“Researchers say people living with diabetes often face a higher risk of developing mental health conditions.
Now, a large national study from Sweden found that certain medications commonly prescribed for diabetes and weight loss — specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy — may also help reduce the risk of worsening mental illness in people with anxiety or depression.
The findings, published in the April issue of The Lancet Psychiatry, offer hope for dual benefits in treating both metabolic and mental health issues. While promising, the researchers caution that further clinical trials are needed
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Still, GLP-1s may also exert anti-inflammatory effects on the central nervous system, reducing brain inflammation, which has been linked with depression and anxiety, Grawert said.
“As a result, semaglutide may help stabilize mood and improve emotional regulation by addressing these underlying biological processes in addition to its effects on metabolism,” she explained.
Looking at the implications for treating patients, Jason Kirby, Chief Medical Officer at Recovery Centers of America, said that GLP-1 medications could help people with metabolic and psychiatric disorders, possibly reducing hospitalizations and functional impairment associated with conditions like depression and anxiety. Kirby wasn’t involved in the study.
“However, this was an observational study, so it does not establish causality, and GLP-1 agents should not yet be considered primary treatments for depression or anxiety,” he told Healthline.
According to Kirby, these findings reinforce the importance of integrated care. He said the research represents “a promising avenue for future research at the intersection of psychiatry, addiction medicine, and metabolic health.”
