Association Between 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Use and the Risk of Depression: A Meta-Analysis

The meta-analysis from 2020, which included 6 clinical studies with a total of 265,672 participants, found a significant association between the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) and an increased risk of depression. The risk ratios (RRs) showed that 5ARIs use was linked to depression (RR = 1.89, P = .001), with the association remaining significant after adjusting for confounding factors (RR = 1.09, P = .03). Specifically, dutasteride was associated with depression, but finasteride was not. The analysis suggested that 5ARIs mainly caused mild depression and highlighted the need for clinicians to be cautious when prescribing 5ARIs, particularly to patients with a history of depression. The authors called for further research with larger sample sizes and randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings. The document emphasized the statistical significance of the results, with p-values below 0.05 and confidence intervals indicating a significant increased risk of depression with 5ARI use.