Severity of anabolic steroid dependence, executive function, and personality traits in substance use disorder patients in Norway

Morgan Scarth; Ingrid A Havnes; Marie L Jørstad; Jim McVeigh; Marie Claire Van Hout; Lars T Westlye; Svenn Torgersen; Astrid Bjørnebekk

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109275

Severity of anabolic steroid dependence, executive function, and personality traits in substance use disorder patients in Norway

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Feb 1:231:109275. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109275. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Authors

Morgan Scarth¹, Ingrid A Havnes², Marie L Jørstad², Jim McVeigh³, Marie Claire Van Hout⁴, Lars T Westlye⁵, Svenn Torgersen⁶, Astrid Bjørnebekk⁷

Affiliations

¹ Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: morsca@ous-hf.no.
² Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, National Advisory Unit on SUD Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
³ Substance Use & Associated Behaviours, Department of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
⁴ Public Health Institute, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moore's University, Liverpool, UK.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁷ Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Research Group, Section for Clinical Addiction Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 35030506
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109275

Abstract

Introduction: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone and synthetic derivatives, are typically used to increase muscle mass. Many users develop a dependence on these substances, contributing to worsened physical and mental health outcomes. Aspects of personality and executive dysfunction may represent underlying vulnerabilities for developing dependence.

Objective: To identify levels of AAS dependence within substance use disorder (SUD) treatment patients and assess the relationship between dependence severity and personality traits and executive function (EF).

Methods: Data were collected from patients at 38 SUD treatment facilities in Norway. Questionnaires were completed for measures of personality and EF. Measures of symptoms of AAS dependence were used in latent class analysis to identify sub-groups of patients, which were evaluated for association with EF and personality traits, and compared with a group of non-AAS using SUD patients.

Results: Three classes were identified; largely reflecting low, moderate, and high symptoms of dependence. Multinomial regression analyses indicated that moderate and high symptoms were associated with several measures of EF and personality traits, particularly self-monitoring, antagonism, disinhibition, and rigid perfectionism while users with low symptoms exhibited higher capacities for emotional control and shift, and lower negative affectivity, relative to non-AAS using SUD patients. Backward stepwise regressions indicated antagonism, and decreased self-monitoring as key personality and cognitive characteristics of SUD patients with severe AAS dependence.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that specific executive dysfunctions and personality features, particularly those associated with poor emotional control, reduced empathy, and impulsivity are associated with more severe AAS dependence in the SUD population.

Keywords: Anabolic androgenic steroids; Executive function; Latent class analysis; Personality; Substance use disorder.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anabolic Agents* / adverse effects
Executive Function
Humans
Personality
Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders* / psychology
Testosterone Congeners / adverse effects

Substances

Anabolic Agents
Testosterone Congeners