Epidmiological Signals and Clinical Concerns: The strongest clinical evidence to date comes from cohort studies comparing finasteride to similar agents like dutasteride. In a 2023 nationwide study, Laanani et al. reported no increased risk of suicidal behaviour in the general population of men treated for BPH with finasteride, relative to those treated with dutasteride—particularly among men without psychiatric disorders. However, among men with a history of mood disorders, finasteride was associated with a higher risk of suicide death than dutasteride… These findings are not limited to clinical reports. Meta-analyses and real-world pharmacovigilance data also support an emerging signal that calls for a reconsideration of prescribing practices, especially in non-essential use cases, echoing previous population-based studies that found increased suicidality and depression among users of 5α-reductase inhibitors.
Perezcano C, Pérez-Coria M, Borrayo-López, FJ. Finasteride, pharmacogenomics, and suicide risk: a public health concern: June 9, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41397-026-00420-6 [The Pharmacogenomics Journal]