By now, you can probably list off the potential perks of going on a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Ozempic or Zepbound in your sleep. These medications can support blood sugar management, weight loss, and cardiovascular health, among many other things—this likely isn’t news to you. But the messaging around GLP-1s and mental health has been a little confusing.
When these drugs first became popular, there was a lot of public commentary that claimed taking a GLP-1 was linked with a higher risk of suicide. That sparked an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although the agency noted in January that a preliminary evaluation of the data has not found evidence that GLP-1s cause suicidal thoughts or actions.
Now, new research suggests that taking a GLP-1 could have a huge impact on your mental health—in a good way.
Before we dive in, let’s address the big question: No, doctors aren’t suggesting that you rush out and get on a GLP-1 if you have depression or anxiety. But healthcare providers are excited about the possibility of having one more treatment option for people with these conditions—provided you need a GLP-1 in the first place. Here’s the deal.
The study is a major win for GLP-1s and mental health.
For the study, which was published in The Lancet Psychiatry, researchers analyzed data from nearly 100,000 participants who were followed through Swedish national registers between 2009 and 2022. Of those, more than 20,000 had used GLP-1 medications.
The researchers found that people who used GLP-1 medications—especially semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy)—had up to a 42% lower risk of being sick and needing hospital care for psychiatric reasons compared to when they weren’t on the medication. The researchers also found that semaglutide users with depression had a 44% lower risk, while those with anxiety disorders had a 38% lower risk. There was also a lower risk of suicidal behavior in people who used GLP-1s overall.
Semaglutide had an impact on substance use disorders too, with people taking semaglutide having a 47% lower risk of being sick or hospitalized due to substance use.
“People with diabetes and obesity have elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide,” Mark Taylor, MBBS, study co-author and psychiatrist from Griffith University, tells SELF. “The reduction in sick leave, or health related absences from work, was a most unexpected and significant result, along with the reduction in suicidal behaviors. As mental health is now the most common reason people are on sick leave, or absent from work due to ill health, this has major implications for public health.”
Dr. Taylor points out that the findings contradict earlier concerns about suicide. “[GLP-1s] actually seem to help suicidality,” he says.
What’s going on here?
The researchers didn’t dive into why GLP-1s may have this impact—they just found a link. But there are plenty of theories.
The first is that these improvements in mental health could be tied to the significant weight loss that usually comes from taking these medications. “Losing weight has a tendency to improve body image, self-esteem, and even mobility—these are all things that help with mental health,” Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor of psychology at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF. Research suggests that people on these medications are usually less tempted to drink alcohol, which can also lighten mood, Dr. Gallagher says. “Alcohol is a depressant,” she points out.
GLP-1 medications are designed to improve metabolic health as a whole, and that can indirectly boost mental health. “When metabolic health improves, people get better sleep, have more energy, and are able to engage in activities that they want to engage in,” Dr. Gallaher says. “Those can help support mental health too.”
Dr. Taylor points out that data suggest that improved blood sugar management can improve mood regulation in people with type 2 diabetes—that may be a factor too.
But it’s also possible that GLP-1s can have a direct impact on the brain, Jari Tiihonen, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet, tells SELF. “[The findings] call into question the neurochemistry of these common mental health problems like depression and anxiety,” he says. “It appears that some GLP-1 receptor agonists have a central brain effect and may be anti-inflammatory or stimulate brain recovery.”
What does this mean for the future of mental health treatment?
Doctors recommend pumping the brakes before assuming that GLP-1s will become the next big thing in treatment for depression and anxiety. “I find it difficult to imagine GLP-1 medications being prescribed solely for depression,” Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells SELF.
Dr. Gallagher agrees. “We do know that these medications have a big impact on eating,” she says. “Doctors would have to measure risk versus reward if someone is already in a smaller body.” (Being underweight is also linked with mental health struggle, she points out.)
Instead, Dr. Taylor says that the findings may spark treatment innovations for depression and anxiety that focus on tamping down on inflammation in the body, which GLP-1s can do.
For now, Dr. Ali says this is simply good news for people with type 2 diabetes, overweight, or obesity who also have depression or anxiety. “This research may make psychiatrists more aware of the psychological benefits of weight loss and GLP-1 usage,” he says. “However, more research is required before making strong clinical recommendations in this regard.”
Related:
- I Look Like I Have It Together, but I’m Living With High-Functioning Depression
- The Best Way to Get Off Your Antidepressants, According to New Research
- The 5 Best Foods to Eat for Better Mental Health
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Korin Miller
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