A large study tracking nearly 100,000 people in Sweden found that GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, are associated with significantly fewer psychiatric hospital visits and reduced sick days due to mental health issues. Researchers observed drops of up to 47% in various mental health risks during drug use periods. The findings appear in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Scientists from the University of Eastern Finland, Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and Griffith University in Australia analyzed Swedish national health registers covering 2009 to 2022. The study followed nearly 100,000 individuals, with more than 20,000 using GLP-1 medications at some point. They compared mental health outcomes during periods of drug use versus non-use, focusing on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, which treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Conditions like obesity and diabetes often correlate with higher depression and anxiety risks, prompting the investigation into potential mental health benefits from these treatments. During semaglutide use, psychiatric hospital care and sick leave fell by 42%, depression risk dropped 44%, and anxiety disorders decreased 38%. Substance use-related hospital care and absences were 47% lower, alongside reduced suicidal behavior risks. Professor Mark Taylor from Griffith University noted, “An earlier study examining Swedish registers found the use of GLP-1 medications to be associated with a reduced risk of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol-related problems often have downstream effects on mood and anxiety, so we expected the effect to be positive on these as well.” Research Director Markku Lähteenvuo from the University of Eastern Finland added, “Because this is a registry-based study, we cannot determine exactly why or how these medications affect mood symptoms, but the association was quite strong. It is possible that... there may also be direct neurobiological mechanisms involved -- for example, through changes in the functioning of the brain's reward system.” The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, adds evidence to prior mixed findings on GLP-1 drugs' mental health effects, though it cannot prove causation.
