Repurposing Steroidogenesis Inhibitors for the Therapy of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Promises and Caveats

The document from March 1, 2019, explores the potential of using steroidogenesis inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride, for treating neuropsychiatric disorders due to their effects on neurotransmitter functions and stress responses. These drugs, originally developed for genitourinary and endocrine dysfunctions, have shown promise in preclinical and preliminary clinical studies for conditions like Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by modulating dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, there are concerns about their lack of specificity and the risk of endocrine adverse events, including persistent neuropsychiatric side effects like sexual dysfunction, depression, and anxiety, known as post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). The document suggests that while these inhibitors have therapeutic potential, further research is needed to understand their complex mechanisms and to develop more targeted approaches to minimize adverse effects.