Muscle dysmorphia and anabolic-androgenic steroid use

Abstract

Substance use is much more common in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) than in the general population (Grant et al., Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 66(3):309-405, 2005). In individuals with muscle dysmorphia (MD), a type of BDD that manifests as a pathological preoccupation with muscularity, the use of various substances that are associated with muscle building, such as anabolic steroids is much more prevalent than in the general population (Pope et al., Body Image 2:395-400, 2005). This chapter will examine the links between MD and such drug use, exploring the literature that has examined this issue, discussing treatment issues, and suggesting future research directions.