Medical and Illicit Use of Anabolic Steroids
Course #61514 -
- Participation Instructions
- Review the course material online or in print.
- Complete the course evaluation.
- Review your Transcript to view and print your Certificate of Completion. Your date of completion will be the date (Pacific Time) the course was electronically submitted for credit, with no exceptions. Partial credit is not available.
Anabolic steroids, also referred to as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), include the male hormone testosterone and related compounds that have muscle-building (anabolic) and masculinizing (androgenic) effects. It is imperative for healthcare providers to recognize the risk factors and acute and chronic signs and symptoms of current and past AAS abuse in order to identify and treat these patients. The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge necessary to recognize and intervene early in order to prevent adverse and potentially irreversible consequences of AAS misuse. The course will provide information regarding the motivation to use AAS and warning signs and symptoms that may indicate abuse. Many of the gaps in identification, assessment, and appropriate treatment of patients with current and past AAS use and abuse can be addressed through provider education.
- INTRODUCTION
- HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
- ENDOGENOUS ANDROGENS
- PHARMACOLOGY
- MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC USES
- MISUSE AND ABUSE OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS
- ADVERSE EFFECTS AND COMPLICATIONS
- AAS DRUG DEPENDENCE
- SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT OF SUSPECTED AAS ABUSE
- INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH AAS ABUSE/DEPENDENCE
- CONCLUSION
- Works Cited
This course is designed for psychologists who are involved in the care of individuals who may use anabolic steroids.
The purpose of this course is to provide psychologists with the knowledge necessary to recognize and intervene early in order to prevent adverse and potentially irreversible consequences of anabolic-androgenic steroid misuse.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Describe the pharmacology and mechanism of action of anabolic steroids, specifically testosterone.
- Outline the range of therapeutic indications of anabolic steroids.
- Identify the epidemiology, risk factors, and characteristics of anabolic steroid abusers.
- List the potential adverse effects of anabolic steroid use.
- Discuss the signs and symptoms of anabolic steroid use and abuse.
- Recall appropriate interventions to manage the physical and neuropsychiatric effects of acute and chronic anabolic steroid use in current and past users.
Mark Rose, BS, MA, LP, is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota with a private consulting practice and a medical research analyst with a biomedical communications firm. Earlier healthcare technology assessment work led to medical device and pharmaceutical sector experience in new product development involving cancer ablative devices and pain therapeutics. Along with substantial experience in addiction research, Mr. Rose has contributed to the authorship of numerous papers on CNS, oncology, and other medical disorders. He is the lead author of papers published in peer-reviewed addiction, psychiatry, and pain medicine journals and has written books on prescription opioids and alcoholism published by the Hazelden Foundation. He also serves as an Expert Advisor and Expert Witness to law firms that represent disability claimants or criminal defendants on cases related to chronic pain, psychiatric/substance use disorders, and acute pharmacologic/toxicologic effects. Mr. Rose is on the Board of Directors of the Minneapolis-based International Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine and is a member of several professional organizations.
Contributing faculty, Mark Rose, BS, MA, LP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
James Trent, PhD
The division planner has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
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The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.