Anabolic steroids and the mind

To the Editor: Corrigan's review of anabolic steroids and behaviour is relevant and timely. I The two murder cases he quotes, however, cannot rightly be classified as steroid rage ("roid rage") because of the presence of other psychoactive drugs. One man had taken benzodiazepines, while the other had consumed an estimated 3 L of beer in the three hours before the crime. Both of these drugs are associated with anomalous behaviour. Corrigan cites the frequency of steroid use: over four million Americans are estimated to have used anabolic steroids. However, this may represent over 10% of men in their twenties, the very group most likely to be involved in violent crime. From these two complicated cases and a dearth of reports of non-fatal steroidrelated assaults, I believe that the case for "roid rage" remains open.