Finasteride Prescribed for Hair Loss Consistently Leads to Depression: Comment on 'Depression Risk of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: Impact of Active-Comparator Versus Non-Drug User Control Groups on Risk Measurement'

    July 2026 in “ Postgraduate Medicine ”
    Mayer Brezis
    Studysummary Results are not reported in this commentary, but it discusses the influence of different control group choices—an active-comparator versus non-drug users—on measuring depression risk in studies of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
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    Research cited in this study 16

    1. Finasteride-Induced Neuropsychiatric Reactions Journal of Dermatology and Skin Science · 2026
    2. Depression Risk of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: Impact of Active-Comparator Versus Non-Drug User Control Groups on Risk Measurement Postgraduate Medicine · 2026
    3. Failing Public Health Again? Analytical Review of Depression and Suicidality From Finasteride The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · 2025
    4. Physical Treatments and Therapies for Androgenetic Alopecia Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2024
    5. Association of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors With Depression and Suicide: A Mini Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis European urology focus · 2024
    6. Psychosocial Impact of Androgenetic Alopecia on Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Psychology, Health & Medicine · 2023
    7. Suicidal Risk Associated With Finasteride Versus Dutasteride Among Men Treated for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Nationwide Cohort Study Scientific Reports · 2023
    8. Systematic Review of Psychological Interventions for Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata and Scarring Alopecia Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2023
    9. Hair Regrowth Treatment Efficacy and Resistance in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Continuous Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Medicine · 2023
    10. Health-Related Quality of Life, Depression, and Self-Esteem in Patients With Androgenetic Alopecia JAMA Dermatology · 2021
    11. Risk of Depression Associated with Finasteride Treatment Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology · 2021
    12. Investigation of Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Finasteride JAMA Dermatology · 2020
    13. Lack of Association Between 5α-Reductase Inhibitors and Depression The Journal of Urology · 2020
    14. Risk of Depression After 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Medication: Meta-Analysis The World Journal of Men's Health · 2019
    15. Association of Suicidality and Depression With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors JAMA Internal Medicine · 2017
    16. Efficacy and Safety of Finasteride Therapy for Androgenetic Alopecia Archives of Dermatology · 2010