A large national study from Sweden has found that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs — the class that includes Ozempic and Wegovy — may reduce the risk of worsening depression and anxiety in people already diagnosed with those conditions. The findings, published in the April issue of a peer-reviewed journal, add to a growing body of research suggesting these medications do more than control blood sugar and suppress appetite.
The study analyzed health data from 95,490 people in Sweden who had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both, and who had also been prescribed diabetes medications between 2009 and 2022. Researchers focused specifically on four GLP-1 drugs: semaglutide (sold as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus), liraglutide (Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). Over an average follow-up period of 5.2 years, about 23.5% of participants used a GLP-1 drug at some point.
The study used a within-individual design, meaning each participant served as their own control. Researchers compared periods when individuals were taking GLP-1 medications against periods when they were not. That approach limits the influence of fixed variables like age or baseline health status. Semaglutide showed the strongest association, linked to a 42% lower likelihood of mental health deterioration during treatment periods.
The primary outcome researchers tracked was a composite measure: psychiatric hospitalizations, extended sick leave for psychiatric reasons, hospitalization due to self-harm, or death by suicide. Participants taking GLP-1 drugs also required fewer hospitalizations and less sick leave overall. Researchers also compared GLP-1 drugs against other second-line diabetes medications, including empagliflozin and sitagliptin, to test whether the mental health association was specific to this drug class.
Experts not involved in the research have pointed to the drugs' effects on dopamine signaling and brain inflammation as possible explanations for the mental health benefits. But the study is observational, meaning it shows an association rather than proof of cause and effect. Researchers and clinicians agree it is too early to recommend GLP-1 drugs as a primary treatment for depression or anxiety. Further clinical trials are needed before any such guidance could be issued.
