Ms. W is a 28-year-old woman whose hobby is body building.

Ms. W is a 28-year-old woman whose hobby is body building. Her family has noticed a dramatic increase in her muscle mass over the past few months, along with behavioral changes, such as mood swings and irritability. Her menstrual period has been absent for the past 6 months. Her husband also has noticed a marked decrease in her libido. A physical examination revealed elevated blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Ms. W sees her physician for her annual checkup and orders a blood test for steroids.

1. Based on the patient history and the signs and symptoms, discuss how steroid substance abuse has affected her health. Which type of abuse might this be classified under—habit, dependence, or addiction? (See Anabolic Steroids—Terminology.)

2. Discuss other problems that this patient might encounter if her abuse is not stopped. (See Anabolic Steroids—Potential Complications of Substance Abuse.)