Assessment of attentional bias and mood in users and non-users of anabolic-androgenic steroids

Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995 Mar;37(3):241-5.

Assessment of attentional bias and mood in users and non-users of
anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Bond AJ, Choi PY, Pope HG Jr.

Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, UK.

Forty-six male strength athletes took part in a study to measure the effects of
anabolic-androgenic steroids on attentional bias to aggressive cues. They were 16
current users of anabolic steroids, 16 former users and 14 non-users.
Testosterone, deca-durabolin and anadrol were the three most commonly taken
steroids during the last cycle. Users generally took 2-3 drugs during each cycle;
the average cycle lasted 8-11 weeks and they had completed 3-4 cycles. The
subjects completed visual analogue scales of current feelings and were presented
with a modified Stroop Colour Word Conflict Task containing sets of neutral,
verbally aggressive and physically aggressive words. Current users tended to rate
themselves more negatively. Users took longer than former users to name the
colours of all word sets but there were no significant differences between word
sets. Therefore, attentional bias did not differ between groups but current
steroid use produced subtle mood changes and slowed performance compared to users
not currently taking steroids.