After reading the paragraphs below, answer the questions that follow.
Anabolic steroid abuse, the self-administration of hormones such as testosterone for body building or other nonmedical uses, is an increasing concern in society. A study of the effects of added testosterone on behavior yielded the data shown below. They are from the responses to testosterone treatment based on a scale of manic (excited or irritable) behavior for six adult males. Black bars indicate testosterone administration time and white bars indicate placebo administration time. The asterisk for the first subject indicates discontinuation of testosterone treatment after week 5 because of rapidly escalating manic symptoms.
Source: Pople, H. G., Kouri, E. M., & Hudson, J. I. (2000). Effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on mood and aggression in normal men: a randomized controlled trial.
Archives of general psychiatry, 57(2): 133-140.
What could reasonably be concluded from these data?
▸ Not all men respond similarly to the administration of extra testosterone.
▸ Testosterone levels are higher in people who are manic
▸ All men given extra testosterone exhibit significant manic behavior.
▸ People who already have high levels of testosterone have a lower response to additional testosterone.
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