Response to Article 'Depression Circumstantially Related to the Administration of Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia' (Journal of Dermatology, 29, 665-669, 2002)

This document is a response to an article titled "Depression Circumstantially Related to the Administration of Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia" published in the Journal of Dermatology in 2002. The authors of this response have concerns about the study's methodology and findings. They question the use of the term "depression" in the title of the article, as the diagnostic criteria for depression were not fully met. They also raise concerns about the retrospective nature of the study and the potential for bias in the reporting and documentation of depressive symptomatology. Additionally, they suggest that the side effect profile of finasteride, which includes sexual dysfunction, may have contributed to the reported symptoms. Overall, the authors caution against interpreting the study's findings as conclusive and emphasize the importance of remaining objective in evaluating patients during drug therapy.