@article{ref1,
title="Anabolic-androgenic steroid administration increases self-reported aggression in healthy males: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies",
journal="Psychopharmacology",
year="2021",
author="Chegeni, Razieh and Pallesen, Stale and McVeigh, Jim and Sagoe, Dominic",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="RATIONALE: Aggression and irritability are notable psychiatric side effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use. However, no previous study has systematically reviewed and quantitatively synthesized effects reported by experimental studies on this topic. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of AAS administration on self-reported and observer-reported aggression. <br><br>METHODS: Twelve RCTs comprising a total of 562 healthy males were identified through systematic searches of MEDLINE, PsycInfo, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. <br><br>RESULTS: After excluding one outlier, AAS administration was associated with an increase in self-reported aggression under a random-effects model, albeit small (Hedges' g = 0.171, 95% CI: 0.029-0.312, k = 11, p =.018), and when restricting the analysis to the effect of acute AAS administration on self-reported aggression under a fixed-effect model (g = 0.291, 95% CI: 0.014-0.524, p =.014). However, the above effects were neither replicated in the analysis of observer-reported aggression nor after restricting the analysis to the effects of the administration of higher (over 500 mg) and long-term (3 days to 14 weeks) doses. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis provides evidence of an increase, although small, in self-reported aggression in healthy males following AAS administration in RCTs. Ecologically rational RCTs are warranted to better explore the effect of AAS administration on aggression in humans.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-3158",
doi="10.1007/s00213-021-05818-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-05818-7"
}