Crude pooled rates of depressive symptoms with versus without finasteride were 3.33% versus 2.54%; random-effects meta-analysis yielded an odds ratio of 2.14. In addition, risk of suicidal ideation or behavior was greater with versus without finasteride (21.2% vs 14.0%), and risk of sustained sexual dysfunction was high (60.1%). The findings support a growing impression that finasteride is associated with adverse psychiatric effects that can persist in association with sexual dysfunction after discontinuing finasteride treatment.
Maurizio P, Magistri C, Maddalena S, Mellini C, Persechino S, Baldessarini, RJ. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001379 [Journal of Clinical Psychoparmacology]