Page 3 of the Jan. 16 President’s Periodic Physical Exam (dated Jan. 16) indicates the man takes 1 mg of finasteride (Propecia) daily. Finasteride is prescribed for androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss).
A Nov. 15, 2015, article in Andrology identified the long-term adverse effects after use of finasteride against androgenetic alopecia. In addition to multiple adverse sexual effects, mental disorders include anhedonia, lack of mental concentration, involuntary muscle spasms and anxiety. The Aging Male Symptom Scale identified psychological symptoms: irritability (increased), nervousness (more), anxiety (more), depressive mood and burnout.
A July 2017 article in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “explored the psychiatric and andrological features of patients affected by post-finasteride syndrome,” finding that “eight out of 16 PFS male patients considered suffered from a major depressive disorder.”
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV defines major depressive disorder: A period of two weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in function, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, self-image or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
The man’s emotional health must be assessed.
Virginia Lee, Salt Lake City
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