THE EFFECTS OF ANABOLIC-STEROIDS ON DRIVING PERFORMANCE AS ASSESSED BY THE IOWA DRIVER SIMULATOR

The effect of physiologic (100 mg/wk) and supraphysiologic (250 and 50 0 mg/wk) doses of testosterone cypionate (TC) on automobile driving we re studied using the Iowa Driver Simulator. Six normal subject-volunte ers were studied off TC and on TC once steady-state concentrations wer e achieved after at least three weeks of dosing. Despite the administr ation of supraphysiologic testosterone doses, an increase in aggressiv e driving behavior was not detected. Likewise, corresponding psychomet ric testing using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory to assess aggres sion was unable to detect any change in aggression in the test subject s. Although aggressive driving behavior may be increased by testostero ne administration, the drug itself may not be responsible for these ef fects. Supraphysiologic doses greater than 500 mg/wk and a semi-contro lled research environment may be necessary to produce this effect sinc e case reports of AAS abuse causing altered driving behavior may be mu ltifactorial in nature.