Use of androgenic anabolic steroids by patients under treatment for substance use disorder: case series / Uso de esteroides androgênicos anabolizantes por pacientes em tratamento para transtorno por uso de substâncias: relato de casos

ABSTRACT The present study reports several case studies about the use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) by patients under treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). Ten subjects were interviewed, two women and eight men, ranging from 25 to 43 years old. Regarding treatment regime, eight subjects were inpatients and two, outpatients. ASSIST-WHO and MINI-SUD scales and a semi-structured interview were used as research instruments. Seven subjects reported the use of AAS within fewer than twelve months from the interview date. Mental health professionals did not previously question none of the subjects were about the use of AAS. We discuss the efficacy of the chosen instruments to assess AAS use.

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta uma série de casos relatando o uso de esteroides androgênicos anabolizantes (EAA) por pacientes em tratamento para transtorno por uso de substâncias (TUS). Dez sujeitos foram entrevistados, sendo duas mulheres e oito homens, de 25 a 43 anos de idade. Oito sujeitos encontravam-se em regime de internação e dois sujeitos, em tratamento ambulatorial. Os instrumentos da pesquisa foram as escalas ASSIST-OMS e MINI-TUS, além de uma entrevista semiestruturada. Sete sujeitos informaram o uso de EAA há menos de doze meses da entrevista. Nenhum dos sujeitos havia sido questionado anteriormente sobre o uso de EAA por algum profissional de saúde mental. Discutimos a eficácia das escalas escolhidas em avaliar o uso de EAA.

The carbon dioxide challenge test in panic disorder: a systematic review of preclinical and clinical research

This systematic review assesses the current state of clinical and preclinical research on panic disorder (PD) in which the carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge was used as a trigger for panic attacks (PAs). A total of 95 articles published from 1984 to 2012 were selected for inclusion. Some hypotheses for PD evolved greatly due to the reproducibility of PAs in a controlled environment using the safe and noninvasive CO2 test. The 35% CO2 protocol was the method chosen by the majority of studies. Results of the test report specific sensitivity to hypercapnia in PD patients of the respiratory PD subtype. The CO2 challenge helped assess the antipanic effects of medication and non-pharmaceutical approaches such as physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy. The test was also used in studies about the genetic component of PD, in which twins and relatives of PD patients were analyzed.