Suicidal Ideation in Patients Undergoing Treatment with 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

    December 2025 in “ Instituto Politécnico do Porto ”
    Ana Silva, Crisália Barbosa, Joana Sousa
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    TLDR Patients with mood disorders using 5α-reductase inhibitors may have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts.
    This study critically reviews the literature on the risk of suicidal ideation and suicide associated with the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride. After analyzing 5 original articles, the study found no apparent difference in suicidal ideation between the two drugs. However, results varied with different doses of finasteride and patient factors like age and therapeutic indications (alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia). A significant finding was that patients with a history of mood disorders are at greater risk of suicidal outcomes, highlighting the importance of considering psychiatric history in such analyses. The study concludes that more research is needed to understand these associations and improve clinical practice.
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