Investigating anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence and muscle dysmorphia with network analysis among male weightlifters.

Abstract in brief

• The study explores the relationship between anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) dependence and muscle dysmorphia in male weightlifters, using network analysis to identify key symptoms and potential clinical targets.
• Among men who use AAS, symptoms like ongoing use despite side effects, tolerance, and work-life interference are central to dependence, while exercise dependence and concerns about muscle size are central to muscle dysmorphia, with AAS users showing more severe symptoms than controls.
• The findings suggest that both the severity and structure of muscle dysmorphia symptoms differ between AAS users and non-users, highlighting complex connections between steroid dependence and body image concerns that could inform treatment approaches.]