June 2025 in “Pharmaceuticals” This study analyzed reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and observed an upward trend in suicidality-related safety signals among young male finasteride users since 2019, peaking in 2022, highlighting emerging psychiatric safety concerns and the need for vigilant monitoring of this population.
March 2025 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” This study found that reports of suicidal ideations linked to oral finasteride were significantly higher in 2013–2018 and 2019–2023 compared to 2006–2011, potentially due to increased awareness of post-finasteride syndrome from 2012 onward. No such signals were seen with oral dutasteride.
May 2024 in “European urology focus” In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors found no statistically significant association between the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors and the risk of depression or suicide among over two million studied patients.
August 2023 in “Psychology, Health & Medicine” This systemic review and meta-analysis found that men with androgenetic alopecia generally experience moderate impacts on quality of life, but limited evidence of severe effects on mental health.
This review discusses the genetic differences between male and female pattern hair loss and highlights the uncertainty surrounding genetic factors in female pattern hair loss, but reports no clinical results.
This comprehensive review analyzes androgenetic alopecia treatments, discussing the mechanisms, costs, efficacy, and safety of FDA-approved drugs like minoxidil and finasteride, as well as newer non-FDA-approved options that have shown effectiveness across various studies.
December 2022 in “JAMA network open” This study found that men using 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors showed an increased risk for dementia shortly after starting treatment, which diminished over time, and a consistent association with depression, but no link to suicide.
4 citations
,
August 2021 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy” This review summarizes the association between 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and depression, discussing potential mechanisms such as neuroactive steroid alterations and neuroinflammation, but reports no new clinical results.
4 citations
,
July 2021 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This meta-analysis reported that finasteride 1 mg/day significantly increased hair count in male androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo, but highlighted persistent sexual side effects and associated depression risk.
7 citations
,
April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology” In this study, finasteride treatment was associated with an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and persistent sexual dysfunction compared to those not treated with the drug.
23 citations
,
January 2021 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy” This study found that dihydrotestosterone induced hair loss and changes in hair morphology in male C57BL/6 mice, effects that could be partially reversed by the AR antagonist bicalutamide.
9 citations
,
April 2020 in “The Journal of Urology” This study found that initiation of 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride is not associated with an increased risk of depression in veterans, suggesting depression may be linked to underlying health conditions instead.
8 citations
,
July 2019 in “Endocrine connections” This study found that post-finasteride syndrome patients showed a tissue-specific methylation pattern of the SRD5A2 promoter in cerebrospinal fluid, potentially affecting neuroactive steroid levels and related behavioral symptoms.
4 citations
,
May 2019 in “The World Journal of Men's Health” This study found no significant increase in depression risk associated with taking five-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia or alopecia, although further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
18 citations
,
March 2019 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This study found that finasteride use was not associated with sexual dysfunction in men with androgenetic alopecia, consistent with other large survey-based controlled studies.
21 citations
,
November 2017 in “Archives of Dermatological Research” This study found that women with female pattern hair loss had increased 5α-reductase isozymes and decreased aromatase mRNA levels, potentially affecting their response to treatment.
50 citations
,
September 2016 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study found no evidence of androgen deficiency or decreased peripheral androgen action in men with persistent sexual symptoms after finasteride use, but identified links to depressed mood and abnormal brain function.
111 citations
,
August 2015 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders” 5α-reductase inhibitors may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and depression, needing more research on long-term effects.
69 citations
,
July 2015 in “Pharmacotherapy” This study found that low-dose finasteride use in young men was associated with higher reporting of persistent sexual dysfunction, with some cases linked to suicidal ideation.
134 citations
,
August 2012 in “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry” This study found that former finasteride users with persistent sexual side effects reported significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts compared to controls.
149 citations
,
January 2011 in “Nature reviews. Urology” Hormonal interactions, especially involving DHT and estrogen, play a key role in BPH development and treatment.
93 citations
,
February 2009 in “Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences” This review describes the roles of 5α-reductase isozymes in prostate development and pathology and reports no new clinical results.
