The objective of the proposed project is to determine if synthetic anabolic androgenic steroids increase aggressive behavior in humans. Because an increasing number of athletes are using anabolic androgenic steroids for physique and performance enhancement, it is imperative to have information about the aggression potentiating side effects of these drugs. Further, this project will provide information about the more general research question of the relationship between androgens and aggressive behavior in humans. The present project would use both a validated self-report inventory and a laboratory behavioral measure of provoked aggression to test the hypothesis that anabolic androgenic steroids increase aggressive behavior. A group of athletes self-administering anabolic androgenic steroids will be compared to two control groups including: (1) a group of drug-free athletes, and (2) a groups of nonathletes who are drug free. Steroid-using athletes will be free of any other drug use. The control group of drug-free athletes will be matched to the steroid-using athletes for type of athletic involvement. To verify group placement, all subjects will provide a urine sample which will be analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for presence or absence of anabolic steroids and for type and level of anabolic steroids.
