Overview
- The Lancet Psychiatry published an analysis of Swedish health registers that followed nearly 100,000 people from 2009 to 2022 using a within-person design.
- During periods on semaglutide, patients saw a 42% lower risk of mental health hospitalization and a lower risk of self-harm.
- The study also found 44% fewer episodes of worsening depression, 38% fewer worsening anxiety cases, and a 47% drop in substance use–related hospital care or sick leave.
- The strongest associations centered on semaglutide, with a smaller signal for liraglutide, while exenatide and dulaglutide did not show the same benefits.
- Researchers said the findings do not prove cause and pointed to possible drivers such as better blood-sugar control, weight loss, or brain reward changes, while noting known risks like nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, and bowel or gallbladder problems.