25 citations
,
June 2017 in “Scientific reports” This study suggests that stress may worsen Tourette syndrome symptoms in mice by increasing allopregnanolone synthesis, with findings supporting finasteride as a potential treatment to manage symptom fluctuations.
58 citations
,
April 2017 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that patients with post-finasteride syndrome exhibited major depressive disorder, severe erectile dysfunction, and neuropathy, alongside altered neuroactive steroid levels in cerebrospinal fluid.
27 citations
,
January 2017 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” This study found that acute sleep deprivation enhanced 5α-reductase expression and activity in the rat prefrontal cortex, and finasteride treatment reduced associated psychosis- and mania-like behaviors.
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.
49 citations
,
September 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” This study suggests that the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride modulates sensorimotor gating in rats by affecting D1 and D3 receptors, but not D2 receptors, with varying effects based on genetic strain.
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.
24 citations
,
May 2015 in “Schizophrenia Research” This study found that inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase with finasteride counteracted stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in socially isolated rats by altering neuroactive steroid concentrations in the brain.
81 citations
,
June 2014 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study highlights that adverse effects from finasteride may persist in men after discontinuation, indicating a potential "post-finasteride syndrome.
19 citations
,
September 2013 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Blocking CYP17A1 enzyme may help improve certain brain function issues related to dopamine.
24 citations
,
June 2013 in “Journal of neuroendocrinology” This research observed that 5α-reductase inhibitors showed significant tic-suppressing effects in Tourette's syndrome, suggesting a key role for this enzyme in the disorder's pathogenesis.
71 citations
,
November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” This article reviews the reported sexual and psychological side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia, emphasizing the need for further clinical studies.
42 citations
,
August 2012 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride reduces certain behaviors caused by D1-like receptor agonists but not by D2-like receptor agonists in mice.
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.
53 citations
,
October 2011 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride may help improve certain brain function issues linked to dopamine.
46 citations
,
May 2011 in “Movement Disorders” This article contains additional supporting information available online but presents no new research findings.
72 citations
,
January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design” This review discusses the potential role of steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors in treating neuropsychiatric disorders related to dopaminergic hyperreactivity but reports no new clinical results.
46 citations
,
July 2010 in “Advances in Therapy” SPET-085 effectively inhibits an enzyme linked to prostate issues, similar to finasteride.
260 citations
,
July 2010 in “Cell” This study identifies mutations in the SRD5A3 gene as a cause of a new type of congenital disorder of glycosylation, impacting mental, ophthalmologic, and cerebellar functions.
64 citations
,
March 2008 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” 
42 citations
,
December 2007 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” This study examined finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, for treating a Tourette’s syndrome patient unresponsive to traditional therapy, noting its limited side effects.
408 citations
,
May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” This study found that dutasteride more effectively reduced serum dihydrotestosterone levels than finasteride in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
88 citations
,
October 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology” In this study, 19 patients treated with finasteride for androgenetic alopecia developed moderate to severe depression, which resolved after stopping the medication, suggesting an association between finasteride and mood disturbances.
52 citations
,
April 2002 in “Brain Research” This study found that in rats, finasteride significantly reduced allopregnanolone in the cortex and increased both the rise and duration of dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex in response to stress and anxiogenic stimuli.
26 citations
,
November 1993 in “Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry” This study reported that prenatal exposure to dihydrotestosterone altered long-term androgen metabolism in juvenile male rats, suggesting different regulatory mechanisms for 5a-reductase in hypothalamic versus pituitary tissues.
53 citations
,
June 1993 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” This study identified LY191704 as a specific noncompetitive inhibitor of human 5 alpha-reductase type 1, which may be useful in treating endocrine disorders related to DHT overproduction.
354 citations
,
August 1991 in “Molecular Endocrinology” This study found that distinct isoenzymes of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are expressed in human adrenals and gonads compared to the placenta and skin.
