GLP-1 drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity are associated with a reduction in the need for hospitalization and sickness absence for psychiatric reasons, a new study shows. This large-scale register-based study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and Griffith University in Australia.
Diabetes and obesity are associated with an increased risk of mental health symptoms, and similarly, people with mental disorders are at increased risk of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Researchers have long been interested in the connections between these symptoms and how drug treatments affect both metabolic and mental health disorders.
The study included nearly 100,000 participants, more than 20,000 of whom were using GLP-1 drugs. Participants were tracked through the Swedish National Register from 2009 to 2022.
Risk of substance use also decreased
The results showed that the use of GLP-1 drugs, particularly semaglutide, was associated with fewer sickness absences and hospitalizations for psychiatric reasons. The reduction during the period of semaglutide use was 42% compared to the period without GLP-1 drugs. The risk was 44% lower for depression and 38% lower for anxiety disorders.
Additionally, semaglutide use was associated with a reduced risk of substance use disorder, with 47% reductions in substance use-related hospitalizations and sickness absence during periods of semaglutide use compared to periods without GLP-1 medication. Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was also associated with a reduced risk of suicidal behavior.
One of the study authors, Professor Mark Taylor from Griffith University, said these results were expected. ”A previous study examining a Swedish registry found that the use of GLP-1 drugs was associated with a lower risk of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol-related problems often have downstream effects on mood and anxiety, so we expected it to have a positive effect on these as well.”
However, researchers were surprised by the magnitude of the association.
”Because this is a registry-based study, we cannot pinpoint exactly why or what effect these drugs have on mood symptoms, but the association was very strong. In addition to factors such as reduced alcohol intake, improved body image associated with weight loss, and reduced symptoms associated with improved glycemic control in diabetes, direct neurobiological mechanisms may also be involved, for example through changes in the function of the brain’s reward system.” says Docent Markku Lähteenvuo, research director at the University of Eastern Finland.
The research results are lancet psychiatryone of the most prestigious journals in the field of psychiatry.
Other recent evidence regarding the effects of GLP-1 drugs on anxiety and depressive disorders is somewhat inconsistent and is primarily based on small studies.
sauce:
University of Eastern Finland
Reference magazines:
Taipare, H. others. (2026). Association between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and worsening of psychiatric disorders in patients with depression and anxiety disorders in Sweden: a national cohort study. lancet psychiatry. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00014-3. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00014-3/fulltext
