The effects of pharmacologically induced hypogonadism on mood in healthy men.

BACKGROUND

The effects of declining androgen secretion on mood regulation and the potential psychotropic efficacy of androgen replacement in men are largely undetermined.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects on mood of the acute suppression of testosterone secretion.

DESIGN

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover (self-as-own-control) study.

SETTING

An ambulatory care clinic in a research hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one healthy adult men with no history of psychiatric illness or substance or anabolic steroid abuse.

INTERVENTIONS

Men received depot leuprolide acetate (Lupron, 7.5 mg intramuscularly) every 4 weeks for 3 months. After the first month of Lupron alone, all men received (in addition to Lupron) testosterone enanthate (200 mg intramuscular) or placebo (sesame oil as color-matched vehicle) every 2 weeks for 1 month each in a crossover design. The order of administration of testosterone and placebo was randomly assigned and counterbalanced.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mood and behavior rating scores (self-report and rater administered).

RESULTS

With the exceptions of hot flushes, libido, and the feeling of being emotionally charged, none of the symptoms measured showed a significant difference across eugonadal, Lupron plus placebo, and Lupron plus testosterone conditions. Despite the absence of a uniform effect of Lupron plus placebo on mood, 3 men experienced clinically relevant mood symptoms during this induced hypogonadal condition. High baseline levels of sexual functioning predicted the greatest decline in sexual function during Lupron plus placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

These data, the first to describe the effects on mood of induced hypogonadism in healthy young men, suggest that short-term hypogonadism is sufficient to precipitate depressive symptoms in only a small minority of younger men. The predictors of this susceptibility remain to be determined.