deficiency appears to cause a slowing down of both physical and mental functions, a reduction in libido and potency, and a tendency towards moodiness and depression. Conversely, androgen excess seems to stimulate physical […]

3. Plasma Testosterone Levels and Aggression 3.1 Testosterone and Aggression in Animals Numerous studies have shown relationships between testosterone levels, dominance, and aggressive behaviour in various species of animals (Allee et al. 1939; Barfield et al. 1972; Bouissou 1983; Bouissou & Gaudioso 1982; Hamilton 1938; Kurischko & Oettel 1977; Payne & Swanson 1973; Rose et […]

2. Potential Mechanisms for Some Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Effects on the Nervous System Anabolic-androgenic steroids have been shown to exert significant effects on both the development and functioning of the nervous system. Androgens were shown to act directly on the brain long ago (Phoenix et al. 1959). These authors suggested that during early development androgens acted […]

1. History of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Competitive Sports and Medicine The primary use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is in replacement therapy for male hypogonadism; other medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids include growth promotion in various forms of stunted growth, osteoporosis, mammary carcinoma, anaemias and hereditary angioneurotic oedema. Observation and clinical trials indicate that adjuvant therapy […]

Summary The psychological and behavioural effects of endogenous testosterone levels and anabolic-androgenic steroids in males have been investigated for over 50 years in both clinical and nonmedical uses, including the influence of anabolic-androgenic steroids on the nervous system and neuromuscular expression as a mechanism for behavioural and ergogenic effects. The relationship between moods, behaviour and […]