Chapter 13: Hormones and Affective Disorders Flashcards
Anabolic Steroids
Most are used for muscle gain.
Most act via androgen receptors.
Became illegal in 1991 (DEA schedule 2).
Very effective, very risky.
Chris Benoit “the Canadian Crippler”
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Martin Alzado (1949–1992) was a professional American football player in the NFL, famous for his intense, intimidating style of play.
Alzado was one of the first major US sports figures to admit to using anabolic steroids.
In the last year of his life, as he battled the brain tumor that eventually caused his death, Alzado asserted that his steroid abuse directly led to his fatal illness.
Alzado recounted his steroid abuse:
“I started taking anabolic steroids in 1969 and never stopped. It was addicting, mentally addicting. Now I’m sick, and I’m scared. 90% of the athletes I know are on the stuff….. But all the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. I became very violent on the field and off it. I did things only crazy people do. Once a guy sideswiped my car and I beat the hell out of him. Now look at me. My hair’s gone, I wobble when I walk and have to hold on to someone for support, and I have trouble remembering things…”
The role that anabolic steroids may have played in Alzado’s death has been the subject of controversy.
Lyle Alzado died on May 14, 1992 at age 43 after a battle with brain cancer.
Christopher “Chris” Benoit
Christopher “Chris” Benoit
(1967–2007)
Canadian professional wrestler.
Had a 22-year career, was a 2-time world champion. Held 22 wrestling titles.
He was booked to win a third world championship at a WWE event on the night of his death.
Benoit murdered his wife and son on June 22, 2007, and subsequently hanged himself on June 24, 2007.
Research suggests depression and brain damage accrued from numerous concussions are likely contributing factors leading to Benoit’s crime.
The officers discovered the bodies of Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel. Over a 3-day period, Benoit had killed his wife and son before hanging himself. His wife was bound before the killing. Benoit’s son was drugged and likely unconscious before Benoit strangled him. Benoit then committed suicide with a weight machine.
Benoit was found to have Xanax, hydrocodone, and an elevated level of testosterone, caused by a synthetic form of the hormone, in his system. The chief medical examiner attributed the testosterone level to Benoit possibly being treated for a deficiency caused by previous steroid abuse or testicular insufficiency.
Prior to the murder–suicide, Benoit had been given illegal steroids not in compliance with WWE in 2006. Benoit received nandrolone & anastrozole.
Years of trauma to his brain may have led to his actions. Tests were conducted on Benoit’s brain, and results showed that “Benoit’s brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer’s patient.”
He was reported to have had an advanced form of dementia, similar to the brains of 4 retired NFL players who had suffered multiple concussions, sank into depression, and harmed themselves or others.
Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to dementia, which can contribute to severe behavioral problems.
Common Steroids
Anadrol Oxandrin Dianabol Winstrol Durabolin Deca-Durabolin Depo-Testoserone Equipoise
Anabolic Steroids:
Illegal Use
Banned substances in professional sports, but use in high school and in amateur body-building often goes unchecked
Estimated over a million high school students use per year
Seen as less risky than other “hard drugs”
Anabolic Steroids:
Health Consequences
Widespread health consequences of chronic steroid use
Substantial risk for heart attack, suicide, cancer—immunosuppression
Euphoria, irritability, anger, mood instability
“Roids rage”
Activational effects
Men Experience:
Baldness, Headaches, Breast Gro
wth, Enlarged Prostate, Reduced Sperm Count, Shrinkage of Testicles
Women Experience:
Increase in facial & body hair, Deepened voice, Reduced breast size, Menstrual Problems, Enlarged clitorus.
Both Men & Women Experience:
Nausea, Bloating, Aggression, Mood Swings, Severe Acne, Liver disease, High Blood pressure, Heart disease, Urinary & Bowel problems, Strokes, Blood Clots.
Roids Rage
Roid rage is a term given to people who act in very aggressive or hostile manner after taking large doses, usually on a regular basis, of anabolic steroids, sometimes nicknamed as “roids”.
In recent times, several prominent murders and brutal attacks have been linked to roid rage, which might suggest a person is less responsible for committing a crime.
This is not always an adequate defense given that people who take anabolic steroids tend to do so willingly.
Further, roid rage resulting in violent behavior may be a little more complex than it is generally portrayed in the media.
When people use anabolic steroids, a dangerous practice for many reasons, they are essentially placing extra levels of testosterone in their bodies.
This hormone can at first have positive effects on the psyche, which later turn negative.
Steroid users at first may equate steroid use with feeling well, unconquerable or very happy.
Continued use of steroids may result in much greater mood and behavior change.
People may become more aggressive, more hostile, or they may manifest symptoms of various forms of mental illness, like schizophrenia, mania, and deep depression.
Anabolic steroid use is linked not only to roid rage and sudden mood changes, but also to a higher incidence of suicide than in the general populace.
Affective Disorders
Affective disorders are a set of psychiatric diseases, also called mood disorders.
The main types of affective disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder.
Symptoms vary by individual, but they typically affect mood.
Mood disorders:
Major Depressive Disorder
Anxiety Disorders:
PTSD, OCD, Panic Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder
Eating Disorders
Reproductive-related disorders:
Postpartum depression
Premenstrual affective disorders
Premenstrual Syndrome
Depressed mood, anxiety, emotonal lability, anhedonia, mania, disordered sleep
Often physical symptoms too:
bloating, pain, changes in feeding, fatigue, muscle soreness, sleep disturbances
To be diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, one must have one physical and one psychological symptom
Otherwise, it’s called premenstrual syndrome
Emotional lability
the tendency to laugh or cry unexpectedly at what might seem the wrong moment.
Emotional lability is often a temporary symptom that reduces over time. It is more common to experience emotional lability if your ability to think and reason have been affected.
anhedonia
inability to feel pleasure.
The Luteal Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
High Progesterone, low Estrogen normally.
**Estrogen is usually anxiolytic and anti-depressive, but so is P!
PMS = ‘withdrawal’ symptoms once P levels decrease at menstruation
Progesterone can act on GABA receptors to increase their action (at benzodiazepine receptor), so loss of Progesterone can induce anxiety.
GnRH also may play a role:
GnRH agonist can help PMS & PMDD by preventing reproductive cycling.
Highly effective at reducing depressive symptoms.
Also leads to reduced progesterone.
The follicle left behind turns into the Corpus Luteum (Latin for “yellow body”)
anxiolytic
a substance inhibits anxiety.
This effect is in contrast to anxiogenic agents, which increase anxiety
PMS = ‘withdrawal’ symptoms once ______ levels decrease at menstruation
PMS = ‘withdrawal’ symptoms once Progesterone levels decrease at menstruation
Progesterone can act on ____ receptors to increase their action (at _______ receptor), so the loss of P can induce anxiety
Progesterone can act on GABA receptors to increase their action (at benzodiazepine receptor), so loss of Progesterone can induce anxiety
The Follicular Phase of Menstruation
Increasing Estrogen
Low Progesterone
Eggs develop inside of follicles.
One egg emerges as dominant and grows alone.
The egg bursting out of the follicle at the moment of Ovulation marks the peak/end of the Follicular Phase, and the beginning of the luteal phase.
There is a hypothesis that PMS is associated with the long term consequences of having ‘too many’ periods versus our ancestors.
10-20 periods in the past when there was continuously breeding, lactating, etc (2-3 years without a period per kid) versus probably about 400 periods now…
Results of chronic exposure to hormone fluctuations:
Seasonique (constant birth control) or SSRIs as treatment
Postpartum Depression
Depression occurs mildly in many new mothers, becomes PPD in about 15-20% of women.
Huge changes in Estrogen, Progesterone, and Oxytocin at parturition, but none has been clearly tied to the disorder
Tom Cruise criticizes Brooke Shields for using Postpartum medication after the birth of her child.
