MONDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Use of anabolic androgenic steroids may be associated with an increased risk for criminal activity, according to a report in the November issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Fia Klotz, M.D., of Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden, and colleagues retrospectively analyzed criminal activity reported from 1995 through 2001 for individuals testing positive for anabolic androgenic steroids to examine the association between their use and criminal activity.
Use of anabolic steroids was associated with an approximately twofold risk for being convicted of a weapons offense and a 1.5-fold risk of fraud compared to individuals testing negative. No differences in violent crime or crimes against property were noted.
"Our findings indicate that the use of anabolic androgenic steroids is associated not only with impulsive antisocial behavior but also with an antisocial lifestyle involving various types of criminality, some of which require preparation and planning, i.e., are of a non-impulsive nature," the authors write.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
